Changes

* Percent fill

* Percent fill

* Vertical and lateral distribution of hydrocarbons

* Vertical and lateral distribution of hydrocarbons

* [[[[Migration]] pathways]] and charge volumes

* [[Migration pathway]]s and charge volumes

* Distribution and movement of hydrocarbons during field development

* Distribution and movement of hydrocarbons during field development

Seals are fundamental; no seal, no trap. Seals, or their absence, also define leak points that control the percent fill for hydrocarbon accumulations. Assessment of percent fill without the ability to risk seal (top or fault) is reduced to a statistical guessing game. They control the vertical and lateral distribution of hydrocarbons, both within individual fields and within basins.

Seals are fundamental; no seal, no trap. Seals, or their absence, also define leak points that control the percent fill for hydrocarbon accumulations. Assessment of percent fill without the ability to risk seal (top or fault) is reduced to a statistical guessing game. They control the vertical and lateral distribution of hydrocarbons, both within individual fields and within basins.

Seals control [[[[migration]] pathways]] into traps. A trap may be empty not because a fault ''leaked'' once-trapped hydrocarbons but because a fault ''sealed'' and prevented hydrocarbons from migrating into a trap and filling it in the first place. Similarly, top seals can restrict vertical migration into shallow traps and control the vertical and lateral distribution of hydrocarbons within a basin.

Seals control [[migration pathway]]s into traps. A trap may be empty not because a fault ''leaked'' once-trapped hydrocarbons but because a fault ''sealed'' and prevented hydrocarbons from migrating into a trap and filling it in the first place. Similarly, top seals can restrict vertical migration into shallow traps and control the vertical and lateral distribution of hydrocarbons within a basin.

Hydrocarbons migrate until they encounter the first intact seal. Because of variations in seal integrity and capacity, drainage areas are four-dimensional. Prospect analysis using drainage areas defined by simple structure-depth maps on the top reservoir can be very misleading. Plays appear and disappear in response to seal behavior.

Hydrocarbons migrate until they encounter the first intact seal. Because of variations in seal integrity and capacity, drainage areas are four-dimensional. Prospect analysis using drainage areas defined by simple structure-depth maps on the top reservoir can be very misleading. Plays appear and disappear in response to seal behavior.