Difference between revisions of "Seal capacity: pitfalls and limitations of estimation"

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{{merge|Seal capacity}}
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{{publication  
 
{{publication  
 
  | image  = exploring-for-oil-and-gas-traps.png
 
  | image  = exploring-for-oil-and-gas-traps.png
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  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
 
  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
 
  | chapter = Evaluating top and fault seal
 
  | chapter = Evaluating top and fault seal
  | frompg  = 10-1
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  | frompg  = 10-82
  | topg    = 10-94
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  | topg    = 10-82
 
  | author  = Grant M. Skerlec
 
  | author  = Grant M. Skerlec
 
  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm
 
  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm
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* Few empirical field studies compare the predicted and observed [[hydrocarbon column]] heights. This is worrisome because idealized laboratory experiments have significant errors in the predicted hydrocarbon column heights.
 
* Few empirical field studies compare the predicted and observed [[hydrocarbon column]] heights. This is worrisome because idealized laboratory experiments have significant errors in the predicted hydrocarbon column heights.
 
* [[Saturations required for hydrocarbon flow|Hydrocarbon saturations required for flow]] through top seals—and, consequently, displacement pressures—may be much higher than commonly assumed.
 
* [[Saturations required for hydrocarbon flow|Hydrocarbon saturations required for flow]] through top seals—and, consequently, displacement pressures—may be much higher than commonly assumed.
* Hydrocarbon columns beneath breached seals and hydrocarbon-wet seals may not be related to the capillary properties of the seal in any easily understood way.
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* Hydrocarbon columns beneath breached seals and [[Seal capacity of breached and hydrocarbon-wet seals|hydrocarbon-wet seals]] may not be related to the capillary properties of the seal in any easily understood way.
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion Diffusion] can cause loss of large volumes of gas but not oil through a top seal.
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion Diffusion] can cause loss of large volumes of gas but not oil through a top seal.
 
* Hydrodynamic flow can alter top seal capacity.
 
* Hydrodynamic flow can alter top seal capacity.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
* [[Difficulty of characterizing p<sub>d</sub> of a seal]]
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* [[Displacement pressure of a seal: difficulty of characterization]]
* [[Does the theory predict reality?]]
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* [[Displacement pressure: does the theory predict reality?]]
 
* [[Saturations required for hydrocarbon flow]]
 
* [[Saturations required for hydrocarbon flow]]
 
* [[Seal capacity of breached and hydrocarbon-wet seals]]
 
* [[Seal capacity of breached and hydrocarbon-wet seals]]
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[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  
 
[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  
 
[[Category:Evaluating top and fault seal]]
 
[[Category:Evaluating top and fault seal]]
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[[Category:Treatise Handbook 3]]

Latest revision as of 20:57, 31 March 2022

Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
Series Treatise in Petroleum Geology
Part Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
Chapter Evaluating top and fault seal
Author Grant M. Skerlec
Link Web page
Store AAPG Store

Although it is tantalizing to be able to measure the capillary properties of a seal and then assess hydrocarbon volumes, some practical problems exist:

  • It is not easy to characterize the displacement pressure of a top seal from a few, or many, measurements.
  • Few empirical field studies compare the predicted and observed hydrocarbon column heights. This is worrisome because idealized laboratory experiments have significant errors in the predicted hydrocarbon column heights.
  • Hydrocarbon saturations required for flow through top seals—and, consequently, displacement pressures—may be much higher than commonly assumed.
  • Hydrocarbon columns beneath breached seals and hydrocarbon-wet seals may not be related to the capillary properties of the seal in any easily understood way.
  • Diffusion can cause loss of large volumes of gas but not oil through a top seal.
  • Hydrodynamic flow can alter top seal capacity.

See also

External links

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Seal capacity: pitfalls and limitations of estimation
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