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Formation-scale migration pathways (view source)
Revision as of 14:36, 24 January 2014
, 14:36, 24 January 2014Initial import
{{publication
| image = exploring-for-oil-and-gas-traps.png
| width = 120px
| series = Treatise in Petroleum Geology
| title = Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
| part = Critical elements of the petroleum system
| chapter = Migration of petroleum
| frompg = 7-1
| topg = 7-38
| author = Martin D. Matthews
| link = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch07/ch07.htm
| pdf =
| store = http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545
| isbn = 0-89181-602-X
}}
Flow of an immiscible phase through a series of beds does not proceed uniformly but occurs preferentially through beds of higher [[permeability]] when possible. It is dependent on the capillary properties of individual beds, the proportion of higher- to lower-permeability beds, and spatial relationships of beds to the principal flow directions (bed parallel and bed perpendicular). These factors are similar to the factors reservoir engineers use to characterize reservoir heterogeneity. They are, however, more difficult to assess because of the uncertainty of the characteristics of low-permeability rocks. The knowledge base is currently undergoing rapid change.
==Bed orientation control of flow==
The effect of bedding geometry on permeability direction and magnitude is significant. The table below shows how bedding orientation controls flow of hydrocarbons during migration.
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! If bed orientation is…
! Then the flow is…
|-
| Parallel to the flow direction
| principally controlled by the most permeable units
|-
| Perpendicular to the flow direction
| principally controlled by the least permeable units
|-
| Random alignment to the flow direction
| not preferentially focused
|}
==Bed-parallel vs. bed-perpendicular flow==
The following crosspiot shows the difference in relative permeability at varying water saturations for bed-parallel vs. bed-perpendicular muliphase fluid flow in a wavy bedded rock. The water saturations need to be much lower in bed-perpendicular flow to achieve the same relative permeability. The flow within a bed is a function of the proportions of end-member lithologies, their permeability and [[capillary pressure]]s, and the orientation of the beds to the direction of the flow.
[[file:migration-of-petroleum_fig7-10.png|thumb|{{figure number|7-10}}After Ringrose and Corbett.<ref name=ch07r11>Ringrose, S., P., Corbett, P., W., M., 1994, Controls in two phase fluid flow in heterogeneous sandstones, geofluids, in Parnell, J., ed., Origin, Migration, and Evolutions of Fluids in Sedimentary Basins: Geological Society Special Publication no. 78, p. 141–150.</ref> Copyright: Geological Society.]]
==See also==
* [[Migration pathways]]
* [[Defining migration pathways from source to trap]]
* [[Vertical and lateral migration distance]]
* [[Migration rate]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{search}}
* [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch07/ch07.htm Original content in Datapages]
* [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545 Find the book in the AAPG Store]
[[Category:Critical elements of the petroleum system]]
[[Category:Migration of petroleum]]
| image = exploring-for-oil-and-gas-traps.png
| width = 120px
| series = Treatise in Petroleum Geology
| title = Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
| part = Critical elements of the petroleum system
| chapter = Migration of petroleum
| frompg = 7-1
| topg = 7-38
| author = Martin D. Matthews
| link = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch07/ch07.htm
| pdf =
| store = http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545
| isbn = 0-89181-602-X
}}
Flow of an immiscible phase through a series of beds does not proceed uniformly but occurs preferentially through beds of higher [[permeability]] when possible. It is dependent on the capillary properties of individual beds, the proportion of higher- to lower-permeability beds, and spatial relationships of beds to the principal flow directions (bed parallel and bed perpendicular). These factors are similar to the factors reservoir engineers use to characterize reservoir heterogeneity. They are, however, more difficult to assess because of the uncertainty of the characteristics of low-permeability rocks. The knowledge base is currently undergoing rapid change.
==Bed orientation control of flow==
The effect of bedding geometry on permeability direction and magnitude is significant. The table below shows how bedding orientation controls flow of hydrocarbons during migration.
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! If bed orientation is…
! Then the flow is…
|-
| Parallel to the flow direction
| principally controlled by the most permeable units
|-
| Perpendicular to the flow direction
| principally controlled by the least permeable units
|-
| Random alignment to the flow direction
| not preferentially focused
|}
==Bed-parallel vs. bed-perpendicular flow==
The following crosspiot shows the difference in relative permeability at varying water saturations for bed-parallel vs. bed-perpendicular muliphase fluid flow in a wavy bedded rock. The water saturations need to be much lower in bed-perpendicular flow to achieve the same relative permeability. The flow within a bed is a function of the proportions of end-member lithologies, their permeability and [[capillary pressure]]s, and the orientation of the beds to the direction of the flow.
[[file:migration-of-petroleum_fig7-10.png|thumb|{{figure number|7-10}}After Ringrose and Corbett.<ref name=ch07r11>Ringrose, S., P., Corbett, P., W., M., 1994, Controls in two phase fluid flow in heterogeneous sandstones, geofluids, in Parnell, J., ed., Origin, Migration, and Evolutions of Fluids in Sedimentary Basins: Geological Society Special Publication no. 78, p. 141–150.</ref> Copyright: Geological Society.]]
==See also==
* [[Migration pathways]]
* [[Defining migration pathways from source to trap]]
* [[Vertical and lateral migration distance]]
* [[Migration rate]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{search}}
* [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch07/ch07.htm Original content in Datapages]
* [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545 Find the book in the AAPG Store]
[[Category:Critical elements of the petroleum system]]
[[Category:Migration of petroleum]]