Chapter 921: D-class oil field

In later generations, with the continuous and in-depth development of science, there are many different methods for oil exploration, such as seismic exploration, gravity exploration, magnetic exploration, electrical exploration, geochemical exploration, etc.

And within each category, there are more detailed methods that have been subdivided through the precise research of scientific researchers.

After all, oil is stored in special geological formations, and finding it is not an easy task. It requires very precise exploration.

From another perspective, after hundreds of years of development, when it comes to black gold, the easiest oil to explore has long been found by thorough search. What has not yet been discovered is a tough nut to crack, hidden deeper underground and more difficult to locate. It can only be found by relying on sophisticated methods.

Moreover, in order to obtain more precise results and improve the accuracy, several methods are often used in combination.

However, this exploration used the 3D seismic exploration technology that had just emerged in the 1970s, which was a further development of the 2D seismic exploration technology. It is a comprehensive applied technology integrating physics, mathematics and computer science, which can make the image of underground targets clearer and the location prediction more reliable.

Even today, 3D seismic exploration is one of the most important methods in geophysical exploration, and is the main exploration technology for underground natural minerals such as oil, natural gas and coal around the world.

Just as Old Jack and the others began to dig the small well in preparation for filling it with explosives, Xia Yu walked over to George W. Bush and asked, 'Mr. Bush, I don't think anyone has leased or purchased this land yet, do they?'

George W. Bush shook his head and said, 'No, there are signs on land that has an owner declaring sovereignty. We didn't see any when we arrived.'

Old Jack, who was drilling a well, also heard the two men's conversation and immediately replied, 'Chairman, I went to the land administration bureau in town the day before yesterday, and this large area is all blank, no one has rented it yet.'

Xia Yu nodded slightly and said to George W. Bush, 'There is definitely oil here. Although we can lease the land after we get the results of the survey, there is still a risk of exposure, and it is hard to guarantee that it will not be discovered by a passing exploration team. I suggest leasing the land first.'

'Besides, there are quite a few blast wells to be dug now, and it will take some time. Why don't we go back and get the other employees to come over here together, and rent the land while we're at it.'

Xia Yu's resolute manner and the concerns he raised really affected Bush Jr.

He glanced at Lao Jack and the others, who were busy working, and nodded in agreement with Xia Yu's opinion.

After instructing Lao Jack and the others to continue working, Bush Jr. and Xia Yu and the others got back in the car, drove straight onto the nearest highway, and then sped along it.

The United States is a vast country with a sparse population, and the barren land in the wilderness is not worth much, even in Texas, which is rich in oil reserves.

Over the past century, the towns and cities in Midland have long since perfected all aspects of oil extraction, including, naturally, the initial leasing and sale of land. Every year, the local government announces the standard prices for leasing and selling land in different areas. The price is related to whether there are oil fields in the surrounding area. The price of idle land near large oil fields is naturally higher than that of ordinary barren land, but there is a limit.

The difference between the price of buying land and the price of leasing land is quite large.

And once oil is discovered, it can be extracted within a few years, or about ten years at the most, unless it is a super-large oil field that takes decades to extract, but these super-large oil fields are rare, and each one is enough to shake the world!

Therefore, it is generally sufficient to rent the land for ten years, and according to the contract, there is the right to continue the contract, and the rent fluctuation is also limited. It can be said that all aspects have been considered, so that people can boldly explore (bet on) oil with peace of mind.

The land that Xia Yu and others wanted to rent had been rented by at least ten people over the previous hundred years. However, due to technical problems or other reasons, oil had not been discovered, and the land had now returned to the local government.

It was around 1 pm when the large piece of land was leased by Bush Energy for 10 years at a price of 9,000 US dollars per year, and all legal rights to the land were obtained, including mineral exploration, mining and ownership.

Around 2 pm, all 16 small wells were dug and filled with explosives at the bottom, and the geophones and instrument trucks had been connected by cables.

'Chairman, the preparations are complete!'

'Then start the test!'

After saying this, Xia Yu walked a little further away from Bush and the others, both for safety reasons and to avoid interference with the collection of seismic wave signals.

They saw Old Jack activate the device, and after a while they heard a series of dull explosions.

Sound waves travel fast, so Xia Yu and the others waited for more than two minutes before quickly heading to the instrument truck.

The instrument truck is equipped with a special computer that processes the data transmitted by the detector via the cable according to a set programme. The data is sorted, valid data is highlighted, invalid and interfering data is removed, and finally the technicians superimpose and offset the processed data to obtain a seismic profile or 3D data file.

A group of people gathered around the technician, watching him operate the special computer. After about 20 minutes, a seismic profile came out.

Then another staff member with glasses, Jonathan, stepped forward and analysed the seismic profile.

George W. Bush and the others subconsciously let out a breath and stared at the profile.

Whether there was oil or not would depend on the analysis of the seismic profile.

Time passed by.

Jonathan kept frowning as he analysed the data.

Suddenly, his brow twitched and he leaned forward, looking at the lower right corner of the profile.

'Jonathan, have you found something?'

George W. Bush asked anxiously.

Jonathan pointed to the lower right corner of the section and replied excitedly, 'Chairman, this area has a different geological structure, and according to the analysis of the seismic wave reflection results, it is very similar to an oil and gas closed structure. There is a possibility that oil is stored here!'

Hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with excitement.

George W. Bush immediately said, 'Quickly calculate the location and re-explore!'

Everyone, except Xia Yu and Li Wuming, immediately got to work.

There is strength in numbers.

At 4:08 p.m., another series of slight explosions sounded. After waiting for a few minutes, everyone immediately gathered around the instrument truck.

After about 20 minutes,

Jonathan excitedly shouted to George W. Bush, 'Chairman, there is oil down here!'

George W. Bush was overjoyed and immediately asked, 'What is the probability? Can the reserves be estimated?'

Jonathan immediately replied, 'There is a 90% probability that there is oil. The reserves are uncertain, and there are still gas and oil traps that have not been surveyed. Only continued exploration can determine this.'

'However, according to the current cross-section calculations, this oil field is above grade D and has great mining value!'

According to the oil field standards set by the United States, it can be divided into five grades:

Grade A: reserves greater than 50 million barrels.

Grade B: reserves between 25 million barrels and 50 million barrels.

C: reserves of 10 million to 25 million barrels.

D: reserves of 1 million to 10 million barrels.

E: reserves of less than 1 million barrels.

Of course, as subsequent generations have continued to discover oilfields with much larger reserves, the classification has been expanded beyond A to include mega-class oilfields, world-class oilfields and super-large oilfields, with the classification being 1A to 5A.

And below E, there is also a F, except that F refers to oilfields with no mining value.

Now this oil field is at least at level D, which means that it has at least one million barrels of oil reserves. According to the current oil price of nearly 40 US dollars a barrel, this oil field is worth at least tens of millions of US dollars!

How could he not be excited!

Once again, he ordered his staff to continue adjusting the position for exploration. George W. Bush's gaze turned unusually fervent as he looked at Xia Yu. He was still very emotional: 'Mr. Xia, there really is oil! You really found oil!'

'Oh my God, this is unbelievable, magical, this is magic from the East!'

At this point, Xia Yu looked indifferent, with an unruffled expression, and said lightly, 'Mr Bush, I already said a long time ago that I could find oil. Although I haven't studied it thoroughly, I still have the confidence to find oil.'

Xia Yu's attitude made Bush Junior feel that Xia Yu was being modest. Thinking about the significance of Xia Yu's ability, he made up his mind to seize the opportunity to cultivate a relationship with Xia Yu.

George W. Bush sincerely apologised, 'Mr Xia, I apologise for my previous ignorance. You have made me re-evaluate the world!'

Xia Yu smiled lightly and said nonchalantly, 'Mr Bush, I understand. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't believe in a geomancer either. But after all, the world is so amazing that no one can fully understand the whole world, unless they are the will of the earth.'

'Yes, most people are ignorant and like to use their own worldview to define the world.'

After agreeing, Bush licked his dry mouth, hesitated for a moment, and looked expectantly at Xia Yu: 'Mr. Xia, I wonder if you, as a feng shui master, can impart your abilities to others?'

Xia Yu looked at Bush for a moment and shook his head, saying, 'I'm afraid not. Mr. Bush, do you know that there are over one billion people in China, but there are only an estimated few hundred, or even fewer, true feng shui masters? According to what my master told me, there are millions of people in Hong Kong, and he has only met one person suitable to be a feng shui master.

'And to learn Feng Shui, you must have an understanding of Chinese culture over thousands of years. The books are written in ancient characters, and even people who are proficient in Chinese may not be able to understand the meaning, let alone people from other languages. A language barrier is a natural divide!'

'What about this compass?'

George W. Bush asked, not giving up.

Xia Yu shook his head again and said, 'There are fake compasses and real compasses. Only a real compass is effective, and it can only work in the hands of a real geomancer. If it is not a geomancer, it is useless for anyone else to have it.'

Bush was instantly disappointed and could only maintain a forced smile and said dryly, 'Is that so? That's really a pity. It would be great if this ability could be promoted.'

Although he said this, Xia Yu could tell from his expression that he was not willing to give up.

But Xia Yu didn't care. After all, he had already said so much, and had planted a seed in Bush Jr.'s mind. Even if Bush Jr. later found a geomancer and couldn't find any oil, he would just attribute it to the geomancer being fake, and instead cherish the relationship with him even more.

The saying "what you can't get is the best" is true everywhere.

Xia Yu smiled and changed the subject, saying, 'Mr. Bush, let's first explore the reserves of this oil field. According to the compass's response just now, this oil field has a minimum reserve of 9 million barrels, and there is a high probability that it will be 10 million barrels!'

Sure enough, George W. Bush's attention was immediately attracted by the reserves Xia Yu mentioned.

Jonathan estimated that it would be more than 1 million barrels, but Xia Yu said that there might be 10 million barrels in reserves.

Given his previous performance, George W. Bush subconsciously believed Xia Yu's words. He became more and more excited and urged everyone to act quickly.

After two more consecutive explosions and explorations, everyone was busy until after 9 pm, and finally the complete oil field was explored.