[I went thru in 73 on a geo/exploration survey boat.]
“Did you strike oil?”
Exploration searches for locations that have high potential for possible oil.
All the data collected during exploration went back to Houston. They analyse and if warranted, comission a “Discovery” well to be drilled.
If that turns out potentially profitable (determined by the well flow rate) 10,000 bbl/day was a good well and “Developmental” drilling additional production wells if warranted.
It’s a lenghtly process.
I was primarily “exploration” centered but positioned a number of on-shore & off-shore rigs for discovery drilling from Sumatra to Irian Jaya. Lots of time in the Flores Sea back then - a hot spot for oil production at the time.
Lots of WWII aircraft, vehicles and other (mostly Japaneese) equipment in the open and hidden in the jungle.
Fun.