Assessment of Oil Migration Pathway Dimension by Modelling Analysis of Geotracer Distributions

Abstract

Oil migration system is assessed by mathematical modelling analysis of carbazole distributions among five oil fields spread over 15,000 km2. Mathematical modeling results show that: 1) concentrations of carbazoles in reservoir oils is inversely related to the ratio of relative migration distance over the volume of oil-in-place, 2) derived equivalent cross-sectional areas for the migration channels are in the range of 1000 – 1500 m2 (mean of 1200 m2) which is equivalent to a half circular channel of 51 – 62 m in diameter (mean 55 m), and 3) the volume of oil left in the migration channels could be significant.