BASIN ANALYSIS AND PROSPECT

GENERATION INCLUDING SEQUENCE

STRATIGRAPHY
24th Mar,2004 Introduction Basin Analysis methods -A/N (H J Singh)
25th Mar,2004 Basin Evolution - F/N (G C Naik)
Structural Analysis - A/N (H J Singh)
26th Mar,2004 Stratigraphic Analysis methods, Sequence
Stratigraphy introduction & methods –F/N (H J Singh)
Fundamentals of Sequence Stratigraphy– A/N (G C Naik)
29th Mar,2004 Sequence Stratigraphy using well logs -F/N (G C Naik)
Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy –A/N (G C Naik)
31st Mar,2004 Integrated Basin Analysis using Sequence
Stratigraphy concepts &Prospect Generation
((H J Singh & G C Naik)
Basin Analysis
 EDIMENTARY BASINS ANALYSIS

Basin – a wide open container or dish; a sink,

washbasin;

any hollow place containing water, such as a

dock;

the area drained by a river and its tributaries;

Sedimentary
a region ofbasin – structure.
synclinal
“A unit of geological structure which received sedimentary

succession unique to it during a given span of time”- North, 1971.

“realms of subsidence with thickness of sediments that

are today still preserved in a more or less coherent form”-
Balley,1975
 Basin Analysis
What we look for?

Where is the basin (geographic location)?

What kind of basin is it?
How formed ?
What are the content, age, thickness and
facies of the sediments of primary
petroleum concern, such as the reservoir,
cap rock and source beds?
 Basin Analysis
What we look for ?
What is the thermal history of potential
source beds, and the timing and location
of maturation?
 What are the potential hydrocarbon
migration pathways?
 Are there basins that are similar or
completely dissimilar to this one?
 Basin mystery ?

Basins have histories of their own. A basin is

formed by
an initial geologic process that causes its
subsidence ·
a process that continues its subsidence
within certain limits
a process that ends its subsidence or entire
existence as a basin and an area in which
sediments are deposited
What do we do in Basin Analysis?

 Reconstruct the geologic history of a sedimentary

basin, from its inception to its present state.
 Work out the
 tectonic history,
 the sedimentary history,
 and the effects of thermal changes on
these sediments.
 Only after all the data are gathered and interpreted
should we actively explore the basin.
 Basin analysis
Basin analysis involves interpretation of the formation,
evolution, architecture and fill of a sedimentary basin by
examining geological variables associated with the basin.

It provides a foundation for extrapolating known information into

unknown regions in order to predict the nature of the basin where
evidence is not available.

It helps the exploration and development of energy, mineral and

other resources (e.g. water, brines, etc.) that may occur within
sedimentary basins

A basin model is built on a framework of geological surfaces that

are correlated within the basin.

Stratigraphic framework can be expressed in terms of rock type

(lithostratigraphy), fossil content (biostratigraphy), age
(chronostratigraphy), or rock properties such as seismic velocity
(seismic stratigraphy).
 Basin analysis
Basin analysis encompass many topics since it integrates
several fields within geology.
 Emphasis will be on evaluation of strata that fill
stratigraphic basins.

Major topics include

1) Basin formation and character, plate tectonics
2) Basin fill characteristics, processes and evolution.
3) Basin analysis techniques
4) Description and correlation of stratigraphic basin
fill (sequence stratigraphy),
5) Petroleum System
6) Prospect generation and evaluation
 asin Analysis 

BJECTIVE  

Develop the Plate Tectonic Model for the region.

Establish the Allostratigraphic/sequence

stratigraphhic Divisions.

Carry out the Environmental Analysis

 Major activites in basin analysis

Activity Input/Subactivities Output

I. Deciphering the regional
tectonic frame work structural
styles and basin fill
a. Landsat imagery data, study of morpho- a. Preparation of regional
tectonic features, lineaments, geomorphic tectonic map of the basin.
(Scale 1:50,00,000)
anomalies, zones of the fractures,
faults etc. and drainage patters analysis

b. Study of regional geological

maps, sections and profiles.

c. Study of gravity-magnetic & aero-

magnetic data, regional seismic profiles
and DSS data from the available reports
to inter basement configuration, quantum
of basin fill, deep seated fault zones, mega-
tectonic features etc.
II. Preparation of correlation from Parametric/exploratory well data; layout Correlation profiles
across
the parametric/exploratory wells, map showing seismic profiles along and the drilled wells and
seismo-
division of entire stratigraphic across basin, study of selected seismic geological sections with
section into time/rock units, sections in different parts of the basin. Well-data control.
Preparation of seismo-geological
section along and across the basin
 Major activites in basin analysis
Activity Input/Subactivities Output

III.Sequence Stratigraphy

A. Sequence Identification
a)Study of termination characters a. Key seismic lines on 5x10 km grid a. Seismic sequences
of seismic reflectors identification
of broad seismic facies packs.

b) Identification of major b. Bio- & chrono-stratigraphic data b. Sequences/parasequence

unconformities and FU/CU cycles integration
on correlation profiles.
c) Preparation of synthetic c. VSP/Sonic data of key wells c. Seismic well-log tie
seismograms
d)Systems tract analysis d. Study of transgressive/regressive cycles d. Parasequences, reservoi
in each sequence from seismic & well data facies prone areasB.
Sequence Analysis
a.Study of seismic signatures leading a. All the available, normally processed/
to seismic facies analysis for each reprocessesed seismic lines to be studied
sequence
b. Analysis of log motifs for recog- b Synthesis of lithologic and core data
nition of sediimentary facies,
working out stratal pattern & c. Integration of seismic analysis data a. Sedimentary facies ma
deciphering the geometry of sand b. Paleogeographic maps
bodies, carbonate buildups etc. d. Preparation of facies, sand/shale rati c. Conceptual depositiona
buildups etc. maps model
 Major activites in basin analysis
Activity
IV. Structural Analysis
a. Identification of fault systems, 2nd
and 3rd order structural elements
b. Tectono-stratigraphic analysis
V. Play Analysis
a.Identification of source-reservoir-
cap rock locales and relationships. i.
b.Study of kitchen areas, hydro-
carbon generation, migration and
entrapment
VI. Prospect Evaluation
a.Identification and evaluation of
structural, stratigraphic and
combination type prospects
b. Techno-economic Analysis
Input/Subactivities Output
a. Preparation of structure contour, a. Conceptual geological
isochron and isopach maps model
b. Basin evolution history
a. Analysis and integration of : a. Petroleum systems
geochemical data b. Kitchen maps
ii.basin fill maps and facies data c. Subsidence & TTI curves
iii.paleostructural maps d.Identification of oil/gas
b. Geohistory analysis windows
c. Propsect maps
a.Structure contour, facies and isolith a. Prospect maps
maps.
b. Conceptual geological model b. Proposal for release of
locations.
 Approach to Basin Analysis

. Determine the physical chronostratigraphic framework by interpreting

sequences, systems tracts, and parasequences and/or simple sequences on
outcrops, well logs, and seismic data and age date with high resolution
biostratigraphy.

. Construct geohistory, total subsidence and tectonic subsidence curves on

sequence boundaries

. Complete tectono-stratigraphic analysis including:

. Relate major transgressive-regressive facies cycles to tectonic events.

. Relate changes in rates of tectonic subsidence curves to plate-tectonic events

. Assign a cause to tectonically enhanced unconformities

. Relate magmatism to tectonic subsidence curve

. Map tectono-stratigraphic units

Gravity and Lineament map
Stratigraphic correlation of three sections.
Stratigraphic Diagrams
•Stratigraphic cross section (2d representation) hung on a
shared stratigraphic datum

•Fence diagram is series of cross sections on an isometric

map
Stratigraphic Maps
•Structure contour map plots the surface of a
subsurface lithologic unit
•Points of equal elevation above or below a datum
are mapped and contoured
•Determine regional structural attitude of rocks;
presence of local structural features
•Structural highs (domes/anticlines) & lows
(basins/synclines) are obvious
•Faults indicated by tightly bunched contours along a
straight line
Stratigraphic section of the volcaniclastic succession in basement Unit
2 (Hole 1138A). Grain-size distribution is indicated by the width of the
column, with clay (C), silt (Z), sand (S), granule (G), and pebble (P)
fields represented.
Fence diagram
GEOLOGICAL CROSS SECTION
Faults indicated by bunching up of contour
Structure contour map
STRUTURE CONTOUR MAP ON THE TOP OF
A CORRELATABLE UNIT
Paleostructural analysis
Tea Break
Isopach Maps

Points of equal thickness of a rock unit contoured

Should be corrected for structural dip; often not

(isochore map - apparent thickness)

Visualization of the geometry of the 3d body

Abnormally thick areas suggest presence of major

depositional centers
Facies Maps
•Illustrates the areal variation of some aspect of a
stratigraphic unit

•Variations in lithologic aspect and attributes – lithofacies map

•Variations in faunal/floral aspect - biofacies map

•Seismic facies map using seismic data

•Electrofacies map using well logs

•2d representation of 3d features

Walther's Law

Conceived in 1894 by German geologist Johannes Walther.

Different kinds of sediments are deposited adjacent to each other as result

of lateral variation in depositional environments. A vertical sequence of
different sedimentary rocks must record the superimposition of those
same environments over time.

Stratigraphic units containing unconformities may not follow this rule.

 Paleogeologic Maps

•Provide means to illustrate paleodrainage, patterns of basin

fill, shifting shorelines, or burial of pre-existing topography

•Strip off all overlying rocks to a particular unit on which

these were deposited

•Map the top of the exposed unit (subcrop map)

•Map the overlying rocks from below (supercrop map)

Late Campanian paleogeography of the central
Tethys. The Eastern Desert Intrashelf Basin was
probably formed because of Late Cretaceous-
Paleogene uplift and subsidence.
 Petroleum System

Definition:

The essential elements and processes as well as all

genetically related hydrocarbons that occur in
petroleum shows, seeps, and accumulations whose
provenance is a single pod of active source rock.
[also called hydrocarbon systems and oil and gas
systems][Magoon and Dow, 1994].
 Petroleum System

 Petroleum System defines the source,

reservoir, seal and trap as elements, and
generation, migration, entrapment and
preservation as the processes.

This necessitates construction of a series

of cross sections and maps that reconstruct
the history of an exploration play area.
 Source Rock

Source rocks are "sedimentary rock in

which organic material under pressure,
heat, and time was transformed to liquid or
gaseous hydrocarbons. Source rock is
usually shale or limestone." (Glossary of
Geology, 1987).
Potential source beds are those that would
generate hydrocarbons under the right
combination of pressure, heat and time
 Reservoir Rocks

Porous and permeable rock that houses

the HC
Effective porosity crucial
Sandstone, limestone etc conventional
reservoirs
Unconventional reservoirs like fractured
shale, fractured basement, coal etc. exist
 Cap Rocks
Cap rocks (or seals) prevent hydrocarbon migration and
escape from reservoir rocks in a petroleum trap.
These rocks are primarily sedimentary and have little
or no permeability, such as:
 pure clay, shale or unfractured slate; nonporous
carbonates;
 evaporites, especially rock salt;
 nonporous, unfractured igneous or metamorphic
rocks.
 Traps
 Hydrocarbon traps occur when rocks have physical
properties that prevent hydrocarbon migration.
 The structure of the trapping area or layer is often
distinctive.
 Its enclosure may become partly or completely filled
with fluid or gas.
 The overlying cap rock shields this oil and gas from
effects that may destroy or disperse it.
 Could be structural, stratigraphic, combination or
hydrodynamic type
Traps

Hydrocarbon Trap Types

Anticline
Fault
Salt Dome

Pinchout

Unconfor mity

American
American Petroleum
Petroleum Institute,
Institute, 1986
1986
Petroleum System at Critical Moment:

Critical moment refers to the time that best depicts the generation-
migration-accumulation of hydrocarbons in a petroleum system. In
fact, it is an interval of time rather than a geologically instantaneous
moment.

•Thermally immature source rock remains outside the oil window.

•The pod of active source rock (pink) lies within the oil and gas
windows.

•Burial History Chart shows the Critical Moment when the

source rock reaches maturity and hydrocarbons are generated.

• Petroleum System Events Chart shows the relationship

between the essential elements and processes as well as the
preservation time and critical moment.
Burial History and Maturation Window

Basin model using measured Kinetic parameters.

Timing is Critical:

• For accumulations to occur, a trap must exist either

before or coincident with the time of migration.
• The petroleum system events chart helps capturing
these critical aspects of timing.
•A petroleum system is dynamic, constantly changing
as a consequence of migration, deformation, etc.
If an oil-prone source rock matures to gas
generation, it is possible that early entrapped oil can be

displaced if the accumulation is confined between two

Present dayseals.
highly effective Petroleum System:
Subsequent tectonic event of the basin results in
modification of traps containing the initial accumulations
of hydrocarbon.
Identifying a Petroleum System.

Basis :

Inventory of accumulations provides the

basis for the geochemical typing of
hydrocarbons and biomarker matching of a
hydrocarbon to a specific source rock.