How deep below ground are most petroleum deposits found?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The vast majority of petroleum deposits are found trapped within the pores of natural rock at depths ranging from 150 to 7,600 metres (500 to 25,000 feet) below the surface of the ground.1

As a general rule, deposits located at greater depths tend to have higher internal pressures and contain larger quantities of gaseous hydrocarbons. While some near-surface deposits may seep to the surface through natural fissures in the rock, most commercial petroleum production relies on drilling into these deeper, trapped reservoirs.1