Paper Towels Experiment - container, water, oil, paper towel

I predicted that: 

I predicted that paper towels would soak up water not pick up oil.

I found out that:

I found out that the paper towel will pick-up oil well if you break through the surface tension of the water. It absorbed oil on the surface quickly. The paper towels works well dry, but once wet, does not work at all. Oil under the surface could not be picked up by paper towel. 

In conclusion, I can say:

That paper towel is effective on the surface, but not below the surface.