What are subsurface reservoirs?

Subsurface reservoirs are like hidden treasure chests deep underground that hold water or oil.

Imagine you have a big sponge, and it’s soaked with juice, that’s like a subsurface reservoir. Now picture this sponge is buried inside a cake, and the cake is buried under your backyard. The sponge holds all the juice, just like how subsurface reservoirs hold water or oil deep below the ground.

Think of the ground as layers of cake, each layer made of different materials. Some layers are tight, like cookies, and others are loose, like cake batter. The subsurface reservoirs are in those looser layers, where the water or oil can move around more freely, just like juice moves through a soft sponge.

When we dig down or drill into these hidden treasure chests, we can bring out all that water or oil, it’s like finding a big glass of juice inside your cake! People use this juice to drink, to cook with, or even to power cars and houses. So, subsurface reservoirs are super important for giving us the things we need every day.