A Prediction Method for Hydrocarbon Distribution Associated with Fault-Shale Caprock Configuration Leakages

Abstract

A prediction method of hydrocarbon distribution associated with fault-shale caprock configuration leakages is established through superposing hydrocarbon distribution at deep basin fault-shale caprock configuration leakages, and conducting faults to understand distribution of shallow reservoirs of “lower generation, upper accumulation” in petroliferous basins based on fault-shale caprock configuration leakage mechanism. Prediction of hydrocarbon distribution at the Ed-3 Member in the south of the northern Dagang area of Bohai Bay Basin was used to demonstrate the application of the proposed method. Results show that predicted oil and gas at the Ed-3 Member are mainly distributed in the middle of the north and in the middle of the south edge, where fault-shale caprock configuration leakages in the middle of the Sha-1 Member contributed positively to oil and gas migration from the hydrocarbon reservoir at deep basin to the shallow reservoirs. The prediction matches well with discovered oil and gas in this area, proving the validity of this method.