Chapter no

05
Understand
the
Reservoir
Traps
Q NO 1: Describe the anticlinal
theory?

This theory states that, oil and gas

accumulation take place in anticlinal
structures, oil beings of less specific gravity
raises above water in a porous rocks and
collect at the highest possible point in the
upward fold.
The presence of water, according to
this theory is compulsory for the accumulation
of oil in anticlines.
A modified form of this theory is
applicable to anticlines in which hydrocarbons
are associated in water.
In earlier stages of petroleum exploration, only
anticlines were searched for oil. This theory is
not practicable now because of existence of
petroleum in other trapping mechanisms.

Q no 2: Outline the board

classification of reservoir tarps?
(Note: Qno2 andQno3 are same)

Traps are geological features where

hydrocarbons
can be accumulated. Traps
are broadly classified into three types
1)Structural traps 2) Stratigraphic traps 3)
Combination traps
Structural traps:Structural traps are the
result of changes in the form of reservoir
rock after deposition. It is a product of
deformation of in which the upper
boundary as viewed from below concaves.

At the present time, these traps account

for most of the hydrocarbons accumulate.
These are further classified into following
types
1)Anticlines 2) Fault trap 3) Fracture traps
4) Salt domes 5) Dikes intrusion
Anticlines:Anticlines dominate the other
traps in the world. Anticlines are the
unwrapping of the rock layers. The
unwrapping can occur in many fashions.
This association theory of petroleum
accumulation was developed. In fact at
one time petroleum exploration was only
the search of anticlines. It has been
estimated that 80% of the worlds H.Cs
deposits are present in anticlines.
Fault traps:A fault is a rock fracture with
an offset along the plane of fault. In this
phenomenon, the rock breaks into 2
portions. If a reservoir rock is present in
the faulted structure it may be blocked
(confronted) an impermeable rock. H.Cs
migrate through the reservoir rock are
trapped at the place of conformation.
Fractured traps:Fractured in the rock are
caused by external stress. If these
fractures are filled by an impermeable

material the H.Cs migrate through

reservoir rock. It may be blocked by the
impermeable material.
Salt domes:Salt laying thousand of feet
below the earth surface is plastic in nature.
Salt may be plug out of the formation
making impermeable salt domes. These
domes can block the passage of
hydrocarbons in the reservoir rock.
Dikes intrusion:Dikes are the solid
deposits of hydrocarbons in vertical
fashions if these dikes come in front of a
reservoir rock, they may tarp H.Cs
Stratigraphic traps:These traps are formed by
the change in stratigraphy of rock,
reducing the permeability of rock and
resulting in the formation of traps. These
traps can be formed by the unconformities
or on laps. Unconformity may occur if the
basin of deposition has been uplifted and
eroded. Some times, same area acts as a
depositional basin. Newly deposited rock
may be impermious by nature and may act
as seal rock. If the under lying rock has a
pool of oil or gas, it may trap under the
unconformity coarsed porous rock in the
form of a lap may form a trap.

Combination trap:A combination trap has

two or more stages in the history of
formation.
Stratigraphic elements enhanced with
permeability and porosity.
A structural element combined with
stratigraphy to formulate trap.
No single element can form a
combination trap. It requires that all stages
are completed in time.

Qno4: Describe structural traps

caused by folding?

Ans: Folding:A fold can be defined as a

bout in a rock that is the response to
compressional forces. Fold are most visible
in the rock that contain layering is called
folding. Which are caused by the
compressive, tensile, sheer stress?
Structural traps caused by folding are as
under
Anticlines, syncline and hybrid folds.
Anticlines:Anticlines are those traps in
which oil and gas migrate through the
reservoir rock. Which is trapped by the
compressional stress. An anticline is the
unwrapping of rock layers.

Synclines:Synclines are the form of anticline

having S shape and they make a trap for
H.Cs.
Hybrid folds traps:These are the
combination of both anticlines and
synclines. The association theory of
petroleum accumulation was developed in
fact at one time petroleum exploration was
only the search of folding (anticlines,
synclines). It has been estimated that 80%
of the world H.Cs deposits are present in
anticlines.

Q no5: Describe normal faulting?

Normal faulting:Faulting is the phenomenon

in which rock body gets fractured due to
the application of stress, and a movement
or offset takes place along the plane of
faulting. If no offset is exhibited by the rock
along the fracture, the fracture is termed
as joint.
Normal faulting is a porous in
which the rock gets fractured due to
extensional stresses and one portion of the
rock body is slipped down due to the
gravity. The body of the rock staying in the
place after the offset has occurred is called
foot wall. The body of the rock which has

moved downward relative to foot wall is

called hanging wall. The plane along which
the movement takes place is called fault
plane.
BEFORE FAULTING

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

AFTER FAULTING

FIGURE 3

In such type of faulting, if an impermeable

rock confronts a carrier rock, a trap may be
formed.

Q no6: Describe
thrust faulting?

reverse

and

Ans: Reverse faulting is the phenomenon of

brittle deformation of the rock caused by

the compressional stresses. In this type
of faulting, the offsets take place in the
opposite direction that is one body of the
rock is pushed up by the compressional
force along the direction of dip. This fault
is
called
as
reverse
fault.

FIGURE 4

Thrust fault:Thrust fault are the reverse faults with

low dip angle. If the reverse fault has a dip angle
<45 degree, it is called thrust fault.

FIGURE 5

Qno7: describe traps caused by fracturing?

Ans : fracture in the rock are caused by extensional stress.
If these fractures are filled by an impermeable
material the H.Cs migrates through reservoir rock
may be blocked by this impermeable material. There
are two types of fracture traps.
1) Fault traps 2) Fold traps
FAULT TRAPS:
There are three types of faults
1) Dip slip fault 2) Strike slip fault 3) Oblique
slip fault
01) Dip slip fault:It is the type of fault which occurs up ward and
down ward between two blocks of rock. There are
two types of dip slip faults.
1. Normal faults

2. Reverse fault
Normal faults:If one block moves down ward relative
to the other block is called normal fault. This
formation is caused by the extensional stress. If H.Cs
are migrate in the reservoir rock due to the
extensional stress fault is create. Due to this reservoir
rock may be blocked by an impermeable material.
H.Cs migrating through the reservoir rock is trapped
at the place of confrontation.
Reverses faults:If one block of rock is move upward
relative to the other block is called reverse fault.
This formation is caused by the extensional stress. If
H.Cs are migrate in the reservoir rock due to the
extensional stress fault is create. Due to this reservoir
rock may be blocked by an impermeable material.
H.Cs migrating through the reservoir rock is trapped
at the place of confrontation. In this type of faults the
angle is <45 degree.
02) Strike slip fault:In this type of fault the movement of
block is horizontal.
03) Oblique faults:It is the combination of strike slip
fault and dip slip faults.
FOLD TRAPS:
A fold can be defined as a
bout in a rock that is the response to
compressional forces. Fold are most visible
in the rock that contain layering is called

folding. This is caused by the compressive,

tensile, sheer stress.
Structural traps caused by folding are as
under
Anticlines, syncline and hybrid folds.
Anticlines:Anticlines are those traps in
which oil and gas migrate through the
reservoir rock. This is trapped by the
compressional stress. An anticline is the
unwrapping of rock layers.
Synclines:Synclines are the form of anticline
having S shape and they make a trap for
H.Cs.
Hybrid folds traps:These are the
combination of both anticlines and
synclines. The association theory of
petroleum accumulation was developed in
fact at one time petroleum exploration was
only the search of folding (anticlines,
synclines). It has been estimated that 80%
of the world H.Cs deposits are present in
anticlines.