Basics of Petroleum Geology

Presented By: Shahnawaz Mustafa

The science of petroleum geology

Chemistry
Geochemistry is a major component of petroleum geology Detailed knowledge of the mineralogical composition of rocks reservoir quality. Pore-fluid chemistry Pore-

Physics
Geophysics contributes to: Understanding the structures involved in trapping: folds, faults Understanding the wells: wireline logs, lithology, porosity

 Biology
Biochemistry: transformation of plant and animal
tissues into kerogen and through to oil and gas. Study of fossil life: Paleontology

Formation of an oil accumulation

Burial of adequate organic source material.
most petroleum is derived from the accumulation of trillions of individual micro-organisms. micro-

Burial to the appropriate depths.

depths of 2-6 km and temperatures of 60-160 C. 260-

Presence of a reservoir-quality rock. reservoira porous storage space. Sandstone and limestones are the most common reservoir rocks. To be a reservoir they must have: Porosity, Porosity, to hold the hydrocarbons Permeability, Permeability, to allow fluid flow

Presence of an adequate seal

A seal is an impermeable bed (such as a shale or a bed of salt) that sits on top of the trap and prevents the hydrocarbons rising any further.

Presence of a trap
In order to prevent the hydrocarbons rising to the surface and escaping they must be caught in a confined space, termed a trap. i.e. the source, reservoir and seal must be arranged in such a way that the petroleum is trapped.

Organic Matter
When an organism (plant or animal) dies, it is normally oxidized Under exceptional conditions: organic matter is buried and preserved in sediments The composition of the organic matter strongly influences whether the organic matter can produce coal, oil or gas.

Basic components of organic matter in sediments

PROTEINS CARBOHYDRATES LIPIDS (Fats) LIGNIN
All of these + Time + Temperature + Pressure = KEROGEN

Types of Kerogen
Type I : algal kerogen
best oil source Lipid-rich Lipid-

Type II: herbaceous II:

kerogen
Good oil source Includes zooplankton (sapropelic)

Type III: woody III:

kerogen (coaly)
Good gas source

OIL FORMATION

The Petroleum System

The Source Rock

A type of rock
which contains organic matter and is capable to generate the hydrocarbons. Best example of source rock is shale.

The Reservoir Rock

A reservoir rock
is that kind of rock which can hold the hydrocarbons. Most common examples of reservoir rocks are sandstone and Carbonates (limestone and dolomite).

The Reservoir Rock: Dolomite

This is an example of
an important reservoir rock type. Fossils have been hollowed out by the chemical conversion of limestone to dolomite, creating pore spaces so large that they are sometimes called cavernous porosity porosity

The Seal
The seal or cap rock
is an impermeable rock which dont allow the hydrocarbons to escape from the reservoir rock. Common examples of cap rocks are, chalks , shales, clays etc.

The Trap
A subsurface obstacle to flow of petroleum
to the earths surface.

Classified (broadly) into

Structural Traps Examples: folds and faults. Stratigraphic Traps Examples: pinch out and unconformity traps

Structural Traps

Stratigraphic traps

Migration Processes
Primary Migration:
involves the expulsion of petroleum from the source rocks to reservoir rock. Secondary Migration: involves the movement of petroleum through permeable layers (carrier beds) to the trap. trap.

Reservoir Porosity and Permeability

There are two fundamental physical properties that a good reservoir must have: (1) porosity, or sufficient void space to contain significant petroleum. petroleum. (2) permeability, the ability of petroleum to flow through these voids. voids.

Types of porosity

Reservoir properties are to be confirmed through

Direct methods (Core) Indirect method (logs)

Presence of Oil/Gas is confirmed through

(1) Logs (2) Cuttings/cores (3) Testing

Seal Integrity is the most important factor for preservation of hydrocarbon in pools