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Percent fill: controlling factors (view source)
Revision as of 13:46, 31 January 2014
, 13:46, 31 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 = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
| chapter = Evaluating top and fault seal
| frompg = 10-1
| topg = 10-94
| author = Grant M. Skerlec
| link = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm
| pdf =
| store = http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545
| isbn = 0-89181-602-X
}}
The percent fill of a trap is the percentage of the trap volume filled with hydrocarbons compared with its total volume. Percent fill can be controlled by a number of factors, including the following:
* Top seal capacity/integrity
* Synclinal spill points
* Charge
* Fault seal capacity
* Fault-dependent leak points
==Control summary==
The following figure summarizes the various controls on percent fill and hydrocarbon column height. The maximum fill case is the synclinal spill point (SSP). A cross-leaking fault limits the percent fill to the juxtaposed lithology leak point (JLLP). A dip-leaking fault limits the percent fill to the fault plane leak point (FPLP).
A cross-sealing fault allows fill below the JLLP and possibly as deep as the SSP. A trap also may be partially filled (PF) due to either charge or top seal capacity. A partially filled trap can have a hydrocarbon contact at any depth.
[[file:evaluating-top-and-fault-seal_fig10-14.png|thumb|{{figure number|10-14}}See text for explanation.]]
==Finite seal capacity of faults==
Sealing faults may have some finite seal capacity. A fault may be able to support the pressure exerted by a 50-m hydrocarbon column but leak if the column increases to [[length::51 m]].<ref name=ch10r13>Chong, K., P., Hoyt, P., M., Smith, J., W., Paulsen, B., Y., 1980, Effects of strain rate on oil shale fracturing: International Journal of Rock Mechanics, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 35–43., 10., 1016/0148-9062(80)90004-2</ref> Recent work suggests there may be a maximum seal capacity related to the percentage of shale in the fault gouge.<ref name=ch10r97>Yielding, G., Freeman, B., Needham, D., T., 1997, Quantitative fault seal prediction: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 81, no. 6, p. 897–917.</ref><ref name=ch10r74>Skerlec, G., M., 1997b, Atlas of fault seal behavior in the Gulf Coast: Franklin, Pennsylvania, SEALS International, 4356 p.</ref> In most cases, however, the percent fill is significantly less and is limited by fault-dependent leak points rather than the seal capacity of the gouge.
==See also==
* [[Fault seal behavior]]
* [[Fault seal behavior basics]]
* [[Cross-leaking faults]]
* [[Cross-sealing faults]]
* [[Dip-sealing faults]]
* [[Dip-leaking faults]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{search}}
* [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm Original content in Datapages]
* [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545 Find the book in the AAPG Store]
[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]
[[Category:Evaluating top and fault seal]]
| image = exploring-for-oil-and-gas-traps.png
| width = 120px
| series = Treatise in Petroleum Geology
| title = Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
| part = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
| chapter = Evaluating top and fault seal
| frompg = 10-1
| topg = 10-94
| author = Grant M. Skerlec
| link = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm
| pdf =
| store = http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545
| isbn = 0-89181-602-X
}}
The percent fill of a trap is the percentage of the trap volume filled with hydrocarbons compared with its total volume. Percent fill can be controlled by a number of factors, including the following:
* Top seal capacity/integrity
* Synclinal spill points
* Charge
* Fault seal capacity
* Fault-dependent leak points
==Control summary==
The following figure summarizes the various controls on percent fill and hydrocarbon column height. The maximum fill case is the synclinal spill point (SSP). A cross-leaking fault limits the percent fill to the juxtaposed lithology leak point (JLLP). A dip-leaking fault limits the percent fill to the fault plane leak point (FPLP).
A cross-sealing fault allows fill below the JLLP and possibly as deep as the SSP. A trap also may be partially filled (PF) due to either charge or top seal capacity. A partially filled trap can have a hydrocarbon contact at any depth.
[[file:evaluating-top-and-fault-seal_fig10-14.png|thumb|{{figure number|10-14}}See text for explanation.]]
==Finite seal capacity of faults==
Sealing faults may have some finite seal capacity. A fault may be able to support the pressure exerted by a 50-m hydrocarbon column but leak if the column increases to [[length::51 m]].<ref name=ch10r13>Chong, K., P., Hoyt, P., M., Smith, J., W., Paulsen, B., Y., 1980, Effects of strain rate on oil shale fracturing: International Journal of Rock Mechanics, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 35–43., 10., 1016/0148-9062(80)90004-2</ref> Recent work suggests there may be a maximum seal capacity related to the percentage of shale in the fault gouge.<ref name=ch10r97>Yielding, G., Freeman, B., Needham, D., T., 1997, Quantitative fault seal prediction: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 81, no. 6, p. 897–917.</ref><ref name=ch10r74>Skerlec, G., M., 1997b, Atlas of fault seal behavior in the Gulf Coast: Franklin, Pennsylvania, SEALS International, 4356 p.</ref> In most cases, however, the percent fill is significantly less and is limited by fault-dependent leak points rather than the seal capacity of the gouge.
==See also==
* [[Fault seal behavior]]
* [[Fault seal behavior basics]]
* [[Cross-leaking faults]]
* [[Cross-sealing faults]]
* [[Dip-sealing faults]]
* [[Dip-leaking faults]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{search}}
* [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm Original content in Datapages]
* [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545 Find the book in the AAPG Store]
[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]
[[Category:Evaluating top and fault seal]]