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In addition to the arrangement of the layers, there are
other signs geologists look for when building a picture
of underground point bar formations.
One sign comes from sedimentary structures, such as dunes
and ripples deposited on the surface as the point bar grows
and preserved as distinctive features over time. These structures
are aligned by the current flow in the river and have a
distinct relationship to the point bar. Examining the orientation
of the structures within wells provides clues geologists
can use to determine the orientation of the entire point
bar through which an oil well has been drilled.
In many parts of the world, oil and gas can be found trapped
in sands that have been deposited as point bars millions
of years ago. In order to efficiently drain these
reservoirs, geologists need to predict their location deep
beneath the surface of the earth.
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