1-2 PETROLEUM FORMATIONS 3
pores provide permeability, and the ratio of pore volume
1-2.2 The Geology of Petroleum Accumulation
Petroleum is found chiefly in sedimentary basins, and
although fanciful theories of inorganic origin have sur-
faced in the past, it is almost universally accepted that
petroleum has its organic origin in a source rock.
Decay of organic remains under pressure and tem-
perature and under conditions preventing oxidation
and evaporation has been the most likely process in
the formation of petroleum. Associated saline water
suggests environments near ancient seas, and thus, a
plausible and often repeated scenario is one of ancient
rivers carrying organic matter along with sediments and
depositing successive layers, eventually buried by sub-
stantial overburden.
The formation of petroleum was followed by accumu-
lation. The gravity contrast between hydrocarbons and
water, along with capillary effects, would force oil and
gas to migrate upward through rock pores. Connected
A Anticline Trap
B Convex Trap
C Permeability Trap
Figure 1-1 Petroleum trapping mechanisms
to the bulk volume, the porosity, is one of the most
important variables characterizing a petroleum reservoir.
The natural tendency of hydrocarbons to migrate
upward would continue to the surface unless a trapping
mechanism intercedes. This is precisely what happened.
At depths as shallow as a few tens of feet to over
30,000 ft, natural traps, which are special geological for-
mations, allowed the accumulation of the migrating
hydrocarbons. Common to all cases is an overlain
impermeable layer forming a caprock.
Figure 1-1 (after Wilhelm, 1945) sketches some of the
most common petroleum traps. Convex traps, either by
simple folding (Figure 1-1A) or because of differences in
reservoir thickness (Figure 1-1B) and overlain by an
impermeable layer are the easiest to intersect with dril-
ling.
A permeability trap (Figure 1-1C) and a pinchout trap
(Figure 1-1D) denote that laterally and upward the
D Pinchout Trap
E Fault Trap
F Piercement Trap