What is the overall cost of surveying for oil/gas? And what is the cost of drilling?

There are many types of people that assist with the implementation of an Oilwell. There are geologists, engineers, landmen, field workers and operators.

A drill site is decided upon by the recommendation of either an engineer or a geologist depending on the type of project it is. If it is an area with "proven production", an area where there are already other wells nearby, then it will be the engineer that is giving his recommendation to drill in that area. If this happens to be a new area then it usually has been found by a geologist.

Once a new project area has been agreed upon, it is time to assign landman to research the area. They first complete cursory research in order to find out if the sought after the land is available for purchase.  If the land is "open" then the next step in the process would be to send a crew of landmen to "run title" for the prospective acreage. The landmen go to the county courthouse and research public documents to find the current owner of the prospective land. Once all mineral owners are found, it is time to lease the property. The landmen then call each and every mineral owner to try and persuade them into leasing their land to the oil company. Without a signed lease, an oil company can not drill for oil on that piece of land. Once a sufficient amount of the land is leased, drilling can commence!

Many types of engineers go into drilling an oil well. There are drilling, completion, facilities, reservoir, production, and health and safety engineers to name a few.  All of which have certain tasks they need to undertake in order for a new well to develop. 

As for the costs of all of this, the best I can say is that "it depends." Even the cheapest oil well will cost over a million dollars. While an expensive unconventional well, like a horizontal drilled well, can cost well over ten million.

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