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Overpressured Gas Systems Modeling in The Neuquen Basin Center
Overpressured Gas Systems Modeling in The Neuquen Basin Center
Overpressured Gas Systems Modeling in The Neuquen Basin Center
a Gerencia de Exploracin Argentina Onshore. Repsol-YPF. Talero 360. Q8300IEH Neuqun. Argentina. b Gerencia de Exploracin ABB. Repsol-YPF Exploracin. Esmeralda 255. C1035ABE Buenos Aires. Argentina. *Corresponding author: Tel.: +542994492800; fax: +542994492974. E-mail address: frodriguezmo@repsolypf.com
2008 AAPG ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION DELIVER THE CONVENTIONAL; APRIL 20-23 PURSUE THE UNCONVENTIONAL
Abstract
Complex overpressured systems of the Neuquen Basin center are discussed in this study with a basin modeling approach. Enormous amounts of hydrocarbons have been generated by the Jurassic Los Molles Fm. in this area. This type III marine source rock reaches thicknesses of more than 1000 m with TOC values in the range of 1- 3.5 % (Fig. 1). Vitrinite reflectance values of 1 - 2.5 % show present time overmaturity of the source rock. Widespread overpressured gas accumulations have been found in the overlying Jurassic sediments. Lajas Fm. tight sands are the main reservoirs. Some recent oil and gas discoveries have also been made in fractured carbonates and Tertiary sills. The Cretaceous Auquilco Fm. evaporites act as an effective regional seal for this petroleum system. Multi-1D and 2D regional models were satisfactorily calibrated for temperature, maturity, pressure and known accumulations. Models showed that generation occurred between 150 and 50 Ma. Up to 500 billion barrels of oil equivalent were generated in this area. Deposition of a Cretaceous evaporitic regional seal and a later overburden developed a highly overpressured system. Tertiary sills intruded in the Los Molles-Lajas Fms. contact were charged by retarded hydrocarbon expulsion related to source rock undercompaction. Despite the lack of effective migration pathways, long distance migration occurred and it is still active (Fig. 2). Fluids migrate towards the basin edge where the pinch out of the evaporites allows for overpressure dissipation. Fluid inclusions and geochemical oils and gas analyses show several migration pulses of a wide maturity range of products. Diamondoids and GC analyses done in oils from shallow reservoirs are proof of mixing processes with high maturity hydrocarbon. These as evidence suggest the probable occurrence of deep accumulations in undrilled old structures located in the migration pathway (Fig. 3 & 4). Basin modeling and geochemical analyses were helpful: to calculate generated volumes, to understand young traps charge and to predict long distance accumulations that opened new exploration opportunities in this basin.
1. Regional setting
3. W - E schematic crosssection
The Jurassic Cuyo and Lotena Sedimentary sequences form an overpressured basincentered gas system. It is semi-confined by regional evaporites underneath. The main source rock is the 1000 m thick type III Los Molles Fm. The main reservoirs are tight deltaic sandstones, fractured carbonates and Tertiary sills.
From Delpino, Brisson & Veiga
AAPG Annual Conference & Exhibition April 20-23, San Antonio Texas
Lajas sandstones
Water flow
SW
NE
HC flow
Organofacies distribution
SW
Basin Center Well Platform Well NE
Lajas sandstones
IHo 100 mg/g COT COTo 1%
Fluids migrate towards the Platform area where the regional evaporitic seal pinchs out and the overpressure is dissipated.
IHo 200 mg/g COT COTo 1.5 % IHo 250 mg Hc/g COT COTo 2%
Precuyano
Maturity
TR 90 % Ro 2-4%
COT 2%
1000 m
COT 3%
Fluids migration helps for the slow pressure dropout. This process is active at present time and it will continue in the future.
AAPG Annual Conference & Exhibition April 20-23, San Antonio Texas
CAM
BP -21
80
Madurez Creciente
60
Mixing in shallow reservoirs with an input of mature Los Molles HC coming from deep undiscovered undiscovered accumulations? accumulations?
Petrleo entero
(in subsalt conventional reservoirs, there should be much more in tight sands)
CHSN
40
SCB-62
0.5 %
LoAm.x-1 RDP.x-1 Madurez Creciente ASR-106
of world gas resources of South America resources Loma la Lata (biggest gas field in Argentina)
VAM
20
SCB
CuP.x-1
SCB-64
VAM
4%
40 60 80 100
0
LLL-94 0
20
Fluid inclusions show different migration pulses until recent time. ti me. Diomondois Diomondois suggest suggest leaking leaking from deep undiscovered accumulations. The presence of mature gases gas esform formLos LosMolles MollesFm. Fm.in in the Platform area support the long distance migration model. Modeled undrilled structures are Mod eled undrilled structures are in the the migration migration pathway. pathway. in
2D
l e d o
Conclusions:
Enormous amounts of hydrocarbons have been generated by the Jurassic 1000 m thick Los Molles Fm in the Neuquen Basin. The development of a semi-confined petroleum system in the b a s i n centered subsalt sediments resultsresults in 15 MPa overpressure. Basin models show that these anomalous are being dissipated bydiss the migration (water & HC) towards basin basin centered subsalt sediments in 15 MPa overpressure. Basin models show that these pressures anomalous pressures are being ipated of byfluids the migration of fluids (waterthe & HC) edge until present time and it will continue in the future. Although most of the hydrocarbons are probably accumulated in the basin centered tight sandstones, new sedimentary models suggest that good quality subsalt fluvial sandstones and carbonates should be present in old structures 3000-4000 m deep. These new migration and geological models supported by recent geochemical analyses suggest a promising exploration upside in the main structures of the basin that remain undrilled for these deep objectives.
Dahl, J.E., Moldowan, J.M., Peters, K.E., Claypool, G.E., Rooney, M.A., Michael, G.E., Mello, M.R., Kohnen, M.E.L., 1999. Diamondoid hydrocarbons as indicators of natural oil cracking. Nature 399, 54-57 Uliana, M.A., Legarreta, L., 1993. Hydrocarbons habitat in a Triassic to Cretaceous sub-Andean setting: Neuqun Basin, Argentina. Journal of Petroleum Geology 16, 397-420 Urien, C.M., Zambrano, J.J., 1994. Petroleum systems in the Neuquen Basin, Argentina. In: Magoon, L.B., Dow, W.G. (Eds.), The Petroleum System - from Source to Trap. AAPG Memoir 60, pp. 513-534.
References:
AAPG Annual Conference & Exhibition April 20-23, San Antonio Texas
AAPG Annual Conference & Exhibition April 20-23, San Antonio Texas