Oil field facts for kids

An oil field is a large area where many oil wells are used to bring petroleum (also known as oil) out from deep underground. Because the underground oil pockets, called oil reservoirs, can spread out over many kilometers, lots of wells are needed to collect all the oil. Besides the wells, an oil field might also have pipelines to move the oil away, and buildings for the workers and for fixing equipment.

What is an Oil Field?

An oil field is like a big farm, but instead of growing crops, it's where companies "grow" oil! It's a specific place on Earth where a lot of oil has been found trapped beneath the surface. To get this oil, many oil wells are drilled into the ground.

Why are Many Wells Needed?

Imagine trying to drink a giant milkshake with just one straw. It would take a long time! Oil reservoirs are huge, sometimes hundreds of kilometers wide. To get all the oil out efficiently, many wells are drilled in different spots across the field. This helps collect the oil faster and more completely.

What Else is in an Oil Field?

Besides the wells, you'll often see other important things in an oil field:

• Pipelines: These are like big tubes that carry the oil from the wells to processing plants or storage areas.
• Support Buildings: These buildings provide offices for workers, places to store tools, and workshops for repairs.
• Equipment: You might see pumps, tanks, and other machinery used to extract and prepare the oil.

Finding Oil Fields

Finding an oil field is a bit like a treasure hunt! Scientists called geologists use special tools to look for signs of oil deep underground. They study the types of rocks and the way the ground is shaped.

How Geologists Search for Oil

Geologists use methods like:

• Seismic Surveys: They send sound waves into the ground and listen to the echoes. This helps them create a map of the rock layers below.
• Gravity and Magnetic Surveys: These methods detect tiny changes in the Earth's gravity or magnetic field, which can hint at underground rock structures where oil might be trapped.
• Exploratory Drilling: Once they find a promising spot, they drill a test well. This helps them confirm if oil is really there and how much.

Types of Oil Fields

Oil fields can be found in many different places, both on land and under the sea.

Onshore Oil Fields

These are oil fields located on land. They are often easier to access and develop than offshore fields. Many early oil fields, like those in Pennsylvania or Texas, were onshore.

Offshore Oil Fields

These fields are located under the ocean. Drilling for oil offshore is much more challenging and expensive. Special platforms or ships are used to drill wells into the seabed. The oil is then transported to shore by pipelines or special tankers.

Images for kids

• 

  A map showing an oil reservoir 8,500 feet deep. The gap shows a fault line in the rock.

• 

  An oil field with many wells near Santa Barbara, California, before 1906.

• 

  Location of Gas Fields in Iran.

• 

  The drillship Discoverer Enterprise exploring a new offshore field. The Toisa Perseus vessel helps with supplies.

• 

  A type of rock trap where oil can be found, formed by tilted rock layers.

• 

  A rock trap where oil is found under an unconformity (a gap in rock layers).

• 

  A rock trap in a fossilized coral reef (yellow) sealed by mudstones (green).

• 

  A rock trap around a salt dome (pink) formed by evaporite minerals.

See also

In Spanish: Campo petrolífero para niños