Prospecting for Oil and Natural Gas - 10 Minute Take

This 12-minute educational video provides a concise introduction to oil and natural gas prospecting, presented by Diana Gragg, Core Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Managing Director of Explore Energy at Stanford University's Precourt Institute for Energy. Learn about the key aspects of fossil fuel exploration, including the permitting and leasing process, the importance of porosity and permeability in reservoir formation, the differences between conventional and unconventional reservoirs, and the unique aspects of U.S. property rights related to resource extraction. Recorded on March 7, 2025, this video is part of Stanford's Understand Energy initiative, which aims to build energy literacy to address climate change, sustainability, equity challenges, and energy industry innovations. For additional resources on this topic, visit the dedicated Learning Hub page on the Stanford Understand Energy website.