The modern petroleum geologist
Some maintain that there is no such thing as petroleum geology, there is only the science of geology applied in the search for petroleum; in which case this text ought to be entitled Geology as applied to Petroleum in the style of Illing (1942)! Alternatively, a contemporary title such as Petroleum Systems Geology emphasizes the highly integrative nature of petroleum exploration and exploitation! However, as a title, Petroleum Geology conveys a no-frills, ‘meat-and-potatoes’ approach to a branch of geology that is first and foremost a commercial enterprise concerned with the exploration and economic development of petroleum!