U.S. Geological Survey
Energy Resource Surveys Program

Photo of thin section of reservoir rocks

Petroleum geologists study very thin slices of reservoir rocks under a microscope to analyze the character of rock porosity and permeability. This thin section shows a conventional sandstone reservoir that has been injected with blue epoxy. The blue areas are pore space and would contain natural gas in a producing gas field. The pore space can be seen to be interconnected so gas is able to flow easily from the rock.


Describing Petroleum Reservoirs of the Future