Trap systems: structural, stratigraphic, and fluidic

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Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
Series Treatise in Petroleum Geology
Part Traps, trap types, and the petroleum system
Chapter Classification of exploration traps
Author Richard R. Vincelette, Edward A. Beaumont, Norman H. Foster
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The proposed classification scheme divides traps into three main groups or systems, based on the controlling geologic element that created the trap:

System definition

Following are definitions for the three systems.

Trap type Trapping element is …
Structural Post- or syndepositional deformation or displacement of reservoir and/or sealing units
Stratigraphic Depositional, erosional, or diagenetic configuration of reservoir and/or sealing units
Fluidic Physical and/or chemical property or condition of reservoir fluids (see also Petroleum reservoir fluid properties)

Discussion

Structural and stratigraphic traps are well established in geological literature. The fluidic system is new; often, traps of this nature are referred to as “miscellaneous” or “other” or “unconventional” but seem to fit nicely into a distinct system of their own.

Classifying combinations

One of the more difficult tasks in categorizing an oil or gas accumulation into a specific trap type is determining the dominant element that creates the trap boundaries since often more than one element is involved, giving rise to the combination trap. We recognize this problem but hope that, by determining the primary, secondary, and, in some cases, tertiary trapping elements, explorationists can give combination traps useful labels. The label would combine classification labels such as structural/fluidic trap, stratigraphic/ structural trap, anticline/fault trap, and tilted fault-block/unconformity truncation trap, with the primary element listed first.

See also

External links

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Trap systems: structural, stratigraphic, and fluidic
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