Whether it’s crude oil, natural gas or some other buried treasure, there’s one piece of advice from Indiana Jones that still rings true — finding it is never as easy as “X marks the spot.” Well-site preparations and drilling can take long enough on their own, but that doesn’t account for the time it takes to ensure — or at least raise the odds — that those all-important hydrocarbons will actually be found. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how seismic surveys are conducted and the key steps in permitting and well-site preparation.
We recently started on a series of “101”-style blogs designed to provide a better understanding of how hydrocarbons make their way to their respective downstream markets. In Part 1, we discussed the basics of the upstream portion of the oil and gas value chain, from what the sector does to the types of companies that operate in that space. In Part 2, we looked at the highly complex leasing process, which involves everything from landmen and attorneys to obscure-but-critical terms such as the “Hefner Form” and the Habendum clause.
When considering a tract of land as a potential drilling location, the typical next step is to evaluate what lies hidden underneath the surface before spending millions of dollars on the development of a well site. Whether onshore or offshore, this is typically done through a three-part process called a seismic survey. Our focus is on the data-acquisition stage of a seismic survey but you should also know that the geological data acquired is put through some of the world’s largest, most complex supercomputers. This data, showing the different makeups of subterranean rock layers, is evaluated by geologists and provides valuable insights into where the best drilling locations are, as some rock formations are better suited for production than others.
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About the song
“Square One” was written by Tom Petty and first appeared as the 14th song on Elizabethtown: Songs From the Motion Picture, the soundtrack album for Cameron Crowe’s 2005 film of the same name. It featured several artists, including Nancy Wilson, Elton John and Ryan Adams. It was released in September 2005. “Square One” was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture. The song would also appear as the second track on Tom Petty’s third and final studio album, Highway Companion. Personnel on the record were: Tom Petty (lead, backing vocals, guitars, bass, drums), Mike Campbell (guitars), and Jeff Lynne (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals).
Highway Companion was recorded in 2005-06 at Bungalow Palace and Shoreline Recorders in Los Angeles, with Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Mike Campbell producing. Released in July 2006, it went to #1 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums and #4 on the Billboard 200 Albums charts. It has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Three singles were released from the LP.
Tom Petty was an American rock and roll musician, singer and songwriter. He was the leader of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and a solo artist. Petty released 16 studio albums with the Heartbreakers, three solo albums and 68 singles. He also released albums with the Traveling Wilburys and with Mudcrutch. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and also have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Petty is also the recipient of a Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement, a Billboard Century Award, and an ASCAP Golden Note Award. Tom Petty died in October 2017 at the age of 66.
