Talk:Petroleum play

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[edit] Rewrite/rearrange

I'm thinking about a rewrite and possible move of this article. Firstly, rewrite/rearrange to place the emphasis on the use of play to describe a piece of rock [1] [2]. Currently the primacy in the article is on play analysis which seems to me to derive from the prior definition of play as a prospective oil or gas bearing formation. Secondly, move the article to play (geology) since the term "play" is generally used by itself in industry and the article currently doesn't say "turbidite petroleum play" but "turbidite play". If you have a major objection let me know. Journeyman 04:17, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

I like the idea of changing the name to play (geology) or play (petroleum). I don't quite understand your plan for changing the emphasis - a play is not a piece of rock, it is a set of conditions or properties. Sometimes it may refer to suites of rock of certain ages, or it may refer to a structural trapping setting, and lots of other things. Cheers Geologyguy 04:29, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
Re: Move. Currently both play (geology) and play (petroleum) point to Petroleum play. I'm inclined to go for play (geology) since in my experience the term is not used exclusively with respect to petroleum.
I accept your advice on the definition - I work on Carbon Capture and Storage in a university Petroleum Engineering Dept but am not a Petroleum Engineer or Geologist. My point about the emphasis was that the article begins by talking about play analysis/cycle whereas I think it should start with the use of play to refer to, as you say, "a set of conditions or properties". For example, the USGS
A play is a set of discovered or undiscovered oil and gas accumulations or prospects
that exhibit nearly identical geological characteristics. A play is defined, therefore,
by the geological properties (such as trapping style, type of reservoir, nature of the
seal) that are responsible for the accumulations or prospects.
and Schlumberger
An area in which hydrocarbon accumulations or prospects of a given type occur.
let me know.Journeyman 01:59, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
Ah, as to putting the analysis part (the 5 steps in the cycle) later in the article, strong support from me on that. If I recall correctly that part was the initial stub, and I added most of the rest of the next two paragraphs to clarify what a play is. I should have been bolder and restructured it then. Your idea of reorganization is better. And indeed, mineral explorers have plays, so you are right to prefer play (geology). Thanks for your thinking and work on this. Cheers Geologyguy 02:38, 26 July 2007 (UTC)