A petroleum reservoir or and oil and gas reservoir can be defined as a subsurface pool of hydrocarbons

contained in porous or fractured rock formation. Oil reservoirs are classified according to their fluid
type. There are three broad oil classes. In order of increasing molecular weight, they are volatile oil,
black oil, and heavy oil

If we observe the rock carefully, we can see that a

reservoir rock has pores which can be filled by
fluids. Porosity is the property of the rock which
indicates the void (empty) spaces in the rock; it is a
function of the number and size of the
pores. However, for petroleum to flow, the rock
must also have adequate
permeability. Permeability is the measure of the
ability for fluids to flow through the rock and be
produced at a well.

When the temperatures and pressures are changed during production, the reservoir can even expand or
contract a small amount, just like a sponge. This is called compressibility.