Conditionals

Sample sentences

e.g. If you follow these measures, the risk of burns will be substantially reduced.

e.g. If you combined these two substances together, there would be a serious risk of explosion.

e.g. If you hadn't sealed the container, the vapour would have contaminated the environment.

e.g. If you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately.

e.g. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water.

Form

A conditional sentence has two clauses: the if clause and the main clause.

There are four principal types of conditional sentences: Conditional I, Conditional II, Conditional III and universal conditions.

Conditional	if clause	Main clause
I	present simple	future with will
II	past simple	conditional with would
III	past perfect	past conditional with would have
Universal	present simple	present simple

Note that the following contractions are common in speech:

Will – ‘ll, e.g. I’ll

Would have – would’ve, e.g. we would’ve

Would / had – ‘d, e.g. they’d

Uses

We use conditional sentences to talk about the relationship between events and their consequences:

e.g. If our survey indicates the possibility of an (event), then we will do some drilling (consequence).

Conditional I

Here the speaker sees the event as a real possibility:

e.g. If the oilfield is productive, we will recover our exploration costs in a short time.

Conditional II

Here the speaker sees the event as a remote possibility:

e.g. If there was a blowout, we would evacuate the rig immediately.

Conditional III

Here the speaker recognizes that the event is impossible, i.e. cannot be fulfilled:

e.g. If we hadn't made this find, we would have leased out our tankers.

Universal Conditions

Here the speaker indicates that the consequence always follows the event:

e.g. If a rock is permeable, it allows water or other fluids, such as oil, to pass through it.

Notes:

1. These expressions mean “if” and “only if”

• provided / providing (that) / on condition that / so long as

e.g. Provided that the results of our surveys are positive, we will continue to drill here.

2. These expressions indicate that a future event may or may not happen.

- in case / in the case of / in the event / that in the event of

e.g. In case of corrosion, stop all activity.

3. Unless means 'if not'

e.g. Do not return to the rig unless the supervisor gives instructions to do so.

Ex. 18. Match two parts to form conditional sentences.

If these tests produce positive results,	the accident would never have happened.
If rubber is cooled to -200°C,	download them onto your computer.
If safety measures had been followed,	we’d been able to do all the technical specifications in half the time.
If you want to study the files from the Internet,	we could estimate the experimental error.
If we bought a new software package,	they would have taken nearly two months.
If you want to use this software package on more than one system,	it becomes brittle and will break.
If the goods had been sent by sea,	we’ll continue with clinical trials.
If we ran an additional test,	you’ll have to get a site license.

Ex. 19. Complete these sentences using the words in brackets.

1. The tests won't be continued unless (there / be / better safety measures).

2. He wouldn't have been injured if (he / follow / the correct procedures).

3. In the event of a collision, (the airbag / inflate).

4. If all vehicles were fitted with a catalytic converter, (there / be / less / pollution).

5. The reaction would be speeded up if (we / introduce / a catalyst).

6. If heat is applied, (the substance / decompose).

7. As long as disinfectant is used, (infections / not be / pass on).

8. If iron is left in contact with air and water, (it / rust).

Ex. 20. Two site workers are discussing the weather. Complete the conversation with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

A: We’ll carry on with the work when the conditions (1) _______ (improve).

B: If we’d known the weather was going to be this bad, we (2) _______ (delay) the start of the project.

A: Well, if the rain (3) _______ (stop) soon, we’ll get the foundations laid by evening.

B: It could have been worse. Do you remember building that bridge last year? If we (4) _______ (not build) the dike of sandbags, the river would have flooded the town.

A: And if we hadn’t brought in that earthmover, we (5) _______ (not make) it in time.

B: If we get any more rain here, we (6) _______ (have to) repair the potholes in the orad before we can use it.

A: Provided it (7) _______ (stop) soon, we’ll be able to start preparing the timber. If they’d chosen another time of year, we (8) _______ (not have) these problems. It would be much nicer if we (9) _______ (have) indoor jobs at this time of year!

Listening

Ex. 21. Watch the video “Intax Reservoir Measurements” and fill in the following gaps in the table with a word or a phrase.

Measurements	What they indicate
Gamma ray and _______ logs	Indicator of _______. Presence of _______.
Crossover between _______ and porosity curves	_______, or light _______.
Real-time data	_______ and _______ type.
Post-processing and _______ analysis	_______ and porosity. Reliable estimate of _______.

Ex. 22. Watch the video “Schlumberger Reservoir Technology” and answer the following questions.

Vocabulary:

1. womb – утроба

2. aerial photograph – аэрофотоснимок

3. recess – отдаленный уголок

4. trajectory – траектория

1. Why does the report compare the baby in the mother’s womb and the subsurface?

2. What are the signs of hydrocarbon traps that can be seen from space?

3. What is a geophone?

4. What is the function of the trucks?

5. What is seismic method used for?

6. What devices generate seismic waves in the sea?

7. Who finally interprets the collected seismic data?

8. How is the first visualization of the reservoir produced?

9. What are some of the measurements taken during drilling?

10. Where is the precise logging data sent?

11. What is a key advantage of the 3-D image of the reservoir?

12. What do the red zones in the picture indicate?

13. How much of the investment is spent on drilling?

14. How many wells can be drilled from one platform?

15. What ensures direct contact of the client to the specialists?

16. What recovery percentage are petroleum engineers striving for?