Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Relative to shale, sandstone is a much more common reservoir rock for petroleum because of which of the following?

  1. shale is more porous so the oil tends to leak out over time

  2. shale, especially black shale, is much richer in primary organic matter than is sandstone

  3. sandstone is more abundant than shale

  4. sandstone is more permeable than shale, so fluids may flow through it faster
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sandstone has higher permeability than shale, meaning it has interconnected pore spaces that allow petroleum to flow through freely. Shale may be porous but has extremely low permeability due to its fine-grained structure, which traps fluids rather than allowing them to migrate toward extraction points.

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