Stochastic geometry in petroleum geology

Many aspects of the generation, migration, trapping, and discovery of petroleum, as well as its primary and enhanced recovery, depend upon geometry. The scale of the relevant geometric features varies all the way from that of continental margins and basins down to the pores and fissures in reservoir rocks. Because the spatial complexity is so great for each of these processes, it is reasonable to describe them statistically. The primary purpose of this paper is to survey possible ways in which statistical or stochastic geometry enters and might be used in petroleum geology and engineering. While it offers some new theory, this paper does not directly suggest any specific new methods for the estimation of hydrocarbon resources or reserves. This deficiency is mainly due to the current lack of relevant data. When data are available the point of view explained herein will be fruitful. The survey ties together many topics in a novel way.