Properties of Reservoir Rocks
Properties of Reservoir Rocks Introduction Prior to the discovery of petroleum, mankind used coal as the main source of energy to operate their machines. Since the first commercial well drilled in the United States in 1859, the dependence on petroleum as a source of energy has increased tremendously. From that point onwards, petroleum has been and will continue to be the main source of energy for decades ahead due to its availability, efficiency, and low price. In addition, hydrocarbons are not only used as fuel, but also as lubricants and raw materials for many modern industrial products such as plastics, paints, and rubber. What is Petroleum? Petroleum is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon (composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms) that can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas. The physical state of the hydrocarbon is a function of the pressure and temperature to which it is exposed as well as its structure (chain length/molecular weight). However, most of the hydrocarbons found within...