Ministry of Higher Education and

Scientific Research
University of Technology
Petroleum Technology Department

Reservoir Petrophysics
"Sedimentary Rocks and Types of Traps"
 Sedimentary Rocks and Types of Traps

Prepared by
Moaml Ahmed Jaffer
University of technology – Petroleum Technology Department
2nd Stage – Reservoir Petrophysics

August -2020

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 Table of content

Abstract……………………………………….…………...…………3
Introduction…………………………………………………..……....4
Sedimentary rocks……………………………….…………..……….5
Clastic sedimentary rocks………...…….……………………………………. 5
Chemical sedimentary rock…………………………………………….…......7
Organic sedimentary rocks……………………………………………………9
petroleum traps………………...……………………………………10
Structural Traps………………………………………………………………10
Stratigraphic traps…………………………......……………………………..12
Hydrodynamic Traps…………………….…………………………….…….13
Conclusion…………………………………….……………………13
Reference……………………………………………..…………….14

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Abstract
In this report, I dealt with several aspects about rocks, especially sedimentary
rocks, and their great economic importance. Therefore, I talked about the types of
these rocks, the method of their formation, the factors affecting them and the
methods of classifying these rocks. As for the second section of the report, I talked
about hydrocarbon traps and their importance in the oil sector. Therefore, I talked
about their types, formations and methods of formation because of their
importance in the accumulation of hydrocarbons.

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Introduction
There are many definitions of rocks, according to (Ehlers and Blatt, 1997). He
defines rocks as stuff which the earth is made off. A more acceptable scientific
definition of rocks is that; a rock is a natural occurring solid cohesive aggregate of
one or more mineral or mineral materials. Rocks are broadly classified into three
groups based on their process of formation. The three major rock types are:
1. Igneous rocks
2. Sedimentary rocks
3. Metamorphic rocks
Sedimentary rocks makes up to 66% of the earth’s crust, with 34 % being the
igneous and the metamorphic. Igneous rocks however, forms the majority of 34 %
(Ehlers and Blatt, 1997).The reason why sedimentary rocks accounts for most of
the rocks on the earth’s surface is because they are mainly found ocean floor basins
which accounts to 70% of total area of the earth. The three rock types are further
classified based on chemistry, environment of formation and how they are formed.

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Sedimentary rocks

Rocks form by the processes of weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition, or by

chemical precipitation and also Sedimentary rocks form at low temperatures and
pressures at the surface of Earth owing to deposition by water, wind, or ice.

Classification of Sedimentary rocks

1-Detrital (clastic) sedimentary rocks :

• Most common sedimentary rock type

• Form from cemented sediment grains that come from pre-existing rocks

2-Chemical sedimentary rocks:

• Have crystalline textures

• Form by precipitation of minerals from solution

3-Organic sedimentary rocks:

• Accumulate from remains of organisms

Clastic sedimentary rocks

Produced by weathering of rocks that result particles/fragments so geologist use particle
size to distinguish between clastic sedimentary rocks. so clastic sedimentary rock named
depending on grain size as a following :

Udden-Wentworth Classification
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 Conglomerate Sandstone Shale

Siltstone Claystone Breccia

• factors that affecting on clastic sedimentary rocks are textural properties (particle
dimensions, size, shape, spatial orientation) and mineral composition, mainly the
presence and effect of clay minerals.

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Chemical sedimentary rocks
These rocks form as a result of chemical weathering dissolving chemicals and
transporting it in solution. When conditions are right, these dissolved chemicals
change back into a solid through the processes of precipitation and evaporation.
chemical sedimentary rocks include :

1-Evaporites: formed by evaporation of seawater

• Halite(NaCl): is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of
sodium chloride (Na Cl). Halite forms isometric crystals. It
commonly occurs with other evaporite deposit minerals
such as several of the sulfates, halides, and borates.

• Gypsum: is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with

the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O.

2-Carbonates: form in warm clear water free of clastic sediment and

Composed primarily of carbonate minerals.
• Limestone CaCO3: is a sedimentary rock, composed mainly of skeletal
fragments of marine organisms such as coral,forams and molluscs. Its major
materials are the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal
forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

• Dolostone CaMg(CO3)2: is a sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high

percentage of the mineral dolomite CaMg(CO3)2. It is form by the post
depositional alteration of lime mud and limestone by magnesium-rich
groundwater. The geological process of conversion of calcite to dolomite is
known as dolomitization and any intermediate product is known as dolomitic
limestone.

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 Limestone Gypsum Dolostone

Classification of Carbonates Sedimentary rocks

classification of carbonate rock depending on percentage of micrite (matrix) and

Allochem(grain).

DUNHAM CARBONATE ROCK CLASSIFICATION

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Organic sedimentary rocks
These rocks form as a result of once living material accumulating to form solid rock.
Organic sedimentary rock include:

• coal is the most common organic rock which forms when plant material in
water saturated environments (swamps) die and accumulate to form peat. As
peat is buried it compresses and eventually changes to form coal.

Types of coal rock:

• peat
• Lignite Types of coal depending on depth(Temperature)
• Anthracite
• Bituminous coal

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what is petroleum traps?
Traps: are a place where oil and gas are barred from further movement. traps
consist of porous reservoir rocks overlain by tight (low permeability) rocks which
do not allow oil or gas to pass. These must form structures closed at the top such
that they collect oil and gas, which is lighter than water.

For a trap to be efficient and commercially viable a large variety of factors have to
be considered. These include:

• The presence of a positive porous permeable structure

• The imperviousness of the seal
• The absence of leaking faults
• The migration of sufficient quantities of HC

Types of hydrocarbon traps

1-Structural Traps: that are formed by structural deformation (folding, doming or

faulting) of rocks. Structural traps include:

• Anticline traps : Domes formed by diapirism or other processes may form

closures in all directions (four-way closure). so anticlinal trap result from
geologic forces folding reservoir and cap rocks.

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• Salt dome: Formed due to salt (sp.gr. 1.8 -2) is lighter than the overlying rock
therefore the salt is floats up because the buoyancy effect. In order for the salt
to move upwards and form a salt dome, a certain thickness of overburden is
required and the salt beds themselves must be at least 100–200 m thick.

• A fault trap: is a geological formation in which oil or gas in a porous section of

rock is sealed off by a displaced, nonporous layer. A fault trap occurs when
formations on either side of the fault move and lie in such a way that, when
petroleum migrates into one of the formations, it becomes trapped there.

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2-Stratigraphic traps: These are traps which are partially or wholly due to facies
variation or unconformities, and not primarily the result of tectonic deformation.
stratigraphic traps include:

• Fluvial channel sandstones may be isolated and surrounded by impermeable

clay-rich sediments, or they may be folded so that we obtain a combination of
stratigraphic and structural traps .
• Submarine channels and sandstone turbidites in strata rich in shale. Here we
will often find pinchout of permeable layers up-dip from the foot of the
continental slope. This will result in stratigraphic traps without any further
folding being necessary.
• Reefs often form stratigraphic traps. A reef structure projects up from the sea
bed and often has shale sediments surrounding it, so that oil could migrate from
the shale into the reef structure.
• Traps related to unconformities. Sandstones or other porous rocks may be
overlain with an angular unconformity by shales or other tight sediments
forming a trap underneath the unconformity .Topographic highs in the basement
overlain with shales can also provide good traps in fractured basement rocks.

Unconformity trap

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3-Hydrodynamic Traps:
If pore water flow in a sedimentary basin is strong enough, the oil-water contact
may deviate from the horizontal because of the hydrodynamic shear stress that is
set up. In some cases, oil may accumulate without closure. Flow of fresh
(meteoric) water down through oil-bearing rocks commonly results in
biodegradation of the oil and formation of asphalt, which may then form a cap rock
for oil.

Conclusion
1- Sedimentary rocks make up 70% of the percentage of rocks on the earth.

2- Sedimentary rocks contain a lot of organic materials and minerals.

3- Hydrocarbons are present in sedimentary rocks, so it constitutes a great

economic value with many resources .

4- Hydrocarbon traps are important in accumulation of hydrocarbons and prevent

escaping them .

5- To know The hydrocarbon accumulation places should be located the source

rocks.

6- conclude that the trapping are a mechanism to stop the migration of

hydrocarbons and their accumulation in one area.

7-In order to have traps, layers with porosity and permeability must be provided,
then cap rocks above them are impermeable.

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Reference
1- Carlson, D.H, Plummer, C.C and Hammersley, L., 2008: Physical geology,
earth revealed. McGraw- Hill. New York, NY 100200.
2- Sedimentology and Stratigraphy/ Second Edition / Gary Nichols
3- Petrology of Sedimentary rocks / Second Edition / SAM BOGGS.
4- Allen, P.A. and Allen, J.R. 2005. Basin analysis. Principles and Applications.
Blackwell, Oxford, 549 pp.
5- Beaumont, E.A. and Foster, N.H. 1999. Exploring for oil and gas traps. Treatise
of petroleum geology. AAPG Special Publication 40, 347 pp.
6- Biju-Duval, B. 1999. Sedimentary Geology. Sedimentary Basins, Depositional
Environments, Petroleum Formation. Institut Francais du Petrole Publication,
Rueil-Malmaison Editions Technip, 642 pp.
7- Elements of petroleum geology by selly_richard
8- Petroleum Geoscience

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