Thesis (MS)--University of Wisconsin. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 22).

This study introduces a new specification of oil and gas exploration as a sampling process, in order to estimate the number and sizes of undiscovered oil and gas pools by statistical inference from discovered pools as a sample. Oil and gas exploration is quite unlike drawing samples at random in that actual sampling is size-biased, subject to truncation of uneconomic pools, and to censorship of discovered pool sizes. The method of estimating the number and sizes of undiscovered pools proposed in this study specifically accounts for these non-random components of exploration as a sampling process, and can be easily implemented using the Expectation-Maximization algorithm. The method allows for choices between single and multiple point truncation of uneconomic pool sizes, and generalizes quite easily to the bivariate case necessary to analyze plays with pools that contain oil with associated gas. Its usefulness is enhanced by the introduction of powerful tests of fit of the lognormal distribution to the distribution of discovered pool sizes, and of meaningful measures of the uncertainty of estimates of the number and sizes of undiscovered pools. Application of the method to oil and gas plays in the San Juan basin of northwest New Mexico show that it yields quite reasonable and useful results. The method, when applied to data analyzed using other methods of estimating the number and sizes of undiscovered pools, confirms that failure to account for truncation of uneconomic pools will result in an overestimate of the average size of pools in a play. By avoiding this, and other, problems, the proposed estimation procedure should lead to better assessments of a play's potential for future discoveries of economically recoverable oil and gas.

Hindering important petroleum projects in Kuwait by the parliament under the pretext of preventing the violation of the oil ownership concepts included in the constitution is almost turning into a phenomenon. According to the Kuwaiti constitution, the natural resources are owned by the state, and consequently foreign oil ownership of national reserves is prohibited (Article 21 of the constitution). In addition, exploiting the national natural resources by other party than the state, though it is legally possibly, is restricted by several conditions (Article 152 of the constitution). The national petroleum project concerns the re-involvement of the international oil companies (IOCs) to develop production capacity from Kuwait’s northern oil fields, which is commonly known as the ‘Kuwait Project’, has met a considerable opposition by the parliament, and consequently has not been yet signed, in spite of the completion of its technical, financial and legal framework. The reason for opposing this project is that it, arguably, may include provisions contradicting with the constitutional framework for the exploitation of petroleum in Kuwait. Whether or not Kuwait’s oil ownership concepts stand as an obstacle to developing Kuwait’s oil production capacity requires examining the application of these concepts to the ‘Kuwait Project’. Such analysis will lead to accurately determine the effectiveness of these concepts when applied in practice and to identify aspects of possible incapability in addressing related issues.

The Palaeocene and Eocene Forth Field is located in Quad. 9, Block 23/b, adjacent to the East Shetland Platform. The Fourth reservoir consists of a series of massive well sorted, medium to fine grained, turbidite sands which contain biodegraded oil and gas. The textural homogeneity of the Forth sands suggests that sedimentary facies was not a major diagenetic control. The timing of oil migration and the periodicity of oil leakage controlled the relative paragenesis in different sand units. Pervasive ferroan and non ferroan calcite cemented sand horizons dominate the Forth paragenetic sequence. Bitumen filled inclusions within these cements indicate oil emplacement and carbonate cementation occurred simultaneously. Calcite oxygen isotope results suggest East Shetland Platform meteoric water, flushed the reservoir, biodegrading the migrated oil and displacing the original seawater. Biodegradation of oil took place at the palaeo-oil water contact, producing a laterally extensive cementation zone. Frequent oil leakage may have produced a series of different palaeo-oil water contacts which became preferential cementation sites. The Palaeocene Balmoral Field is located approximately 100kms to the south of Forth in Quad. 16, Block 21. To a large extent, the distribution of non-carbonate diagenetic phases in the Balmoral Field is controlled by lithoclast composition and the relative abundance of interbedded shales. Non ferroan and ferroan calcite concretions preferentially precipitated where there were localised accumulations of organic matter. The concretions precipitated at < 500m burial depth, sourced by bacterial oxidation and sulphate reduction of organic matter in meteoric pore fluids. Meteoric water is thought to have been derived from the East Shetland Platform to the north of Balmoral. Oil migrated into Balmoral during the Oligocene, post-dating meteoric flushing. Laterally extensive carbonate cements, formed in association with oil biodegradation, have the potential to compartmentalise a reservoir. The distribution of these cements within Tertiary reservoirs adjacent to the East Shetland Platform is likely to be controlled by the relative timing of meteoric flushing and oil migration.

The primary objective of this study is to provide a greater understanding of the tectonic evolution of the Warburton, Cooper, Eromanga and Lake Eyre Basins in central Australia. However, this study additionally attempts to provide a greater understanding of lineaments. This study compares lineament data with a traditional tectonic analysis in order to evaluate lineaments and to best understand the tectonic evolution of the region. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2003.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves 149-159.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves 149-159.

Thesis (Professional Degree)--University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, 1921. / The entire thesis text is included in file. Typescript. Illustrated by author. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed May 12, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 46).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Supervisor: Jon E. Olson. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (M.S.)--Baylor University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 185-188).