ABSTRACT: Computer simulation of hydrocarbon generation, migration and accumulation under hydrodynamic conditions - examples from the Williston and San Juan Basins, USA

Meissner, Fred F.¹ and Richard B. Banks²
(1) Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 
(2) Scientific Computer Applications, Inc, Tulsa, OK

We have developed a PC-based program that uses basic data to identify and map an area of source rock maturity and the volumes of oil or gas it may generate, map secondary migration routes for generated hydrocarbons under hydrodynamic conditions, and predict the areas and volumes of hydrocarbon accumulation along a migration path.

Input data required for mapping the area of source rock maturity and generation volume includes kerogen type, organic carbon content, source rock thickness, kerogen transformation ratio, and amount of hydrocarbons retained in the source rock. Contour maps of these data are generated and integrated on the PC.

Input data required for mapping secondary hydrocarbon migration paths within a carrier/ reservoir unit charged by a mature source rock include datum elevations on top of the reservoir, pressure data, and reservoir fluid densities. Structure and groundwater potentiometric surface maps may be modified by a fluid density controlled "tilt amplification factor" to create "phantom" hydrocarbon-water contact (HWC) datum elevation contour map. The intersection of contours on the structure and phantom HCW maps may be used to create contours of equal hydrocarbon potential energy that control migration paths and sites of potential entrapment.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90913©2000 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Bali, Indonesia