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Bridging the Gap Between Previous HitBasinNext Hit Modeling and Structural Geology

W. Fjeldskaar
IRIS Research, Stavanger, Norway

Fairly simple exploration methods led to the early discoveries of the structural traps of oil and gas fields globally. A lot of interesting fields are, however, characterised by complicated geological structures. More sophisticated exploration methods are needed to make hydrocarbon discoveries in structural traps. There is therefore a growing need for Previous HitbasinNext Hit modeling systems that can handle more of the complex controlling geological processes that lead to generation and migration of hydrocarbons. Better insight into the mechanisms of Previous HitbasinNext Hit formation has a direct bearing on the predictive power of Previous HitbasinNext Hit models. Figure 1 is an example of the coupling between the plate stress with Previous HitbasinNext Hit modelling - the stress history may be important for understanding the mechanism and timing of domal structure development.

The most important factors behind the generation of hydrocarbons in sedimentary basins are temperature and time. The temperature regime in a Previous HitbasinNext Hit is affected by various geological processes throughout the history of the Previous HitbasinNext Hit. This includes processes related to Previous HitbasinNext Hit geometry, such as Previous HitbasinNext Hit formation, deposition/erosion of sediments and faulting, and physical processes related to compaction, heat flow and fluid flow.

In structurally complex basins we have found that it is important to represent the present geometry of the Previous HitbasinNext Hit properly because this allows a realistic reconstruction of the Previous HitbasinNext Hit geometry over geological time and more realistic calculations of the thermal evolution of the Previous HitbasinNext Hit. Poor definition of the present and palaeo geometry of a Previous HitbasinNext Hit can lead to large errors in the simulations of the temperature history and the hydrocarbon generation and migration. (Fig.2)

Figure 1. Modeled effect of extensional intra plate stress over a section from offshore mid Norway.

Figure 2. Example of reconstructed Previous HitbasinTop geometry using 2D listric fault model (left) and a simple 1D method (middle). The temperature difference between the two methods is in this example close to 100°C (yellow color; right figure)

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90066©2007 AAPG Hedberg Conference, The Hague, The Netherlands