--> ABSTRACT: Constraining Petroleum Migration Histories with Fluid Inclusions, by D. L. Hall and R. E. Larese; #91021 (2010)

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Constraining Petroleum Migration Histories with Fluid Inclusions

HALL, DON L., and RICHARD E. LARESE

Understanding oil and gas migration is key to managing petroleum exploration risk, hence the need to continually develop improved organic and inorganic mineralogical and fluid tools which can be used to infer the former presence of oil and gas. Fluid inclusions may represent the most complete samples of reservoir hydrocarbons, and are often documented along migration pathways penetrated by wells without conventional shows. Three applications are discussed.

1) Evidence for Migration. Detection and quantification of the abundance and stratigraphic distribution of petroleum fluid inclusions allows mapping of dominant migration pathways and potential reservoir intervals. Recent advances in microanalytical techniques allow for more routine biomolecular analysis of included petroleum, hence permitting migration paths to be tied to source rock and source maturity. Limitations include addressing possible alternate sources of petroleum inclusions (e.g., those inherited to recycled detritus, or generated in situ from mature, disseminated kerogen), as well as understanding the controls on inclusion formation and preservation.

2) Product Type. Prediction of petroleum type and quality from inclusions is possible through microthermometry. Advanced analytical techniques can estimate GOR, other production characteristics and detailed chemistries.

3) Timing Relationships. Petrographic and microthermometric analysis can be used to understand relationships between petroleum migration and porosity evolution, and can place relative or absolute constraints on timing of migration. These data along with product type can be used as input for basin models, which can then place additional absolute timing constraints on regional migration. Ultimately, these data can be used to assess charge/trap associations. 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91021©1997 AAPG Annual Convention, Dallas, Texas.