What is a "show" in petroleum geology?

Question

Is a *show* when naturally ocurring oil seeps out of a fracture on the surface? Or is it when engineers fracture rocks in order to extract oil?

Answer 1

I would consider a "show" to be any occurrence of hydrocarbons. In my experience, it refers to the presence of naturally occurring hydrocarbons in relation to a oil or gas well. This presence can be indicated by examining core or drill cutting samples, or through analyzing the fluids entering the well-bore during the drilling process.