In its simplest form, it was the search for above-ground indications of oil, such as natural seeps.

Oil has been known in Ventura County since before the arrival of the Europeans, as the native Chumash people used tar from natural seeps as a sealant and waterproofing for baskets and canoes.

Moreover, natural seeps feed these locations and the outcome is climax vegetation that has stabilized.

Taita had gathered this sticky substance from a natural seep that he knew of in the wilderness.

In addition, an oil pipeline transports oil from "tents" constructed over some of the natural seeps on the ocean floor to the processing plant.

Oil was known in the Coalinga area long before the arrival of Europeans, as the native Americans in the region used the tarry substance from natural seeps as lining for baskets, as well as for trade.

The stream is also fed by natural seeps and flushes, and there are 62 documented surface water discharges to the watercourse.

He also studies natural seeps off the coast of Santa Barbara.

Petroleum found along Oil Creek was known to Native Americans for hundreds of years through natural seeps.

Oil has been known in the Santa Barbara Channel since prehistoric times; the native Chumash people used tar from the numerous natural seeps as a sealant, and tar regularly washes up on the beaches from the offshore seeps.