Assessing hydrocarbon charge access via map-based fetch analysis: Going beyond petroleum systems event charts

Assessing hydrocarbon charge access via map-based fetch analysis: Going beyond petroleum systems event charts

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Charge access is a critical risk element to consider during hydrocarbon exploration.Often charge access is evaluated using complex simulations and modeling, but in this study a simple and effective map-based fetch analysis is presented using present-day and paleostructural surfaces.The basic workflow involves using present-day mapped horizons and modeling accumulations located at all of the horizons above a mature source rock and then vertically adding the accumulation presence maps into a single map.An additional, more conservative, vertically-stacked charge focus map can also be created that only incorporates the charge from the underlying horizons (starting from a mature source rock).Additionally, the historical evolution of the trap and migration pathways can be investigated by first creating paleostructural surfaces and then conducting fetch analysis on these surfaces looking for paleoaccumulations.

It is possible to then assemble paleocharge focus summary charts, which are similar to a common petroleum systems event chart, however, this chart provides more insights related to the evolution of the trap and charge access.Utilizing stacked charge focus maps and a paleocharge focus summary chart it is easier tennessee titans dog bandana to visualize how a prospect may or may not be charged, as well as, provide additional insights regarding a prospects overall geological risk profile.Fetch analysis using published surfaces from the Exmouth sub-basin and Cooper basin in Australia indicated 89% and 76% of the discoveries to-date are located in areas with present-day charge focus, respectively.Some of the prior well failures in the Exmouth sub-basin with reported charge access or top seal failures can also be corroborated by using charge focus maps.Similarly, this type of fetch analysis can be used to support or refute potential, observed direct hydrocarbon indicators that may be used to underpin a potential prospect.

Additionally, hydrocarbon seepage or the lack of a seep above a prospect can also be investigated voyage et cie discount code if suitable maps and grids are available.Using paleocharge and present-day charge focus maps does not ensure exploration success because other risk elements may fail, but this analysis can be done very quickly, the outputs of this workflow are not difficult to generate or interpret, and the workflow can provide meaningful geological insights related to future exploration targets as well as past failures.