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Geological and physicochemical conditions for primary migration of hydrocarbons

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Abstract

No single transport mechanism can explain the movement of hydrocarbons within source rock-type shales. Instead, it is likely that several different mechanisms are operating at different times and stages of burial. At relatively shallow intervals before the peak of hydrocarbon generation solution migration seems to be favored. The dominating and most effective form of primary migration of oil during peak generation seems to be a pressure-driven hydrocarbon phase migration. At greater depth and in very mature source rocks microfracturing due to internal pore pressures is initiated. For gases, in addition to a hydrocarbon phase movement, diffusion through the water-saturated pore space of shales is an important process of primary migration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Erdöl und Organische Geochemie der KFA, D-5170, Jülich

    D. H. Welte & D. Leythaeuser

Authors
  1. D. H. Welte
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  2. D. Leythaeuser
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Additional information

We thank Mr. Masters, President of Canadian Hunter for pertinent geological information and sample material from the Elmworth Gas Field.

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Welte, D.H., Leythaeuser, D. Geological and physicochemical conditions for primary migration of hydrocarbons. Naturwissenschaften 70, 133–137 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401597

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401597

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