Oil and Gas Basics

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The Aleyska pipeline in Alaska that transports crude oil from Prudhoe Bay down to Valdez. Image Copyright © Larry Fellows, Arizona Geological Survey.
The Aleyska pipeline in Alaska that transports crude oil from Prudhoe Bay down to Valdez. Image Copyright © Larry Fellows, Arizona Geological Survey.
  • The Aleyska pipeline in Alaska that transports crude oil from Prudhoe Bay down to Valdez. Image Copyright © Larry Fellows, Arizona Geological Survey.
  • Oil derrick in the Williston Basin, North Dakota. Image Credit: Joshua Doubek, Licensed under Creative Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Petroleum ("oil") and natural gas form from tiny plants and algae that settled in seas or lakes millions of years ago. This organic material reacts under heat and pressure to form oil and/or gas.[1] Petroleum products include gasoline, heating oil, propane, and kerosene. Not to be confused with gasoline, natural gas is mostly methane — a clear, odorless gas. When burned, oil and gas release abundant energy as well as carbon dioxide and water.

Why do oil and gas matter?

Petroleum and natural gas are the largest energy sources for the United States. In 2017, 92% of transportation fuel came from petroleum,[2] while 32% of electric power and the majority of non-electric commercial/residential energy came from natural gas.[3,4] The United States has large oil and natural gas resources. Unconventional oil and gas resources, like shale gas and tight oil, are now accessible with the combination of the techniques of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

How does geoscience help inform decisions about oil and gas resources?

Geoscientists use geophysics and geophysical techniques to find rock layers that contain oil or gas, and determine how much these rock layers might produce. Geoscientists also work to reduce the environmental impacts of oil and gas extraction.

References

1Oil and Petroleum Explained, EIA, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=oil_home

2Energy Use for Transportation, EIA, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=us_energy_transportation

3Electricity in the United States, EIA, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_in_the_united_states

4Use of Natural Gas, EIA, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=natural_gas_use

Learn More

Introductory Resources

  • Oil and Petroleum Explained (Webpage), Energy Information Administration
    Basic information on how oil was formed, products made from crude oil, refining oil, where U.S. oil comes from, prices and outlook, and oil and the environment. Also includes specific information on gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, and heating oil.
     
  • Natural Gas Explained (Webpage), Energy Information Administration
    Basic information on how natural gas was formed, delivery and storage, where U.S. natural gas comes from, imports/exports, prices, and natural gas and the environment. 
     
  • What You Need to Know: Fossil Fuels (Webpage), The National Academies
    An in-depth overview of the current role of each fossil fuel energy source in the United States, the benefits and disadvantages of each energy source, and opportunities and challenges for using that energy source in the future. (Discusses coal, oil, and natural gas.)
     

Resources for Educators

Frequently Asked Questions

American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute
U.S. Energy Information Administration