Difference between revisions of "Trap leakage"

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m (Matt moved page Leakage to Trap leakage: more specific)
 
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  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
 
  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
 
  | chapter = Predicting preservation and destruction of accumulations
 
  | chapter = Predicting preservation and destruction of accumulations
  | frompg  = 11-1
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  | frompg  = 11-13
  | topg    = 11-30
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  | topg    = 11-14
 
  | author  = Alton A. Brown
 
  | author  = Alton A. Brown
 
  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch11/ch11.htm
 
  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch11/ch11.htm
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  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X
 
  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X
 
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Leakage occurs when petroleum escapes a trap through the sealing lithology. Escape of petroleum up a fault which cuts the sealing lithology is also leakage. Leakage along faults can occur by the same mechanisms which control leakage through top seals.
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Leakage occurs when petroleum escapes a trap through the sealing lithology. Escape of petroleum up a [[fault]] which cuts the sealing lithology is also leakage. Leakage along faults can occur by the same mechanisms which control leakage through top seals.
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Five major seal failure mechanisms form the basis for this section's discussion on seal leakage.
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==Seal failure mechanisms==
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A given seal can leak by one of several mechanisms, as defined by Watts.<ref name=ch11r38>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, p. 274–307., 10., 1016/0264-8172(87)90008-0</ref> The first three mechanisms listed have minimum pressure criteria to be exceeded before leakage occurs. Even after leakage, an economic column of petroleum may remain. The last two mechanisms can destroy an [[accumulation]], given enough time. Follow the links for more details:
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{| class = "wikitable"
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|-
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! Seal Type
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! Seal Failure Mechanism
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|-
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| [[Intact membrane seal leakage|Intact membrane]]
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| [[Capillary pressure]] (created by the height of the underlying petroleum column) exceeds [[Top seal displacement pressure|seal capillary displacement pressure]]. This seal type does not [[fracture]] during [[deformation]].
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|-
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| [[Fractured membrane seal leakage|Fractured membrane]]
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| Capillary pressure  exceeds [[displacement pressure]] of fracture [[porosity]] in the seal.
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|-
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| [[Hydrofractured seal leakage|Hydrofractured]]
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| Total fluid pressure ([[capillary pressure]] plus water pressure) exceeds minimum compressive [[Wikipedia:Stress (mechanics)|stress]] of the seal; seal fails by [[Natural hydraulic fracturing of top seals|natural hydraulic fracturing]].
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|-
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| [[Micropermeable seal leakage|Micropermeability]]
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| Leakage is caused by low displacement pressures of [[Seal capacity of breached and hydrocarbon-wet seals|oil-wet seals]] or by capillary pressure of the reservoir exceeding displacement pressure of the seal in a water-wet seal. [[Accumulation]]s are preserved for geologically significant time if leakage rate is low. Rate of leakage is controlled by seal effective [[permeability]].
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|-
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| [[Diffusive seal leakage|Diffusive]]
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| Gas is lost by dissolving in water and diffusing through interstitial water of the seal.
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|}
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
This section covers the following topics.
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* [[Seal failure prediction]]
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* [[Trap spillage]]
  
* [[Leakage mechanisms]]
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==References==
* [[Intact membrane seal leakage]]
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{{reflist}}
* [[Fractured membrane seal leakage]]
 
* [[Hydrofractured seal leakage]]
 
* [[Micropermeable seal leakage]]
 
* [[Diffusive seal leakage]]
 
* [[Predicting overall seal failure]]
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  
 
[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  
 
[[Category:Predicting preservation and destruction of accumulations]]
 
[[Category:Predicting preservation and destruction of accumulations]]
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[[Category:Treatise Handbook 3]]

Latest revision as of 16:58, 1 February 2022

Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
Series Treatise in Petroleum Geology
Part Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
Chapter Predicting preservation and destruction of accumulations
Author Alton A. Brown
Link Web page
Store AAPG Store

Leakage occurs when petroleum escapes a trap through the sealing lithology. Escape of petroleum up a fault which cuts the sealing lithology is also leakage. Leakage along faults can occur by the same mechanisms which control leakage through top seals.

Five major seal failure mechanisms form the basis for this section's discussion on seal leakage.

Seal failure mechanisms

A given seal can leak by one of several mechanisms, as defined by Watts.[1] The first three mechanisms listed have minimum pressure criteria to be exceeded before leakage occurs. Even after leakage, an economic column of petroleum may remain. The last two mechanisms can destroy an accumulation, given enough time. Follow the links for more details:

Seal Type Seal Failure Mechanism
Intact membrane Capillary pressure (created by the height of the underlying petroleum column) exceeds seal capillary displacement pressure. This seal type does not fracture during deformation.
Fractured membrane Capillary pressure exceeds displacement pressure of fracture porosity in the seal.
Hydrofractured Total fluid pressure (capillary pressure plus water pressure) exceeds minimum compressive stress of the seal; seal fails by natural hydraulic fracturing.
Micropermeability Leakage is caused by low displacement pressures of oil-wet seals or by capillary pressure of the reservoir exceeding displacement pressure of the seal in a water-wet seal. Accumulations are preserved for geologically significant time if leakage rate is low. Rate of leakage is controlled by seal effective permeability.
Diffusive Gas is lost by dissolving in water and diffusing through interstitial water of the seal.

See also

References

  1. 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, p. 274–307., 10., 1016/0264-8172(87)90008-0

External links

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Trap leakage
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