--> Abstract: Modeling Regional Petroleum Generation and Migration in an Area of Abnormal Pressure and Growth Faults: Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico, by J. Burrus, C. Ducreux, F. W. Schroeder, T. F. Scharzer, R. Lander, L. Wenger, and E. Sandvik; #90987 (1993).

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BURRUS, JEAN, Institut Francais du Petrole, Rueil-Malmaison, France; C. DUCREUX, BEICIP, Rueil-Malmaison, France; F. W. SCHROEDER, Exxon Production Research, Houston, TX; T. F. SCHARZER, Exxon Exploration, Houston, TX; R. LANDER; L. WENGER and E. SANDVIK, Exxon Produciton Research, Houston, TX

ABSTRACT: Modeling Regional Petroleum Generation and Migration in an Area of Abnormal Pressure and Growth Faults: Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico

The petroleum history was modeled for an 850 km north-south section that extends through Louisiana from Arkansas to the deep Gulf of Mexico. IFP's 2-D basin modeling software, TEMISPACK, was utilized. Four principal issues were addressed at a regional scale: (a) thermal history, (b) hydrocarbon generation history, (c) overpressure development and permeability calibration, and hydrocarbon expulsion and migration. Major results include:

(a) Present-day subsurface temperatures were matched using a laterally consistent sub-basement heat flow of 50 mW/m{2}. If the effects of abnormal pressure on porosity and thermal conductivity had not been included, heat flow estimates for the offshore would have been over-estimated by 30%. Observed maturity data are consistent with our heat flow model.

(b) Permeabilities of various lithofacies were calibrated using the observed overpressure distribution. Sensitivity analyses indicate a precision of better than a factor of 10 in the permeabilities assigned to shales and other impervious facies.

(c) Modeling suggests overpressure in the Gulf is primarily compaction driven with only a minimal contribution due to hydrocarbon generation. The permeabilities required to match observed pressure profiles also suggest a hydrofracture potential for the deeper lithofacies.

(d) Modeling four source intervals (Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous, Upper Cretaceous, Tertiary) satisfactorily matched known hydrocarbon distributions and properties. Some cross-formational migration and oil mixing is suggested for hydrocarbons in Mesozoic reservoirs of central and northern Louisiana and the offshore occurred only when narrow zones of enhanced vertical permeability were included at major growth faults. This suggests the importance of growth faults in connecting mature source intervals with shallow, Neogene reservoirs.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.