Mark Cooper¹

(1) PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd, Calgary, AB

ABSTRACT: Hydrocarbon Prospectivity of Inversion Structures

Hydrocarbon accumulations have been discovered in inversion structures in many hydrocarbon provinces in a variety of structural settings. Inversion structures are the result of the compressional or transpressional re-activation of fault systems that originally developed as extensional or transtensional structures. Both phases of structural development can influence the controls on the petroleum system. The extensional phase of development creates differential accommodation space in which reservoir facies can be deposited. Sediment starvation of an extensional system can produce ideal conditions for the accumulation of source rocks. The interplay of tectonics and sedimentation allows for the deposition of the various elements required to create a viable petroleum system. The extensional phase can also create trapping geometries for hydrocarbon accumulations. The compressional phase of deformation will not normally influence the distribution of source, reservoir and seal but can create new structural traps, influence maturation of the source and cause the re-migration of existing accumulations. Examples from a number of different basins can be used top illustrate these controls on the petroleum system. The globally distributed examples have been chosen from a variety of tectonic regimes and all of the examples demonstrate that detailed analysis of the structural evolution and it's impact on facies distribution is key to understanding the development of the petroleum system.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado