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  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X

  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X

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Hydrocarbons invading the pore space of a seal must displace the pore fluids. The pressure necessary to force the hydrocarbons into the seal and form a continuous filament is the '''displacement pressure'''. The pressure which forces the hydrocarbons into the seal is the '''buoyant pressure''' of the hydrocarbon phase. The trapping capacity of a top seal is the balance between the displacement pressure and the buoyant pressure. When the buoyant pressure exerted by the hydrocarbon column exceeds the displacement pressure of the seal, the seal leaks. For example, a shale top seal that could seal a 100-m column of oil might leak if the column increased to [[length::101 m]].

Hydrocarbons invading the pore space of a seal must displace the pore fluids. The pressure necessary to force the hydrocarbons into the seal and form a continuous filament is the '''[[Top seal displacement pressure|displacement pressure]]'''. The pressure which forces the hydrocarbons into the seal is the '''[[buoyant pressure]]''' of the hydrocarbon phase. The trapping capacity of a top seal is the balance between the displacement pressure and the buoyant pressure. When the buoyant pressure exerted by the hydrocarbon column exceeds the displacement pressure of the seal, the seal leaks. For example, a shale top seal that could seal a 100-m column of oil might leak if the column increased to [[length::101 m]].

==See also==

==See also==