Module 3 Final - HYDROCARBON AND RESERVOIR GEOLOGY

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    Module 3

    Hydrocarbon and Reservoir Geology

    MODULE 3

    HYDROCARBON AND RESERVOIR GEOLOGY

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    MODULE 3

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Page

    Preliminary Pages 3-i to v

    SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION TO PETROLEUM 3-1-1

    1.1 DEFINITION OF PETROLEUM 3-1-3

    1.2 THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY 3-1-3

    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 1 3-1-5

    SECTION 2 BASIC GEOLOGY 3-2-1

    2.1 TYPES OF ROCK 3-2-3

    2.1.1 General 3-2-3

    2.1.2 Igneous Rock 3-2-3

    2.1.3 Sedimentary Rock 3-2-3

    2.1.4 Metamorphic Rock 3-2-5

    2.1.5 The Cycle of Rocks 3-2-52.2 ROCK STRUCTURE 3-2-5

    2.2.1 General 3-2-5

    2.2.2 Folds 3-2-7

    2.2.3 Faults 3-2-7

    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 2 3-2-9

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

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    SECTION 3 ORIGINS OF HYDROCARBON DEPOSITS 3-3-1

    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 3 3-3-5

    SECTION 4 SEDIMENTARY ROCK 3-4-1

    4.1 GENERAL 3-4-3

    4.2 POROSITY AND PERMEABILITY 3-4-34.2.1 General 3-4-3

    4.2.2 Porosity 3-4-3

    4.2.3 Permeability 3-4-3

    4.2.4 Cementation 3-4-4

    4.3 TYPES OF SEDIMENTARY ROCK 3-4-4

    4.3.1 General 3-4-4

    4.3.2 Sandstone 3-4-54.3.3 Shale 3-4-5

    4.3.4 Limestone 3-4-5

    4.3.5 Evaporites 3-4-5

    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 4 3-4-7

    SECTION 5 RESERVOIR FORMATION 3-5-1

    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 5 3-5-7

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

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    SECTION 6 EXPLORATION 3-6-1

    6.1 EXPLORATION METHODS 3-6-3

    6.2 DRILLING PROPOSAL 3-6-3

    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 6 3-6-5

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    ILLUSTRATIONS

    FIGURE NO. DESCRIPTION

    1-1 Global Energy Supply

    2-1 Sediment Formation

    2-2 Cycle of Rocks

    2-3 Types of Fold

    2-4 Typical Fault

    5-1 Oil Seeps

    5-2 Anticlinal Trap

    5-3 Migration of Petroleum

    5-4 Salt Dome Formation

    6-1 Seismic Surveying

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    SECTION 1

    INTRODUCTION TO PETROLEUM

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    Figure 1-1 Global Energy Supply

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    1 INTRODUCTION TO PETROLEUM

    1.1 DEFINITION OF PETROLEUM

    The word petroleum comes from the Greek/Latin words petra, meaning rock,

    and oleium, meaning oil. Rock oil, or crude oil, is an oily flammable liquid,

    varying from almost colourless to black. It comprises a complex mixture of

    hydrocarbons (i.e. basically chemically organic material) with small quantities

    of other materials, existing at many places in the upper strata of the earth.

    It can vary from black, tarry asphalts to light oils which can be used almost

    directly as motor fuel. In between are oils of all colours varying through red,

    reddish brown, dark brown to black, and some fluorescent green or purple in

    reflected light. In odour some smell sweet, some smell like turpentine, and

    others have an odour like rotten eggs due to the presence of sulphur

    compounds. Wax occurs in some oils; others have none.

    In addition to liquid hydrocarbons, large quantities of hydrocarbon gas are

    usually present in the wellhead product, often exceeding the liquid content.

    1.2 THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

    Refer to Figure 1-1.

    Petroleum has been used for thousands of years. Seepages from cracks in

    the ground were collected and used for lamp fuel and medicine in the Middle

    East and China over 3000 years ago. Dried out oil seeps, in the form of

    bitumen lakes, have for centuries provided material to keep ships watertight,

    build roads and even as mortar for house building (by the ancient Greeks).

    The petroleum industry as it is known today began in the USA. The first well

    to be drilled for oil was in 1859, the oil produced being used to make kerosene

    for oil lamps.

    The invention of the gasoline engine, around 1900, increased the demand for

    oil. Kerosene had to be refined to produce the lighter grade of petroleum

    (gasoline) needed for automobile fuel. This requirement generated the growth

    of the refinery industry. Demand further increased when ships changed from

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    coal to oil for fuel. Since those days, the uses for oil and gas have steadily

    increased.

    The petrochemical industry uses petroleum to produce many products such

    as soap, detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, plastics and medicines. Many newproducts have been developed by the industry to improve living standards.

    Today the economy of the world depends upon the petroleum industry.

    More recently, governments and industry have come to appreciate that

    petroleum is a scarce and valuable resource. They have adopted

    conservation policies designed to prevent waste.

    In the past, produced gas was flared as there was no means to harness or

    use it for fuel. Today, gas is transported along pipelines for industrial and

    domestic distribution and consumption. It may also be liquefied for shipment

    to distant users. If there is no immediate requirement for gas, it may be

    reinjected into the reservoir to provide gas lift or simply as a means of

    conserving it for future use.

    Over the years the world demand for petroleum has increased considerably.

    This demand will continue to increase as more nations become industrialized.

    The following figures illustrate this growth:

    1900 100 million (100 000 000) barrels per year

    1981 20 billion (20 000 000 000) barrels per year

    1990 80 billion (80 000 000 000) barrels per year.

    These figures only account for liquid oil products. Liquefied gas levels also

    show increases as more gas becomes available. Liquefied Natural Gas

    (LNG) is being used in more and more domestic and industrial applications.

    For these reasons, exploration and prospecting for new hydrocarbon fields is

    an ongoing and ever important aspect of the oil and gas industry. To

    appreciate how this is carried out, some understanding of the geology

    involved is essential and is covered in this training module.

    This module also provides information which will help in the understanding of

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    the composition, characteristics and behaviour of wellhead fluids.

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    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 1

    1 Crude oil can appear at the wellhead in various colours. List 4 of them.

    2 What causes crude oil to smell like rotten eggs?

    3 Name 3 historical uses for bitumen.

    4 In which country did the modern petroleum industry begin?

    5 Name 4 products derived from petroleum produced by the petrochemical

    industry.

    6 Produced gas is sold for domestic and industrial use. Name 1 other use.

    7 What was the approximate worldwide demand

    for petroleum in 1990 (in barrels per year)?

    (a) 10 million

    (b) 20 billion

    (c) 80 billion

    (d) 120 billion

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    SECTION 2

    BASIC GEOLOGY

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    Figure 2-1 Sediment Formation

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    2 BASIC GEOLOGY

    2.1 TYPES OF ROCK

    Refer to Figure 2-1.

    2.1.1 General

    All the rocks of the Earth can be divided into three basic types:

    igneous

    sedimentary

    metamorphic.

    Of these three, it is sedimentary rock which is of particular interest

    to the petroleum geologist as this is where hydrocarbons are

    formed and trapped.

    2.1.2 Igneous Rock

    In the centre of the Earth is a hot molten mass of rock known as

    magma. Magma is released at the surface when volcanoes erupt.

    The released molten rock quickly cools and solidifies into igneous

    rock. Magma can also cool and solidify without breaking out onto

    the surface.

    2.1.3 Sedimentary Rock

    The forces of nature in the form of wind, rain, temperature changes,

    tides and gravity begin to attack igneous rock as soon as it has

    cooled. Over millions of years, this erosion process is considerable

    and is extreme enough to wear away whole mountain ranges given

    sufficiently long time scales. The eroded rock does not, however,

    simply lay on the surface but is carried away by the action of wind,

    rain and river flow, eventually to be deposited in the sea. The

    layers thus deposited are known as sediments.

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    K I O - 4 - 0 1 5 8 . C D R

    M E T A M O R P H I C

    R O C K S

    M A G M A

    S E D I M E N T A R Y

    R O C K SS E D I M E N T S

    I G N E O U

    R O C K S

    P R E S S U R E

    C E M E N T A T I O N

    E R O S I O N

    H E A TC O O L I N G

    Figure 2-2 Cycle of Rocks

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    As these sediment layers build up, the overall weight increases, as

    does the pressure on the lowest levels. As a result, the lower

    layers become increasingly compacted until they become new rock

    formations known as sedimentary rocks.

    Some types of sedimentary rock can be formed by the deposition

    over millions of years of the skeletal material of billions of sea

    creatures, e.g. vertebrate skeletons, invertebrate shells and corals.

    2.1.4 Metamorphic Rock

    the Earth's crust is not a fixed stable surface. The continents are

    constantly in motion, albeit extremely slowly, floating on the molten

    magma below. This activity causes both sedimentary and igneous

    rock to be subjected to enormous forces of heat, pressure and

    friction, resulting in a third type of rock known as metamorphic rock.

    2.1.5 The Cycle of Rocks

    Refer to Figure 2-2.

    Over millions of years, the process of formation of igneous,

    sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, including mountain building

    and erosion, are continuously repeated throughout the life of the

    planet. This is known as the cycle of rocks.

    2.2 ROCK STRUCTURES

    2.2.1 General

    As discussed in Section 2.1.4 above, the Earth's crust is continually

    in motion. Among other effects, this movement results in

    realignment of the strata, known as folds and faults.

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    Figure 2-3 Types of Fold

    Figure 2-4 Typical Fault

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    2.2.2 Folds

    Refer to Figure 2-3.

    When layers of sedimentary rock are upfolded into an arch-likeform, the structure is called an anticline. When the beds are

    downfolded into a trough-like structure they are called synclines. If

    an anticlinal structure is vertical so that it plunges in all directions it

    is known as a dome. If a synclinal structure has a vertical axis such

    that it dips inwards in all directions it is known as a basin.

    2.2.3 Faults

    Refer to Figure 2-4.

    Faults are formed when the compression or tension forces acting

    on rock strata cause the layers to fracture. The rock on either side

    of the fracture is then free to move up or down, displacing the strata

    from their original positions. Faults range in size from just a few

    centimetres to many hundreds of kilometres along the break line

    (fault plane).

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    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 2

    1 Name the 3 basic types of rock.

    2 Which of the above is of particular interest to the petroleum geologist?

    3 What is the name of the molten rock at the centre

    of the Earth?

    (a) Sedimentary

    (b) Mud

    (c) Petroleum

    (d) Magma

    4 Name 4 forces of nature responsible for the erosion of igenous rock.

    5 Fill in the missing words in the following sentence:

    Movement of the Earth's crust results in realignment of the strata, known

    as ........... and ........... .

    a b c d

    Put tick in correct box

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    6 Name 2 types of fold.

    7 Consider each of the following sentences and state if true or false:

    (a) The smallest faults found are in the order of one kilometre.

    (b) The largest faults found are in the order of 100 metres.

    (c) Faults range from a few centimetres to many hundreds of kilometres.

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    SECTION 3

    ORIGINS OF HYDROCARBON DEPOSITS

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    3 ORIGINS OF HYDROCARBON DEPOSITS

    Hydrocarbons, also known as fossil fuels, are organic substances formed from the

    remains of plants and animals deposited millions of years ago over long periods of

    time.

    Although traces of hydrocarbons have been found in rocks more than 1 billion

    (1 000 000 000) years old, it is considered that most petroleum was formed less than

    500 million (500 000 000) years ago. Some deposits may have been formed as

    recently as 10 million (10 000 000) years ago.

    Hydrogen Hydrocarbon deposits are almost exclusively found in the sedimentary

    beds deposited in ancient seas. These seas once covered much of the present day

    land surfaces.

    The process of converting buried organic matter to oil, gas or coal requires two main

    factors: time and temperature, with pressure playing a subsidiary role.

    The term cooking time is used to describe how long (millions of years) the buried

    matter has been at sufficient temperature to undergo conversion to oil or gas. The

    rate at which the conversion takes place doubles with every 10C rise in

    temperature above 60C (the critical temperature below which conversion will not

    take place).

    Above a temperature of 120C the conversion process breaks down the organic

    matter and any oil is formed into gas. The term oil window is applied to zones of

    buried sediments that lie between 60C and 120C. Above 120C to 325C lies

    the gas window. Both these zones are sometimes referred to as the kitchen as it is

    within this area that oil and gas are formed, provided the cooking time is right.

    Above 325C, hydrocarbons are destroyed and reduced to carbon or coke.

    Sediments experience a rise in temperature as they are buried increasingly deeper

    below the surface with the passage of time. Typically a 1C rise in temperature is

    experienced for every 30 m of burial. The rate of increase in temperature with depth

    is known as the geothermal gradient and varies from basin to basin.

    Knowledge of the geothermal gradient is important as it determines the location in

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    depth terms of the kitchen in which oil and gas will have been produced from the

    original organic matter. Knowledge of earth movements is important as it determines

    the length of time that the sediments have remained in the kitchen.

    The longer a sediment has been buried, the lower the threshold temperaturerequired to convert its organic matter to oil. Jurassic sediment needs only 60C

    threshold as it has had over 150 million years in which to cook. Tertiary sediment

    needs a threshold of 80C to 100C as it may have had fewer than 60 million years

    in which to cook.

    Marsh gas is produced by degradation of organic matter at or near the surface and

    at normal temperatures. While significant volumes are created in this way, it is rarely

    trapped in geological structures to form an economic accumulation of natural gas.

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    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 3

    1 From what are hydrocarbons formed?

    (a) Sulphur

    (b) Coal

    (c) Plant and animal remains

    (d) Eroded igneous rock

    2 Consider each of the following sentences and state if rue or false:

    (a) Hydrocarbons have been found in rocks more than 1 000 000 000

    years old.

    (b) Hydrocarbons have been found in rocks more than 3 000 000 000

    years old.

    (c) Some hydrocarbon deposits may have formed as recently as 1 000

    years ago.

    (d) Some hydrocarbon deposits may have formed as recently as

    10 000 000 years ago.

    3 What are the 2 main factors in the process of converting buried organic matter

    into oil, gas or coal?

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    4 What is the critical temperature below which

    conversion will not take place?

    (a) 60C

    (b) 120C

    (c) 180C

    (d) 325C

    5 In the conversion process, what happens above 325C?

    6 What is a zone of buried organic matter, at the

    correct temperature for conversion to oil and/or

    gas, known as?

    (a) Gas cooker

    (b) Sink

    (c) Kitchen

    (d) Cellar

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    a b c d

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    SECTION 4

    SEDIMENTARY ROCK

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    44 SEDIMENTARY ROCK

    4.1 GENERAL

    When considering new areas for hydrocarbon exploration, the geologist first

    considers areas with sedimentary rock formation as it is in this type of rock

    that petroleum is primarily found.

    4.2 POROSITY AND PERMEABILITY

    4.2.1 General

    There are two basic rock properties to be considered in the searchfor hydrocarbons:

    porosity

    permeability.

    4.2.2 Porosity

    Porosity is the ability of a rock to hold fluids and is directly related to

    the amount of space between the grain particles comprising the

    rock. Porosity is quoted as a percentage.

    4.2.3 Permeability

    Permeability is the ability of a rock to allow fluid to flow through it.

    Permeability is measured in millidarcies.

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    4.2.4 Cementation

    If silica (present in most sands) is present in the deposit it will

    dissolve in any water contained in the deposit. Due to the effects of

    heat, this silica solution will recrystallize between the rock particles.

    If the deposit is sufficiently permeable, flow of water through the

    particles may occur. Any carbonates dissolved in the water will also

    be precipitated due to the higher temperature. These two

    processes, silica recrystallization and carbonate precipitation, are

    referred to as cementation as they act to bind the individual grains

    together. In general, the deeper a rock has been beneath the

    surface of the earth (which is not necessarily the depth at which it is

    found) the greater will be the degree of cementation. This process

    of pressure increase, temperature increase, and cementation, is

    known as diagenisis. The greater the degree of cementation the

    lower the porosity and the permeability.

    4.3 TYPES OF SEDIMENTARY ROCK

    4.3.1 General

    There are four main types of sedimentary rock:

    sandstone

    shale

    limestone

    evaporites.

    Sandstone and shale are known as clastics or rocks formed from

    fragments of other rock. Limestone and evaporites are known as

    chemical deposits as they are formed by chemical precipitation from

    seawater.

    Sandstone reservoirs are usually more porous than those of

    limestone. The least consolidated, younger sandstones are more

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    porous than the more tightly compacted, older or more deeply

    buried formations.

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    4.3.2 Sandstone

    Sandstone consists of sand-sized grains composed predominantly

    of quartz. Often cemented by a silica or carbonate cement. It is the

    typical oil reservoir rock.

    The degree of porosity in sandstone depends on grain size, grain

    shape, the degree of sorting and the amount of cement. The

    permeability of a rock does not always correlate directly with its

    porosity but it is usually good in a clean porous sandstone.

    4.3.3 Shale

    Shale, including mudstone, claystone and siltstone, is composed of

    silt-sized grains and smaller. Clay particles make up a large

    percentage of the rock. It usually displays laminations parallel to

    the bedding plane. Whilst the porosity of shale may often appear to

    be as high as that of good sandstone, the pores are so small and

    the pore throats so restricted that effective porosity is zero. The

    rock is usually impermeable, unless it is fractured when it allows

    flow or storage of hydrocarbons.

    4.3.4 Limestone

    Limestone is a general term for rocks containing at least 80% by

    volume calcium or magnesium carbonates. It often occurs as a

    bedded and distinctly jointed rock which is the consolidated

    equivalent of limy mud, calcareous sand or shell fragments, or all

    three in combination.

    Usually it has no primary (or intrinsic) porosity. In time, a secondary

    porosity may develop as a result of joints and cracks being

    developed and enlarged by ground water action.

    4.3.5 Evaporites

    Evaporites have no porosity or permeability. Their ability to flow

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    plastically has very important implications for geologists and drilling

    engineers.

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    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 4

    1 Fill in the missing words in the following sentences:

    (a) Porosity is the ability of a rock to .......... ..........

    (b) Permeability is the ability of a rock to allow .......... to .......... through it.

    2 What is the unit of measurement for permeability?

    3 What are the 2 processes which together are referred to as cementation?

    4 What are the 4 main types of sedimentary rock?

    5 What are sandstone and shale known as?

    (a) Clastics

    (b) Elastics

    (c) Clays

    (d) Evaporites

    6 What are the porosity and permeability properties

    of evaporites?

    (a) High

    (b) Average

    (c) Low

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    (d) Zero

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    SECTION 5

    RESERVOIR FORMATION

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    Figure 5-1 Oil Seeps

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    Figure 5-2 Anticlinal Trap

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    5 RESERVOIR FORMATION

    As sediments are buried beneath the sea, their pore spaces fill with salt water. With

    increasing depth, the muddy organic-rich rocks move into hydrocarbon generation.

    Oil and gas is formed and is squeezed out of these source rocks, migrating by

    various pathways, along fault planes, through permeable beds until it seeps to the

    surface (refer to Figure 5-1) or it is trapped by an overlying impervious cap rock

    (refer to Figure 5-2) so that it accumulates below it. The rock in which the

    hydrocarbon accumulates is always permeable and porous. This is the reservoir

    rock. Five essential requirements can be identified for the development of a

    hydrocarbon reservoir:

    mature source rock

    migration route

    impervious cap rock

    permeable reservoir rock

    trapping structure.

    The hydrocarbon fluid displaces the salt water or brine in the pore spaces as it flowsupwards to fill the reservoir rock under the trap. Because the reservoir is originally

    saturated with salt water, the petroleum migrating into it displaces some water,

    leaving a film of water around the sand grains and leaving the smaller pores full of

    water.

    The operating force is capillary pressure so the smaller the opening, the more

    difficult it is to displace water from the water-wet rock. Assuming a liquid

    hydrocarbon with its gas phase in solution, if the initial porosity is 25%, the pores willtypically contain 80% hydrocarbon and 20% water.

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    Figure 5-3 Migration of Petroleum

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    In attempting to recover the oil, the same capillary forces work in reverse and often

    only 30% of the oil in place can be recovered to the surface, the rest being trapped in

    the smaller pore spaces (refer to Figure 5-3).

    There are several different geological situations that can give rise to suitable traps.

    Traps can be formed by folding rock into an anticline (refer to Section 2.2.2). The

    formation of salt domes (refer to Figure 5-4) is another mechanism, as is faulting. A

    trap may result from a change in the type of sediment being laid down (known as a

    stratigraphic trap).

    There is almost an infinite variety of geological conditions that can combine to form a

    trap. When studying a trap, the geologist attempts to find out what geological

    conditions had to develop for it to form.

    Commercial hydrocarbon deposits are classified as accumulations, fields and

    provinces. The simplest unit of commercial occurrence is the accumulation. It is

    defined as the body of oil or gas, or both, occurring in a separate reservoir and under

    a single pressure system. An accumulation may be small, underlying only a few

    hectares, or it may extend for many square kilometres. Its content may be entirely

    gas, or it may be entirely or mainly oil.

    When several accumulations are related to a single geological feature, either

    structural or stratigraphic, the group of accumulations is termed a field. The

    individual accumulations in a field may occur at various depths, one above another,

    or they may be distributed laterally throughout the geological feature.

    The petroleum reservoir is the part of the rock that contains the accumulation of oil.

    The location of every oil and gas accumulation may be said to be the result of

    complex or interrelated geological conditions. Each reservoir is unique in its details.

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    Figure 5-4 Salt Dome Formation

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    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 5

    1 What are the 5 essential requirements for the development of a hydrocarbon

    reservoir?

    2 If the initial porosity of a reservoir rock is 25%,

    what would be a typical ratio of hydrocarbon to water?

    (a) 50 : 50%

    (b) 70 : 30%

    (c) 80 : 20%

    (d) 90 : 10%

    3 Name a geological condition which could result in the formation of a trap.

    4 Fill in the missing words in the following sentence:

    Commercial hydrocarbon deposits are classified as .........., .......... and

    ..........

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    5 Consider the following sentences and state if true or false:

    (a) An accumulation may range in size from 10 square kilometres to

    hundreds of square kilometres.

    (b) An accumulation is usually less than 1 hectare in size.

    (c) The content of an accumulation is always gas and oil in equal

    proportions.

    (d) An accumulation may range in size from a few hectares to many

    square kilometres.

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    SECTION 6

    EXPLORATION

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    Figure 6-1 Seismic Surveying

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    6 EXPLORATION

    6.1 EXPLORATION METHODS

    By carefully plotting the landscape, the geologist can predict the type of

    structure beneath which a reservoir may lie. Study of the surface rock

    composition helps this prediction. Aerial survey can narrow down the search

    by showing faults otherwise not noticeable at ground level, provided such

    faults are exposed.

    If geological and aerial surveys give strong indications, a seismic survey may

    be carried out. The seismic survey team looks for the presence of cap rock

    by measuring echoes. A charge of explosive is fired into the ground and the

    time taken for the echo to return is noted (refer to Figure 6-1). If cap rock is

    present, the echo returns quickly and sharply; the sooner the echo returns,

    the nearer is the cap rock. There are other types of formation which return

    echoes but the seismic team is able to differentiate between them by the

    sharpness and timing of the echo.

    By repeating these soundings over the area selected by the geologist, the

    seismic team is able to draw an underground map and establish the presenceof caps and potential reservoirs. Exploration drilling is, however, the only

    means of confirming (or denial) of the presence of a hydrocarbon reservoir.

    6.2 DRILLING PROPOSAL

    Before an oil company drills into a trap it must decide if that trap could contain

    sufficient volume of hydrocarbons to make the venture worthwhile. This

    requires a knowledge of the typical distribution of fluids in a reservoir.

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    A detailed geophysical and geological prognosis of the prospective structure

    must, therefore, be made and upon this is based an estimated chance of it

    containing hydrocarbons. The likely volume of recoverable hydrocarbons isestimated as follows:

    1 Estimate the volume of reservoir rock enclosed by the trap.

    2 Assuming typical porosity and oil/gas saturation, estimate the total

    oil/gas in place.

    3 Apply an average recovery factor and allow for volume change in

    bringing the oil/gas to surface temperature and pressure.

    Armed with this estimated recoverable oil volume, the oil company is then in a

    position to decide if the prospect is worthwhile drilling in terms of the likely

    return on the investment.

    6.3 TYPES OF WELL

    6.3.1 Wildcat Wells

    The geologist must decide where the first wells should be drilled, to

    test if his assumptions are correct.

    In a new basin or a previously undrilled area, this well is known as a

    wildcat well or exploration well, its purpose being to give the

    geologist access to the formation he would like to test for oil or gas

    accumulation.

    6.3.2 Appraisal Wells

    If the wildcat well finds oil or gas, further wells may be required to

    allow an accurate assessment of the volumes of oil or gas present.

    These are known as appraisal wells or stepout wells.

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    The following information is required before a decision can be made to

    develop an accumulation:

    (a) Level of the top of the oil-bearing formation.

    (b) Level of the top of the gas zone (possibly the same as (a) above).

    (c) Level of the bottom of the gas zone.

    (d) Level of the top of the liquid zone, if present (possibly the same as

    (c) above).

    (e) Level of the bottom of the liquid zone.

    (f) Level of the top of the water zone, if present (possibly the same as (e)above).

    (g) Rock samples of producing zones from which porosity and permeability

    can be determined.

    Several appraisal wells may be required before the extent of the hydrocarbon

    reservoir can be fully assessed.

    The information from these appraisal wells allows maps to be producedshowing gas/oil evaluations and oil/water elevations (assuming the three-

    phases exist in the reservoir). Thus, as reservoir porosity is already known,

    an 'oil in place' volume can be calculated.

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    In assessing the potential financial returns from a potential reservoir, it must

    be remembered that a reservoir can rarely be made to produce more than

    30% of its contents without pumping or other assistance. In some cases the

    figure is much smaller. Even with assistance, a reservoir can rarely be made

    to produce more than 50% to 60% of its contents. No method has yet been

    devised to enable the final 30% or so to be extracted.

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    EXERCISES RELATING TO SECTION 6

    1 What is the purpose of aerial surveying?

    2 Upon what principle is seismic surveying based?

    (a) Echo returns

    (b) X-rays

    (c) Chromatography

    (d) Photography

    3 In which order are the following types of well drilled?

    (a) Appraisal well

    (b) Development well

    (c) Exploration well

    4 What is the name of the test used to establish (among other data) the gas/oil

    ratio?

    5 What percentage of a reservoir's content can be produced without pumping or

    other assistance?

    a b c d

    Put tick in correct box

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