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  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X

  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X

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An intact top seal is a seal that has not undergone fracturing. An intact top seal can trap only a finite column of hydrocarbon. In theory, the height of hydrocarbon column that can be trapped can be calculated from the capillary properties of the seal pores system and the physical character of the hydrocarbons and pore fluids. This venerable approach to analyzing top seals has been covered in depth by ;<ref name=ch10r5>Berg, R., R., 1975, [[Capillary pressure]] in [[stratigraphic trap]]s: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 59, no. 6, p. 939–956.</ref><ref name=ch10r67>Schowalter, T., T., 1979, Mechanics of secondary hydrocarbon [[migration]] and entrapment: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 63, no. 5, p. 723–760.</ref><ref name=ch10r92>Watts, N., L., 1987, Theoretical aspects of cap-rock and fault seals for single and two-phase hydrocarbon columns: Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 4, no. 4, p. 274–307., 10., 1016/0264-8172(87)90008-0</ref> and .<ref name=ch10r87>Vavra, C., L., Kaldi, J., G., Sneider, R., M., 1992, Geological applications of [[capillary pressure]]: a review: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 76, no. 6, p. 840–850.</ref>

An intact top seal is a seal that has not undergone fracturing. An intact top seal can trap only a finite column of hydrocarbon. In theory, the height of hydrocarbon column that can be trapped can be calculated from the capillary properties of the seal pores system and the physical character of the hydrocarbons and pore fluids. This venerable approach to analyzing top seals has been covered in depth by ;<ref name=ch10r5>Berg, R., R., 1975, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1974-76/data/pg/0059/0006/0900/0939.htm Capillary pressure in stratigraphic traps]: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 59, no. 6, p. 939–956.</ref><ref name=ch10r67>Schowalter, T., T., 1979, Mechanics of secondary hydrocarbon [[migration]] and entrapment: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 63, no. 5, p. 723–760.</ref><ref name=ch10r92>Watts, N., L., 1987, Theoretical aspects of cap-rock and fault seals for single and two-phase hydrocarbon columns: Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 4, no. 4, p. 274–307., 10., 1016/0264-8172(87)90008-0</ref> and .<ref name=ch10r87>Vavra, C., L., Kaldi, J., G., Sneider, R., M., 1992, Geological applications of [[capillary pressure]]: a review: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 76, no. 6, p. 840–850.</ref>

Here, we will discuss briefly the three steps involved in evaluating seal capacity of intact top seals:

Here, we will discuss briefly the three steps involved in evaluating seal capacity of intact top seals: