An Innovative Approach for the Prediction of Column Heights in Multi-fault Traps Using Deterministic Fault Seal Analysis

The deterministic method for predicting column heights in traps involves constructing a fault framework model and populating the model with attributes. Shale Gouge Ratio (SGR) is calculated at sand-on-sand juxtapositions and transformed to hydrocarbon column height. The application of the deterministic method is straightforward for traps defined by few faults. Fault-plane sections are inspected visually to identify the column height that could be supported at the fault. However, for traps bounded by multiple intersecting faults identifying column heights through the visual inspection of fault-plane sections is practically impossible. A new automated approach is described that enables leak points and column heights to be quickly derived and evaluated for traps bounded by multiple intersecting faults. Fault 'side walls' defined by branch lines are simultaneously interrogated to derive a unique location of the leak point. The leak point is that point on a fault side wall which, when trappable column heights are calculated, implies the shallowest hydrocarbon contact in the trap. The new approach has shown that the location of a leak point in a trap can depend upon the transformation used to convert SGR to capillary pressure and has important implications for migration studies in complex fault-bounded traps.