Quantitative evaluation of lateral sealing of extensional fault by an integral mathematical-geological model

To evaluate the lateral sealing mechanism of extensional fault based on the pressure difference between fault and reservoir, an integral mathematical-geological model of diagenetic time on diagenetic pressure considering the influence of diagenetic time on the diagenetic pressure and diagenetic degree of fault rock has been established to quantitatively calculate the lateral sealing ability of extensional fault. By calculating the time integral of the vertical stress and horizontal in-situ stress on the fault rock and surrounding rock, the burial depth of the surrounding rock with the same clay content and diagenesis degree as the target fault rock was worked out. In combination with the statistical correlation of clay content, burial depth and displacement pressure of rock in the study area, the displacement pressure of target fault rock was calculated quantitatively. The calculated displacement pressure was compared with that of the target reservoir to quantitatively evaluate lateral sealing state and ability of the extensional fault. The method presented in this work was used to evaluate the sealing of F_(1), F_(2) and F_(3) faults in No.1 structure of Nanpu Sag, and the results were compared with those from fault-reservoir displacement pressure differential methods without considering the diagenetic time and simple considering the diagenetic time. It is found that the results calculated by the integral mathematical-geological model are the closest to the actual underground situation, the errors between the hydrocarbon column height predicted by this method and the actual column height were 0–8 m only, proving that this model is more feasible and credible.

Calculating the formation period of fault lateral sealing and its application

The study aims to find out the formation period of fault traps near faults in petroliferous basins,based on an analysis of the formation period of fault lateral sealing and related influential factors.A method to calculate the formation period of fault lateral sealing(i.e.the time when displacement pressure of fault rock is equal to that of reservoir rock in fault wall with hydrocarbon migration)is established by comparing the relationship between displacement pressure and time for fault rock and reservoir rock.This method is then applied to the study on reservoirs in the 1^(st),2^(nd),and 3^(rd) members of Dongying Formation(E_(3)d^(1),E_(3)d^(2) and E_(3)d^(3))in terms of formation period of lateral sealing of F3 fault crossing the three reservoirs in the No.5 structure of Nanpu Sag in Bohai Bay Basin.The results indicate that the formation period of the lateral sealing in the studied reservoirs can date from 7.1 Ma,7.4 Ma and 9.2 Ma respectively,all prior to the hydrocarbon accumulation period(about 2.58 Ma).Hence,it can be concluded that these reservoirs are favorable for the accumulation and preservation of hydrocarbons generated from the underlying source rock E_(3)s^(3),and the method proposed is feasible in calculating the formation period of fault lateral sealing.