Surficial geochemistry: limitations and uncertainties
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| Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps | |
| |
| Series | Treatise in Petroleum Geology |
|---|---|
| Part | Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps |
| Chapter | Surface geochemical exploration for petroleum |
| Author | Dietmar Schumacher |
| Link | Web page |
| Store | AAPG Store |
While the potential benefits of a successful surface geochemical exploration program are very real and can significantly affect the economics of an exploration or development program, the user must be aware of limitations associated with geochemical exploration methods. Some limitations of surface geochemical exploration are related to geology; others are related to the method itself.
The following are limitations of surface geochemical prospecting related to geology:
- The geochemical expression of seepage is complex and varied.
- There is generally no simple one-to-one correlation between a surface anomaly and a subsurface accumulation. Some anomalies approximate the productive limits of an accumulation, but many do not.
- Successful integration of surface geochemical data with subsurface geology becomes increasingly difficult as the geology becomes more complex.
- False seep anomalies can be caused by reworked hydrocarbons and/or reworked source rocks.
- Reservoirs that are significantly underpressured or contain heavy oil may not be detected by some surface geochemical methods.
The following are limitations of surface geochemical prospecting related to the method:
- No single method works everywhere; there are many methods to choose from.
- A surface anomaly generally cannot be related to a specific source, reservoir, or depth; however, compositional fingerprinting techniques can sometimes discriminate seepage from different reservoir zones.
- Undersampling and/or use of improper sampling techniques causes ambiguity that leads to interpretation failures.
- Discovery of a surface geochemical anomaly does not guarantee discovery of commercially significant volumes of hydrocarbon.
- Geochemical exploration methods cannot replace existing exploration technology; however, they can add value to existing geological and geophysical exploration data.
See also
- Principles of surface geochemical exploration
- Assumptions of surface geochemical exploration
- Seepage activity and surficial geochemistry
- Macroseepage vs. microseepage in surficial geochemistry
- Geochemical surface expression
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