In my mind, the location of old swamps is where the biomass accumulated to make petroleum. I think that paleoweather effects could be reconstructed to better locate old swamps, and these could then get test wells.

reconstructed paleoweather would be things like acoustically discovered old canyons and giant mississippi type rivers. The deltas of these rivers where they met the sea could be a new place to look for oil.

also things like undersea ripple beds of sandstone could be a marker for old deltas. Weather sheltered coves or the leeward (downwind) sides of big water are calmer thus have a higher likelihood of accumulated organics. 

I have not heard of oil prospecting with old weather features before.
-- beanangel, Jun 08 2018

Prospecting for oil is easy - have you noticed that wherever they decide to build a petrol station they strike petrol?
-- hippo, Jun 08 2018


Oil prospecting companies already study geology for ancient subsurface structures.

Since the crustal plates have moved significantly since your Carboniferous epoch, and weather patterns are aligned more with the poles and equator, paleoweather isn't going to be helpful.
-- 8th of 7, Jun 08 2018


//I have not heard of oil prospecting with old weather features before.// Funny, huh?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jun 08 2018


Really ? Do tell ...
-- 8th of 7, Jun 08 2018



random, halfbakery