Introduction to Petroleum Systems Analysis Event chart Charge Modelling

Elements of a Petroleum System

Source rock Reservoir rock Seal rock Traps Overburden rock Timing

Petroleum System Processes

Trap formation Generationmigrationaccumulation of hydrocarbons

Steps Required to Identify a Petroleum system

Naming a Petroleum system

The name of A Petroleum System contains of 3
parts: The name of active source rock

The name of the reservoir rock that contains the

largest volume of in-place petroleum The Symbol expressing the level of certainty

Naming a Petroleum system (contd)

A petroleum system can be identified at 3 levels of certainty: Known, Hypothetical And Speculative
Level of certainty Criteria Symbol

Known Hypothetical

A positive oil-source rock or gassource rock correlation In the absence of a positive petroleum-source rock correlation, geochemical evidence Geological or geophysical evidence

(!) (.)

Speculative

(?)

Petroleum System Event Chart

Basin modelling in combination with geochemistry provides the answers to the following questions:

Are there potential source rocks in a basin? Can they produce oil and gas? Have they produced oil and gas?

How much oil and gas have they produced?

When did they produce oil? When did they produce gas? Where in the basin have they produced the oil and gas? Where have the produced oil and gas migrated?

1-D Charge Modelling

Simulation of key wells Advantages: Gives a quick basin appraisal. Provides general trends of subsidence, thermal maturation and hydrocarbon generation.

Disadvantages:

The well may not be representative of the whole basin.

Computed results may have large error limits.

2-D Charge Modelling

Simulation in 2-D: (X, Z dimension + time) Advantages: Combines seismic, geological and geochemical data Determines subsidence, thermal, pressure, maturity and hydrocarbon generation histories

Disadvantages: No identification of migration and accumulation histories Unable to describe hydrocarbon flow adequately

3-D Charge Modelling

Basin Simulation with the correct geometry Advantages: Combines all geophysical, geological, geothermal, geochemical and

pressure data in an integral manner

Give a full range of information for exploration representing present level of know how

Disadvantages: Time consuming and expensive

Charge Modelling Input Parameters

Stratigraphic Layer Subdivision Depth Age Erosion Water Depth

Thermal Present day heat flow Palaeoheat flow Surface Temperature

Calibration Vitrinite Reflectance Bottom Hole Temperature

Biomarkers

Methodology for modelling using TerraMod

Start

Input Data:
Porosity Lithology Age Heat Flow Layer Event type Water depth Surface temp.

Simulate

Is calculated thickness VS measured thickness > 10%

YES

Check lithology and or porosity

NO

Methodology (Contd)
Input Source rock & Calibrated data

Calibration of model (sensitivity & tuning)

Check heat flow and or unconformity thickness Does Calibrated & modelled VR data match?

Output model result

End

Model input data on TerraMod

Palaeoheat Flow Optimisation

Calibrated Modelled VR vs. Measured VR data

Present Day Heat Flow Optimisation

1. Heat flow is adjusted over last 5 Ma until calibration is achieved between real and

predicted BHT data.

2. Curve should sit to the right of the control points because the real BHT always under estimates the geothermal gradient

Geohistory Plot

Sensitivity Analysis of Charge Model

Test the Significance of Input data on charge modelling results - Procedure Vary values within predefined realistic values - Outcomes

Tests overall sensitivity of the model