Chapter 1

Petroleum Geosciences refers to the specific set of
geological disciplines that are applied to the search

for hydrocarbons.
principally concerned with the evaluation of seven
key elements in sedimentary basins
Source
Reservoir
Seal
Trap
Timing
Maturation
Migration
Introduction
A. The fundamental question in petroleum geology:
Where are there economically recoverable reserves of
hydrocarbons?
To answer this question requires understanding geological
processes in a regional context. Petroleum Geoscience uses
all of the fundamental geological (and chemical and physical
concepts) and applies them to finding oil reserves.
Some of the geologic processes include :

(1) Historical geology (timing of maturation, migration,
and trap formation),
(2) Structural, Sedimentology and Stratigraphic
geology- the origin and physical properties of reservoir
and source rocks,
(3) Geochemistry- what are hydrocarbons? where do they
come from? What are their properties?,
(4) Geophysics- seismics and well logs- subsurface
exploration techniques.
Although each of these are fundamental geologic disciplines, the

technology that allows them to be applied to petroleum geology have
changed:
Originally, field mapping- frontier areas, surface geology, was important.
This mapping in the field eventually evolved into geophysical (subsurface)
mapping, using both seismic techniques and well logging.
Now much mapping now done in the office. Data is collected remotely and
brought to the central office. Mapping done by computers, so the geologist
must have skills in many areas:
(1) the basic geologic sciences
(2) Ancillary sciences, particularly chemistry and physics, as well as maths
(2) computer science
(3) interpersonal skills
Geology is the science that deals with the history and structure of the
earth and its life forms, especially as recorded in the rock record. A basic
understanding of its concepts and processes is essential in the petroleum
industry, for it is used to predict where oil accumulations might occur. It is
the job of the petroleum geologist to use his/her knowledge to reconstruct
the geologic history of an area to determine whether the formations are
likely to contain petroleum reservoirs. It is also the job of the geologist to
determine whether the recovery and production of these hydrocarbons will
be commercially profitable.
The physical characteristics of a reservoir, how petroleum

originated and in what type of rock, what types of fluids exist in
the reservoir, how hydrocarbons become trapped, and basic well log
analysis are some of the concepts vital to the production and
recovery efforts of any exploration or energy service company
Cross Section Of A Petroleum System

Geographic Extent of Petroleum System
Extent of Play
Extent of Prospect/Field
O
Stratigraphic
Extent of
Petroleum
System
Pod of Active
Source Rock
Petroleum Reservoir (O)
Fold-and-Thrust Belt
(arrows indicate relative fault motion)
(modified from Magoon and Dow, 1994)
Essential
Elements
of
Petroleum
System
Overburden Rock
Seal Rock
Reservoir Rock
Source Rock
Underburden Rock
Basement Rock
Top Oil Window
Top Gas Window
Sedimentary
Basin Fill
Petroleum geology is the study of origin, occurrence,

movement, accumulation, and exploration of hydrocarbon fuels.
It refers to the specific set of geological disciplines that are
applied to the search for hydrocarbons.
Principles of Petroleum Geology are concerned with the

evaluation of seven key elements in sedimentary basins
Source
Reservoir
Seal
Trap
Timing
Maturation
Migration
Play - A particular combination of reservoir, seal, source and
trap associated with proven hydrocarbon accumulations
Source Rock: In Petroleum Geology, source rock refers to rocks from

which hydrocarbons have been generated or are capable of being
generated. They form one of the necessary elements of a working
petroleum system. They are organic-rich sediments that may have been
deposited in a variety of environments including deep water marine,
lacustrine and deltaic. Temperature and pressure of the source rocks
must be suitable to be able to generate hydrocarbons. Delineation and
identification of potential source rocks depends on studies of the local
stratigraphy palaeogeography and sedimentology to determine the
likelihood of organic-rich sediments having been deposited in the past
The reservoir is a porous and permeable lithological unit or set

of units that holds the hydrocarbon reserves. Analysis of
reservoirs at the simplest level requires an assessment of their
porosity (to calculate the volume of in situ hydrocarbons) and
their permeability(to calculate how easily hydrocarbons will flow
out of them). Some of the key disciplines used in reservoir
analysis are the fields of structural analysis, stratigraphy,
sedimentology, and reservoir engineering. The existence of a
reservoir rock (typically, sandstones and fractured limestones) is
determined through a combination of regional studies (i.e.
analysis of other wells in the area), stratigraphy and
sedimentology (to quantify the pattern and extent of
sedimentation) and seismic interpretation
The seal, or cap rock, is a unit with low permeability that

impedes the escape of hydrocarbons from the reservoir rock.
Common seals include evaporites, chalk and shales. Analysis of
seals involves assessment of their thickness and extent, such
that their effectiveness can be quantified.
The trap is the stratigraphic or structural feature that
ensures the juxtaposition of reservoir and seal such that
hydrocarbons remain trapped in the subsurface, rather than
escaping (due to their natural buoyancy) and being lost.
Analysis of maturation involves assessing the thermal history of
the source rock in order to make predictions of the amount and
timing of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion.
Finally, careful studies of migration reveal information on how
hydrocarbons move from source to reservoir and help quantify
the source (or kitchen) of hydrocarbons in a particular area

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Petroleum Geosciences refers to the specific set of

geological disciplines that are applied to the search

Some of the geologic processes include :

Although each of these are fundamental geologic disciplines, the

The physical characteristics of a reservoir, how petroleum

Cross Section Of A Petroleum System

Petroleum geology is the study of origin, occurrence,

Principles of Petroleum Geology are concerned with the

Source Rock: In Petroleum Geology, source rock refers to rocks from

The reservoir is a porous and permeable lithological unit or set

The seal, or cap rock, is a unit with low permeability that

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