--> Applications of Petroleum Systems Concepts to Reservoir Geochemistry, by J. Allan and K. Cole; #90986 (1994).

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Abstract: Applications of Petroleum Systems Concepts to Reservoir Geochemistry

Jim Allan, Kevin Cole

A thorough knowledge of the petroleum systems in a petroliferous basin provides a basis for applying geochemical expertise to the exploitation business. Of critical importance is a knowledge of the distinguishing chemical and physical properties of the petroleum fluids which have been generated in each system.

The Western Canada basin is a foreland basin which lies on the east side of the Rocky Mountain Cordillera. Petroleum exploitation has been active since the early part of this century and the basin is now in a mature stage of development. Numerous marine and nonmarine source rocks have charged oil and gas into traps which range in age from Middle Devonian to Tertiary. In most parts of the basin stacked reservoir horizons occur which contain fluids from a variety of sources. In some instances, reservoirs contain mixed hydrocarbons from more than one source while in others a single source is responsible for the hydrocarbon charge.

The ability to discriminate chemically and isotopically the variously-sourced fluids gives the geochemist the tools to employ oil and gas-source rock correlations In diagnosing the likely reservoir zones for leaking hydrocarbons or predicting oil and gas quality in recompletions of untested reservoirs. Examples will be shown where simple diagnostic techniques have been used in the production and pipeline sectors of the business to either speed up diagnosis of problems or eliminate considerable expenditures.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994