Habitat of Petroleum

Abstract

Four selected case histories of geologically different petroleum regions will be presented here: the Arabian Carbonate Platform, young delta areas, i.e., the Niger and the Mahakam Delta, the Linyi Basin of China and the Deep Basin of Western Canada. These case histories show the application of the new knowledge about the principles of petroleum generation, migration and accumulation. They demonstrate the understanding of source rock maturation and hydrocarbon generation as part of the geological evolution of a sedimentary basin. Following the considerations about the origin of hydrocarbons in each of the basins described, the most likely pathways and modes of migration into the reservoir rocks and traps are discussed. Finally the quality of the hydrocarbons found in traps is briefly outlined, with the implications with respect to the overall geological setting.