The upstream segment of the oil and gas industry contains exploration activities, which include creating geological surveys and obtaining land rights, and production activities, which include onshore and offshore drilling.

Oil and gas exploration entails the collection of data about the geology and its features, in order to make an informed decision about whether further exploration is necessary. Oil and gas exploration will include drilling of exploration wells, which involves placing down a borehole into a heavily-vegetated rock section for sampling purposes. The results of this effort will then be evaluated using a standard set of techniques based on seismology, petrologic analysis, heat flow measurements and other parameters to determine if there are hydrocarbons present at depth (known as "features") in the reservoir rock.

Sustainability is one of the key issues of this sector in order to protect the environment, natural resources and human health. In order to achieve this objective, we must be aware of the risk factors related to oil and gas exploration.

In the oil and gas industry, the term "downstream" refers to the refining and processing of crude oil and natural gas, as well as the distribution and marketing of the products derived from these resources.

Downstream activities include the production of gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, propane, and other products that are used as feedstocks for the manufacture of chemicals and plastics, as well as the transportation of these products to consumers

The downstream sector is also responsible for the distribution of natural gas to homes and businesses for heating and cooking purposes, as well as the distribution of propane for use as a fuel for heating, cooking, and transportation.