- Test what the impact on prospect charge would be from changes
in various assumptions (e.g., source characteristics),
- Assess the charge risk associated with each of the various
elements of a given petroleum system (e.g., determine if there is
adequate source richness, sufficient source volume, adequate source
maturity, appropriate timing of generation relative to timing of
trap formation, etc.), and
- Estimate the volume of petroleum generated from a given volume
of source rock(s), the volume of petroleum expelled from the source
rock, the petroleum losses during migration, and ultimately the
quantity of petroleum delivered to the trap(s).
Depending on the sophistication of the model (and of the data
upon which the model is based), the basin model may help the
geologist address issues such as:
- The timing of hydrocarbon generation relative to the timing a
trap formation.
- The volumes of hydrocarbons delivered to a trap (e.g. Figure
1).
- The hydrocarbon type (liquid vs. gas and their relative
proportions) likely to be currently present in the trap (e.g.
Figure 1).
- The physical properties (PVT) of the hydrocarbon charge.
- The possible migration paths to the prospect (e.g. Figure
1).
- The possible post-charge loss of hydrocarbons from the trap
(leakage through seal, tilt and spill of trap, thermal cracking,
biodegradation, etc.).
Basin models are constructed by integrating various types of
geological and geochemical data (e.g., see Welte et al., 1997, for
a review).
The thermal maturation history components of models are
calibrated with various petrographic and geochemical thermal
maturity parameters measured on rocks (e.g., vitrinite reflectance
data, Rock Eval data, apatite fission track data, fluid inclusion
data) and oils (e.g., biomarker maturity parameters)
The RESPONSE of the source rocks to increasing maturation (i.e.,
WHEN in the maturation history a source rock generates
hydrocarbons, and how the relative proportions of oil vs. gas
change with increasing maturation) is modeled using source rock
kinetics data. The critical importance of using appropriate
kinetics data in constructing a model has been reviewed by numerous
authors (e.g., Jarvie, 1991; Espitalie et al., 1993; Andresen et
al., 1993; Welte et al., 1997). Possible choices for source rock
kinetics data include:
- kinetic data from analogous source rocks (when samples of the
source rock being modeled are unavailable), or
- custom source rock kinetics data specific to the source
interval in the model (measured on samples of the source rock
itself), or
- custom source rock kinetic parameters measured on the
asphaltenes of migrated oils generated by that source rock. This
later approach is particularly powerful since it allows custom
kinetics data to be used in a model even when samples of the source
rock being modeled are not available (e.g., Jarvie et al., 2002;
Skeje et al., 2003).
Either 1D, 2D, or 3D basin modeling (basin modelling) may be
performed. The choice of model type and sophistication depends on
the data available, the project goals, and the time/ funding
available to construct the model. The reference section below lists
a variety of excellent studies that have used various types of
basin modeling to address a wide range of exploration problems.
Which basin modeling software package is appropriate for a given
project also depends on a variety of factors, including the project
goals, the available data (geological and geochemical) for
constructing the model, and the financial resources available for
the project. The OilTracers LLC scientists have chosen NOT to
endorse specific basin modeling software packages on this web site,
but we are willing to discuss the relative merits of individual
software solutions if we receive a specific inquiry.
Figure 1: For a structure in the Qatar area,
this basin model allows the user to calculate and display the
maturity of the source rock in the surrounding area (the colored
map), the outline of the fetch area (red line), the migration paths
(light green lines) within the fetch area, and a probability
distribution of both gas and oil charge volumes for the structure.
A model such as the one shown here allows the geologist to rapidly
determine and visualize key aspects of the petroleum system (such
as petroleum charge volumes) that are NOT modeled by traditional 3D
basin simulators. The model shown here can run 1000 realizations in
less than a minute on a desktop computer, allowing the user to
quantify the probability of charge for a petroleum prospect.
Graphic courtesy of ZetaWare, Inc.
For more information on basin modeling (basin modelling), or to
discuss a specific project, e-mail us at info@oiltracers.com or call
us at U.S. (214) 584-9169.
References
Andresen, P., N. Mills, H. J. Schenk, and B. Horsfield, 1993,
The importance of kinetic parameters in modelling oil and gas
generation a case study in 1D from well 2/4-14, in A. G.
Doré, J. H. Augustson, C. Hermanrud, D. J. Steward, and O. Sylta,
eds., Basin Modelling: Advances and Applications: Special
Publication, v. 3: Elsevier, Amsterdam, Norwegian Petroleum
Society, p. 563-571.
Burrus, J., E. Brosse, G. C. de Janvry, Y. Grosjean, and J. L.
Oudin, 1992, Basin modelling in the Mahakam Delta based upon the
integrated 2D modelTemispack: Jakarta: Proceedings of the
Indonesian Petroleum Association, p. 23-43.
Dahl, B., E. Nysaether, G. C. Speer, and A. Yukler, 1987,
Oseberg area--integrated basin modelling, in J. Brooks,
and K. Glennie, eds., Petroleum Geology of North West Europe:
London, Graham and Trotman, p. 1029-1038.
Dahl, B., and M. A. Yukler, 1991, The role of petroleum
geochemistry in basin modeling of the Oseberg area, North Sea,
in R. K. Merril, ed., Source and migration processes and
evaluation techniques: Treatise of Petroleum Geology, Handbook of
Petroleum Geology: Tulsa, AAPG, p. 65-85.
de B. Penteado, H. L., D. C. de Oliveira, C. Magnier, and A. A.
Bender, 2000, Long Distance Oil Migration in the Potiguar Basin,
Northeastern Brazil: Insights from 2D Basin Modeling, in
L. A. F. Trindade, A. C. Macedo, and S. M. Barbanti, eds., New
Perspectives on Organic Geochemistry for the Third Millennium,
Proceedings, 7th Latin-American Congress on Organic Geochemistry,
22-26 October, 2000, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, ALAGO, p. 399-401.
De Barros Penteado, H. L., D. C. De Oliveira, C. Magnier, and A.
A. Bender, 2001, Oil migration and biodegradation in the Potiguar
basin, northeastern Brazil: insights from 2D basin modelling, 20th
International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry, Nancy, France 10-14
September 2001 (abstracts), v. 1, p. 475-476.
di Primio, R., and B. Horsfield, 1996, Gas Generation in
Overpressured Compartments: Implications from Geochemistry and
Basin Modelling, in E. Gomez, L. Martinez Cortez, and A.
Martinez Cortez, eds., Memorias del V Congresso Latinoamericano de
Geoquimica Organica, Cancun, Mexico, October 6-10, 1996, ALAGO, p.
45-46.
Duppenbecker, S. J., and T. Dodd, 1993, Petroleum charge model
for Brent accumulations--application of integrated basin modelling,
5th Conference of European Association of Petroleum Geoscientists
and Engineers Abstracts: Norway, Stavanger, p. F028.
Espitalie, J., F. Marquis, and S. Drouet, 1993, Critical study
of kinetic modelling parameters, in A. G. Doré, J. H.
Augustson, C. Hermanrud, D. J. Steward, and O. Sylta, eds., Basin
Modelling: Advances and Applications: Special Publication, v. 3:
Elsevier, Amsterdam, Norwegian Petroleum Society, p. 233-242.
George, S. C., N. J. Russell, T. E. Ruble, M. Lisk, and P. J.
Eadington, 1999, The use of oil inclusion geochemistry and basin
modelling for assessing oil charge history: Blackback oil field,
Gippsland Basin, Australia: 19th International Meeting on Organic
Geochemistry, 6-10 September 1999, Istanbul, Turkey, v. Abstracts
Part I, p. 111-113.
Gonclaves, F. T. T., C. A. Mora, F. Cordoba, E. C. Kairuz, and
B. N. Giraldo, 2002, Petroleum generation and migration in the
Putumayo Basin, Colombia: Insights from an organic geochemistry and
basin modeling study in the foothills: Marine and Petroleum
Geology, v. 19, p. 711-725.
Greber, E., W. Leu, D. Bernoulli, M. E. Schumacher, and R. Wyss,
1997, Hydrocarbon provinces in the Swiss Southern Alps--a gas
geochemistry and basin modelling study: Marine and Petroleum
Geology, v. 14, p. 3-26.
Hermanrud, C., 1993, Basin modelling techniques-an overview,
in A. G. Dore, J. H. Auguston, C. Hermanrud, D. S.
Stewart, and O. Sylta, eds., Basin modelling: advances and
applications, v. 3, Norwegian Petroleum Society (NPF) Special
Publication, p. 1-34.
Hosgörmez, H., and M. N. Yalcin, 2002, Determination of Possible
Source Rocks of Pure Thermogenic Gas Occurrences in the Thrace
Basin (Turkey) by Stable Isotope Geochemistry and Basin Modelling.,
in A. Rangel, F. Goncalves, P. Parra, and C. M. Hernández,
eds., 8th Latin-American Congress on Organic Geochemistry, October
20th-24th 2002 Cartagena de Indias, Colombia: Cartagena de Indias,
Latin American Association of Organic Geochemistry - ALAGO, p.
199-201.
Jabour, H., and K. Nakayama, 1988, Basin Modeling of Tadla
Basin, Morocco, for Hydrocarbon Potential: AAPG Bulletin, v. 72, p.
1059-1073.
Jarvie, D. M., 1991, Factors affecting Rock-Eval derived kinetic
parameters: Chemical Geology, v. 93, p. 79-99.
Jarvie, D. M., V. Dieckmann, R. di Primio, and B. Horsfield,
2002, Oil Asphaltene Kinetics: Constraints and Comparison to source
rock kinetics., in A. Rangel, F. Goncalves, P. Parra, and C. M.
Hernández, eds., 8th Latin-American Congress on Organic
Geochemistry, October 20th-24th 2002 Cartagena de Indias, Colombia:
Cartagena de Indias, Latin American Association of Organic
Geochemistry - ALAGO, p. 273-275.
Kacewicz, M., J. Curiale, G. Blake, M. Filewicz, J. Finstuen,
and B. Johnson, 2000, 2D Basin Modeling in Deep Water Espirito
Santo Basin (Brazil), in L. A. F. Trindade, A. C. Macedo,
and S. M. Barbanti, eds., New Perspectives on Organic Geochemistry
for the Third Millennium, Proceedings, 7th Latin-American Congress
on Organic Geochemistry, 22-26 October, 2000, Foz do Iguacu,
Brazil, ALAGO, p. 178.
Leischner, K., D. H. Welte, and R. Littke, 1993, Fluid
inclusions and organic maturity parameters as calibration tools in
basin modelling, in A. G. Doré, J. H. Augustson, C.
Hermanrud, D. J. Steward, and O. Sylta, eds., Basin Modelling:
Advances and Applications: Special Publication, v. 3: Elsevier,
Amsterdam, Norwegian Petroleum Society, p. 161-172.
Maldonado, R., L. Medrano, N. Holguin, and M. Titus, 2002, 2D
Basin Modeling in Marbella Area, Litoral de Tabasco, Mexico,
in A. Rangel, F. Goncalves, P. Parra, and C. M. Hernández,
eds., 8th Latin-American Congress on Organic Geochemistry, October
20th-24th 2002 Cartagena de Indias, Colombia: Cartagena de Indias,
Latin American Association of Organic Geochemistry - ALAGO, p.
229-231.
Masterson, W. D., 2001, Petroleum Filling History of Central
Alaskan North Slope Fields: Ph.D. thesis, University of Texas at
Dallas, Dallas (May 2001), 159 p.
Medrano, M. L., R. Maldonado, M. Titus, and N. Holguin, 2002, 2D
Basin Modeling offshore Macuspana Basin, Mexico, in A.
Rangel, F. Goncalves, P. Parra, and C. M. Hernández, eds., 8th
Latin-American Congress on Organic Geochemistry, October 20th-24th
2002 Cartagena de Indias, Colombia: Cartagena de Indias, Latin
American Association of Organic Geochemistry - ALAGO, p.
284-288.
Mukhopadhyay, P. K., 1994, Vitrinite reflectance as a maturity
parameter: Petrographic and molecular characterization and its
applications to basin modeling, in P. K. Mukhopadhyay, and
W. G. Dow, eds., Vitrinite reflectance as a maturity parameter:
Applications and limitations. ACS Symposium series 570: Washington,
DC, American Chemical Society, p. 1-24.
Rodriguez, J. F. R., and R. Littke, 2001, Petroleum generation
and accumulation in the Golfo San Jorge Basin, Argentina: a basin
modeling study: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 18, p.
995-1028.
Rudkiewicz, J.-L., H. L. d. B. Penteado, A. Vear, M.
Vandenbroucke, F. Brigaud, J. Wendebourg, and S. Düppenbecker,
2000, Chapter 3 Integrated Basin Modeling Helps to Decipher
Petroleum Systems, in M. R. Mello, and B. J. Katz, eds.,
Petroleum Systems of South Atlantic Margins: AAPG Memoir, v. 73:
Tulsa, AAPG.
Schegg, R., C. Cornford, and W. Leu, 1999, Migration and
accumulation of hydrocarbons in the Swiss Molasse Basin:
implications of a 2D basin modeling study: Marine and Petroleum
Geology, v. 16, p. 511-532.
Schneider, F., J. M. Gaulier, S. Wolf, I. Faille, and D. Pot,
2000, Quantitative HC Potential Evaluation Using 3D Basin Modeling:
Application to Congo Offshore, in L. A. F. Trindade, A. C.
Macedo, and S. M. Barbanti, eds., New Perspectives on Organic
Geochemistry for the Third Millennium, Proceedings, 7th
Latin-American Congress on Organic Geochemistry, 22-26 October,
2000, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, ALAGO, p. 390-392.
Schneider, F., and S. Wolf, 2000, Quantitative HC potential
evaluation using 3D basin modelling: application to Franklin
structure, Central Graben, North Sea, UK: Marine and Petroleum
Geology, v. 17, p. 841-856.
Skeie, J. E., R. di Primio, and D. A. Karlsen, 2003, An
integrated basin modelling study applying asphaltene kinetics from
reservoired petroleum in the Snorre area, northern North Sea, in J.
Cubbitt, W. England, S. Larter, and G. Macleod, eds., Conference
Abstracts: Geochemistry of Reservoirs II: Linking Reservoir
Engineering and Geochemical Models (Geological Society of London,
February 3-4, 2003), Geological Society of London.
Summa, L. L., R. J. Pottorf, T. F. Schwarzer, and W. Harrison,
1993, Paleohydrology of the Gulf of Mexico: development of
compactional overpressure and timing of hydrocarbon migration
relative to cementation, in A. G. Doré, and et al., eds., Basin
Modelling: Advances and Applications: Special Publication, v. 3,
Norwegian Petroleum Society, p. 641-656.
Theis, N. J., H. H. Nielson, J. K. Sales, and G. J. Gail, 1993,
Impact of data integration on basin modelling in the Barents Sea,
in A. G. Doré, J. H. Augustson, C. Hermanrud, D. J.
Steward, and O. Sylta, eds., Basin Modelling: Advances and
Applications: Special Publication, v. 3: Elsevier, Amsterdam,
Norwegian Petroleum Society, p. 623-640.
Welte, D. H., B. Horsfield, and D. R. Baker, 1997, Petroleum and
basin evolution: insights from petroleum geochemistry, geology and
basin modeling: New York, Springer, xxiv, 535 p.
Welte, D. H., and M. N. Yalcin, 1988, Basin modeling-A new
comprehensive method in petroleum geology, in L.
Mattavelli, and L. Novelli, eds., Advances in Organic Geochemistry
1987, Organic Geochemistry, v. 13, p. 141-151.
Welte, D. H., M. A. Yukler, M. Radke, D. Leythaeuser, U. Mann,
and U. Ritter, 1983, Organic geochemistry and basin modelling--
Important tools in petroleum exploration, in J. Brooks,
ed., Petroleum Geochemistry and Exploration of Europe, Blackwell
Scientific Publications, p. 237-252.