ACTIVE LEARNING SERIES

PETROLEUM GEOLOGY FOR ENGINEERING

❶
PETROLEUM SYSTEM CONCEPT
PETROLEUM SYSTEM CONCEPT
Learning Objectives
By completing this active learning laboratory-homework assignment, students will gain a
foundational understanding of the petroleum system and its key components. Specifically,
students will be able to:
1. Construct a subsurface cross-section.
2. Determine the potential petroleum system elements including source, reservoir, seal rocks,
and trap.
3. Identify the trap(s) and classify their type(s).
4. Assess the maturity and location of the matured portion of the source rock.
5. Trace the possible path of hydrocarbon migration.
6. Identify a potential oil or gas accumulation (prospect).
7. Identify any spill point(s), if present.
8. Evaluate the risks of oil-gas leaking or potential remigration.
9. Select the optimal drilling location for a well.
PETROLEUM SYSTEM CONCEPT
The Petroleum System Concept is a fundamental framework in petroleum geology that explains the origin,
accumulation, and distribution of hydrocarbons in the Earth's subsurface. It integrates all the geological
elements and processes required for the formation and preservation of oil and gas accumulations.
Key Elements of a Petroleum System
1. Source Rock: A rock rich in organic material that, through heat and pressure, generates hydrocarbons (oil
or gas). The source rock is often shale or limestone.
2. Reservoir Rock: A porous and permeable rock where hydrocarbons accumulate. Common examples
include sandstone and limestone.
3. Seal Rock: An impermeable rock (such as shale, salt, or tight limestone) that traps hydrocarbons in the
reservoir rock and prevents their escape.
4. Trap: A geological structure or feature that holds hydrocarbons within the reservoir. Traps can be structural
(e.g., folds, faults) or stratigraphic (e.g., changes in rock layers).
Key Processes in a Petroleum System
1. Generation: The process by which organic-rich source rocks are subjected to heat and pressure
over geological time, transforming the organic material into hydrocarbons.
2. Migration: The movement of hydrocarbons from the source rock to the reservoir rock. This can
occur through porous rocks or faults.
3. Accumulation: The concentration of hydrocarbons in a trap within the reservoir rock. This process
occurs when migrating hydrocarbons are halted by a seal or geological feature.
4. Preservation: The ability of the trap and seal to retain the hydrocarbons over long periods of
geological time, preventing their escape or degradation.
The petroleum system concept helps geologists understand where hydrocarbons may have formed,
migrated, and become trapped, which is critical for successful exploration and production of oil and
gas.
Aim
This active learning laboratory-homework assignment is designed to teach students the fundamental
concepts of the elements and processes of a petroleum system.

Data and Task

You are a young geologist working for an oil and gas exploration company. Your manager in the exploration
department has provided you with a structural contour map of a potential oil and/or gas prospect. You have
been tasked to evaluate the petroleum system elements and processes, as well as recommending the best
location for drilling.
On the map, the thin contour lines (with negative "(-)" values) represent the elevation of the lower contact of a
shale bed, measured in meters relative to sea level. The higher the absolute value of the number, the deeper
the boundary. The bold lines indicate several faults where the depth of the formation has changed. In the top
right of the map, the gray-shaded area represents the matured portion of the source rock, with 2.5% total
organic carbon and kerogen identified as Type I.
The shale source rock is approximately 200 meters thick, and it is overlain by 300 meters of sandstone with 20% porosity and
250 mD permeability, which is sealed by 200 meters of gypsum.

In your presentation to the department manager, ensure you cover the following key aspects:

1. Identify Potential Hydrocarbon Accumulation Points: Pinpoint the most likely location(s) for hydrocarbon accumulations
(oil, gas, or both). Provide a clear explanation of why you have selected these specific location(s) based on the geological
data and structural features.
2. Analyze Migration Paths and Leakage Potential: Outline the possible migration pathways of hydrocarbons within the
system. Assess whether there is any risk of leakage, and provide a rationale for your conclusion, considering factors such
as fault lines and cap rock integrity.
3. Determine the Trap Types: Classify the type(s) of trapping mechanisms involved, such as structural, stratigraphic, or a
combination of both, and explain how they are influencing the accumulation of hydrocarbons.
4. Outline Petroleum System Elements and Lithology: Discuss the essential elements of the petroleum system, including
source rock, reservoir rock, seal rock, and overburden. Provide detailed lithological descriptions for each element,
highlighting their relevance to hydrocarbon generation and entrapment.
5. Map and Cross-Section Details: Accurately label and mark all key features on both the structural contour map and the
constructed cross-section. Ensure that the following elements are included: title, scale, vertical exaggeration, legend,
directional indicators, and captions.
6. This will ensure a thorough and well-organized presentation that comprehensively addresses the petroleum system and
exploration potential.
Key References
1. Magoon, L.B. & Dow, W.G. (1994). The Petroleum System – From Source to Trap. AAPG Memoir 60. This
publication formalized the petroleum system concept and introduced a framework for exploration.
2. Tissot, B.P. & Welte, D.H. (1984). Petroleum Formation and Occurrence. 2nd Edition, Springer-Verlag. This
book provides a detailed discussion of the organic geochemistry involved in hydrocarbon generation.
3. Hunt, J.M. (1996). Petroleum Geochemistry and Geology. W.H. Freeman and Company. This reference
covers geochemical principles that are central to understanding the formation and accumulation of
hydrocarbons.
4. Allen, P.A. & Allen, J.R. (2013). Basin Analysis: Principles and Application to Petroleum Play Assessment.
Wiley-Blackwell. This book presents the methods used to analyze basins and predict hydrocarbon
accumulations.
5. Dahlberg, E.C. (1995). Applied Hydrodynamics in Petroleum Exploration. Springer-Verlag. This text
highlights the role of hydrodynamics in hydrocarbon migration and trapping.
Cross-Sections
▪ Depict units as they would appear in a vertical slice through the crust, like in a cliff
exposure.

▪ Cross-sections can be constructed by extrapolating information plotted on a geologic

map (strikes-and-dips and locations of contacts with respect to topography).

▪ 2-dimensional vertical slice through a geologic map.

▪ Start with a topographic profile.

▪ Transfer contacts and structures onto topographic surface.

▪ Project contacts and structures into subsurface.

▪ Use field relations, mapping, and other constraints to infer possible subsurface
geology.
◼ Lines on the map:

• Contacts
• Faults
• Folds

◼ Lines are dashed

where inferred
(shorter = more
uncertain).

◼ Lines are dotted

where feature is
covered.

◼ Tick marks can be

used to indicate a
variety of things.