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Calibrating fault seal using a hydrocarbon migration model of the Oseberg Syd area, Viking Graben
Date Issued
2009-06
Date Available
2011-07-20T14:23:12Z
Abstract
It is widely acknowledged that fault rock capillary properties are important in controlling the distribution of hydrocarbons in sedimentary basins, and methods exist for predicting the capillary seal capacity of prospect bounding faults. However, fault seal capacity is rarely incorporated into models of hydrocarbon migration. This paper presents the results of migration modelling of the Oseberg Syd area of the Viking Graben incorporating fault rock capillary properties. Seal capacity is calculated in the model as a function of Shale Gouge Ratio (SGR), i.e. the percentage shale in the sequence moved past a point on a fault. Over 3 000 model realisations were run for different SGR to fault seal capacity relationships and the calculated hydrocarbon distributions were compared with known distributions. Realisations were ranked according to the closeness of fit between model and actual oil-water contacts for 7 traps. The best-fit to all 7 traps was provided by realisations with significant seal capacity at SGR values greater than ca. 0.2; a value which is in agreement with an independently derived fault-by-fault calibration between SGR and seal capacity. The level of fill calculated for an individual trap is extremely sensitive to minor changes in the seal capacity relationship because it is controlled not only by the seal capacities of the faults that bound the trap, but also by the pattern of fill-spill of upstream traps. This sensitivity to minor changes in seal capacity introduces large uncertainties when fault seal capacity relationships are used in a predictive mode and emphasises the requirement for migration modelling in fault seal prospect evaluation.
Sponsorship
Not applicable
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Marine and Petroleum Geology
Volume
26
Issue
6
Start Page
764
End Page
774
Copyright (Published Version)
2008 Elsevier Ltd.
Subject – LCSH
Faults (Geology)--Mathematical models
Grabens (Geology)--Norway--Oseberg
Hydrocarbon reservoirs
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0264-8172
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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