--> Abstract: Hydrocarbon Migration Through Faults and Successive Reservoir Infilling in the Ghadames Basin, Algeria, by J-L. Rudkiewicz, R. Daniels, and A. Chaouche; #90942 (1997).

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Abstract: Hydrocarbon migration through faults and successive reservoir infilling in the Ghadames Basin, Algeria

RUDKIEWICZ, JEAN-LUC, ROBERT DANIELS, and AHMED CHAOUCHE

Hydrocarbon migration through faults is a long debated question. A case study in the Ghadames Basin in southeastern Algeria has allowed one to point out the role of faults and of capillary seals in the infilling of stacked reservoirs.

The hydrocarbon system in this basin starts in Paleozoic units and comprises two source rocks and three over- or interlying reservoir units. Migration from the source to the reservoir shows a succession of primary migration from the source to the local drains, then local accumulations in traps and dismigration into the next overlying trap. Dismigration from one reservoir to another occurs once the hydrocarbon column exceeds the capillary barriers. The relative capillary entry pressures of shaly seals, faulted seals or reservoirs induce a stepwise flow into the plumbing system with successive pulses of migration.

The hydrocarbon system, which may represent a good example for other Paleozoic basins, has been modeled with the 2D compositional generation and migration basin simulator Temiscomp. This allowed understanding of the conditions of gas or oil occurrence in the stacked reservoirs and prediction for further exploration targets.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90942©1997 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Vienna, Austria