Upstream is one of the stages in the oil and gas industry operations that involve the exploration, drilling, and production of oil and natural gas. This phase includes searching for potential deposits of crude oil and natural gas – both underground and submarine – drilling exploratory wells, and subsequently drilling and exploiting wells that carry crude oil or natural gas to the surface. Upstream is also known as exploration and production (E&P).

Key Activities:
Exploration – Identifying potential hydrocarbon reserves.
Drilling – Creating wells to access these reserves.
Production – Extracting and processing hydrocarbons