The Reason Why Science And Business Walk Hand In Hand

By Christine Cook


The economy of the world rests squarely on one natural commodity. It is often referred to as black gold and in its natural form is gooey and slimy. It is the main element that powers all machinery and equipment. From household appliances to gargantuan equipment, this element is used as the main source of power. It fuels the transportation industry. Large oil firms have engaged scientists to identify reserves through micro paleontology.

One business that is often associated with tycoons is the oil business. Since its discovery, fossil fuels have been used as the main substance for all sorts of engines. In its pure form, it is extracted from beneath the ground and under the deepest of oceans. Mineral exploration companies invest billions of dollars to find the spot where deposits are found. Once it is found, then the drilling begins.

The transportation industry is one of the largest users of petrol and other petroleum based products. Whether it be gasoline, diesel, or bunker fuel. All vehicles run on internal combustion engines and these needs petrol in order to fire up and operate. Every day from dusk till dawn we can see these machines on roads, streets, high ways like parading ants.

Petroleum supply will not last forever. At some point in time, it will be depleted. Wealthy industrialists are aware of this, and as the demand for this substance increases, they are engaging scientists to help in identifying possible reserves. Most of these scientists are paleontologists and geologists. Their scientific expertise is utilized to pinpoint hydrocarbon deposits.

Geology is the science that concentrates on the study of earth materials which can either be solid, gas, or liquid. It also encompasses the process by which these materials are created and formed and the causes that bring about their existence. Geologists are what these scientists are called and their expertise and talent are now being harnessed by mining and oil exploration companies.

Paleontology is the science that focuses on the study of living organisms before the Holocene period. It also includes the scientific study of microorganism fossils like foraminifera. These organisms are found in very deep waters. When these die they usually leave behind shells that accumulate at the bottom of oceans as sediments which become embedded in rocks.

Multi directional and horizontal drills and supercomputers now combine to make deep ocean explorations possible. Advances in these technologies have made the extraction of samples efficient and fast. Geologists and paleontologists do the analysis of core samples aboard these vessels. These have been tapped by wealthy industrialists to help determine where the deposits are.

These extracted materials are called core samples and these are extensively studied for their chemical and biological composition using modern analytical tools and methods. Micro paleontology makes use of the procedure that isolates some layers of the earth called biological zones. Each layer is identified by the fossils contained in them.

Wealthy industrialists engaged in the business of petroleum mineral exploration lead the charge in this large undertakings. They are fully aware that there is a constant increase in demand and that the current production will no longer be able to keep up with it. This is the reason why they invest billions of dollars to find more deposits.




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