Course Program

1.-Levels of Petroleum Investigation

2.-Sedimentary Basins

3.-Petroleum Systems

4.-Definition of Petroleum System Elements

5.-Petroleum System Modeling

6.-Burial History Analysis

7.-Geochemistry of Source Rocks and Petroleum

8.-Thermal Model and Maturity of Source Rocks

9.-Generation and Expulsion of Hydrocarbons

10.-Migration, Accumulation and Preservation of Hydrocarbons

5.-PETROLEUM SYSTEM
MODELING
 Basin Modelling Software
Stratigraphic Modelling Structural Modelling

Risk Modelling Petroleum System Modelling

 Petroleum System Modeling in Exploration
 Objective:
To construct a calibrated model of the basin integrating:
• geological data (basin geology and P.S. Elements characteristics)
• geochemical data (source rocks and hydrocarbons)
• thermal data (temperatures, Heat Flow)
to model the geologic and thermal evolution of the basin

in order to calculate and predict:

• the maturity history of source rocks
• the hydrocarbon generation, expulsion and migration.
• the hydrocarbon accumulations and preservation.
 Modeling Key Issues
Are all the PS elements present ?
ELEMENTS Are their characteristics appropriate
?
Is the source rock mature ?

Hydrocarbon type generated ?

Timing of generation/expulsion?
PROCESSES
HC migration to trap ?

HC accumulation in trap ?

HC preservation ?
 P. System Modeling Milestones

• 1960s- Early models for oil and gas formation

• 1971- Lopatin´s Time-Temperature Index (TTI) designed to predict coal
rank through its calibration with vitrinite reflectance.

• 1980- Waples´ Model: application of Lopatin´s TTI to petroleum

generation.

• 1980s- Early Kinetic Models for source rock maturity and petroleum
generation. Commercial software: 1D Modeling.

• 1990s- Advanced Kinetic Models. Development of commercial software:

2D and early 3D Modeling

• 2000s- Advanced Models: Stratigraphic Inversion, Stochastic Modeling,

Coupled Structural/Thermal 3D modeling.
 60s & 70s: Early Models
First computers Lopatin TTI Models

Simple Kinetics
Fortram Equations

1-D In-house
… charge doesn’t matter Software
as long as we have a
huge bump with 4-way Hoo boy,
closure what a
manager!
No Graphical
Interface

B&W Printers & Geothermal

Plotters Gradient

No Compaction
 60s & 70s: Early Models
• Developed by E&P Research Laboratories

• Lopat (Texaco)
• Subside (Amoco)
• POGO (Exxon)
• Theta (BP)
• Heat and TTI (Shell)
• Compass (Mobil)
• SinWell (Chevron)
• GEOSIM (Statoil)
80s Crisis of E&P Research Laboratories

!
?
80s Crisis of E&P Research Laboratories

E&P
1986 budgets
 80s Crisis of E&P Research Laboratories
• E&P Research Laboratories are replaced by contractors and
Research Institutions: PRA, IFP, IES.
80s Hardware: a real deal on a PC!!
 80s: Kinetic Models and Software
First Workstations Waples TTI Models:
Petrolum Generation
First Personal
computers Shell’s and Chevron´s
Petroleum Systems
Approach
Diverse
Programming
Languages Kinetic Reaction
Networks
Graphical User
Interfaces
1-D Commercial
Software
Interactive
Graphics Heat flow

Color plotters &

Compaction,
printers
pressure
 90s: Software Development
Workstations 1-D & 2-D Modelling

Fast & Cheap Personal First 3D Modelling

Computers

Compositional
Cluster Technology Kinetics Equations

3-D Visualization Tools Advanced Heat Flow

Models

Java Interfaces Porosity vs.

Temperature
Advanced Data
Management PVT (Flash
Calculations)
World Wide Web
 2000s: Advanced Models

Powerfull Advanced 3D
Workstations/LINUX Modeling

LINUX Stochastic
Modelling

Powerfull Personal
Coupling Structural
Computers
and Thermal Models

Cluster Technology, Coupling Modelling to

New Processsors Economics

Powerfull 3-D
Play and Prospect Risk
Visualization Tools
Modelling

Advanced World
Wide Web Stratigraphic Inversion
 Petroleum System Modelling Software
1D Modelling: wells 2D Modelling: seismic/cross sections

Multi 1D Modelling: maps 3D Modeling: 3D cubes

 Petroleum System Modelling Software
•Most thermal models are carried out traditionally with 1D simulations.
•There are several 1D programs available commercially:
•BasinMod-1D (Platte River Associates, Boulder, CO, USA)
•PetroMod (IES, Jülich, Germany)
•Genex (Beicip, Paris, France)
•The frequency of application of 2D models is lower than for 1D but they are
becoming a standard tool.
•Temispack (IFP-BEICIP)
•BasiMod 2D (Platte River Associates, Boulder, CO, USA)
•PetroMod (IES, Jülich, Germany)
•Finally, 3D models are now available in the market:
•Temis 3D, IFP-BEICIP
•PetroMod 3D, IES.
•BasinMod 3D
1D MODELS
1D: Models well data
Input: Well Stratigraphy, Temperatures, Geochemistry
Depth Begin Age Amount of
WELL A (m) (m.a.) Erosion (m)
118

Ebro Sandstones
400 1.8

Ebro Clays

Messinian Unconformity
1327 6-5.3 -200
Castellón Sandstones
2010 7.1

Castellón Clays

2737 10.9
Salou Sandstones 11.4
2828
3234 15.1
3704 21
3736 66.4-25 -1000
Alpine Unconformity
163
Model: Burial History, Temperatures, Kinetics

A1-NC186

C O S Dev C Perm T J K Pal NQ

H Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
Dembaba
2000
Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar
Depth Subsurface (feet)

Awaynat Wanin
4000 Tanezzuft-Akakus

Cambro-Ordovician

6000

8000

10000
t=0
600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Age (my)
Output: Maturity, Hc. Generation and Expulsion

A1-NC186 Sep 3, 2006

8:09 pm

O S Dev C Perm T J K Pal N Q

H
500
Cumulative Hydrocarbon / TOC (mg/g TOC)

400

300

200

in-situ
Oil

in-situ
Gas
100
in-situ
Residue

expelled
Oil
0
expelled
500 400 300 200 100 0
Gas
Age (my)
Multi 1D MODELS
Multi 1D: Models Maps or Multi 1D
Input: stratigraphy, temperatures, geochemistry
Isopach Map of the Tanezzuft Shale

Red: Thin

Blue: Thick
Model: Burial History, Temperatures, Kinetics
Output: Mat., Gen., Exp. + (Mig., Accum. & Preserv.)*

* By interpolation of well/node data

2D MODELS
2D: Models seismic/geologic sections
Input: Stratigraphy, Temperatures, Geochemistry
Model: Burial History, Temperatures, Kinetics
Output: Mat., Gen., Exp. + Mig., Accum. & Preserv.
3D MODELS
3D Models: 3D Data
Input: Stratigraphy, Temperatures, Geochemistry
Output: Mat., Gen., Exp. + Mig., Accum. & Preserv.
MODELING
WORK FLOW
 BasinMod 1D

• Modular 1-D Basin Modelling designed by Platte River Associates Boulder,

Colorado, USA).
• The program divides the phenomenon to be modelled (burial history, source
rock maturity, Hidrocarbon Generation, expulsion etc) into a series of modules
each of which describes a process.
• The models follow a logical progression in the calculation sequence:
•1-Burial History and Compaction
•2-Temperature
•3-Maturity
•4-Generation and expulsion
•5-Pressure
 Modelling Work Flow
CONCEPTUAL
MODEL

INPUT
Data:
Geological, Thermal,Geochemical

Calculation Options
 Modeling Procedures
1.-CONCEPTUAL
MODEL 2.-INPUT
CMP=USC;TH=THF;MAT=LL
TI=5;KEXP=Sat;PRM=PL
Maturity VR/Silurian/1D Grid Output=MWell Grid @ 0 (my) DI=1000
3170000

DJHN-1 3

HDK-1 BURIAL HISTORY

3100000
C O S Dev C Perm T J K Pal NQ
H Fm
0 Upper Cretaceous
Lower Cretaceous
DHKT-1
1 Namurian
DJHN-1
1000

Maturity VR (%Ro)
3000000 KT-5

Y (m)
TIO-1
TEH-1

Depth Subsurface (m)

_user_well_0
RG-102
KL-101 RG-3
RG-4
2000 Visean
KT-6 AZSE-1

Tournasian
RAN-1
2900000 MK-1 RPL-101
3000

SLP-1
Upper Devonian
PRP-101
4000
TZ-301 Early Mature (oil)

3.-CALIBRATION
2800000
Middle Devonian 0.5 to 0.7 (%Ro)
BR-7 Lower Devonian
0.1
Mid Mature (oil)
2770000 BR-301 5000 Silurian
0.7 to 1 (%Ro)
560000 600000 700000 800000 900000
Late Mature (oil)
X (m) 1 to 1.3 (%Ro)
6000
t=0 Main Gas Generation
500 400 300 200 100 0 1.3 to 2.6 (%Ro)

Age (my)

WORK FLOW

Oil Expelled Volume Ratio Cross Section at Present Day

4.-MODELING
5.-OUTPUT
0
Oil Saturation Cross Section at Present Day

2000 1000

Oil Expelled Volume Ratio(bbls/acre*ft rock)

2000 1
800
4000

0.8
4000 600
Depth (m)
Oil Saturation(fraction)

6000
0.6
Depth (m)

400
6000

0.4 8000
200

8000
0.2
10000 0

10000 0

12000
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 90000
VE = 6.58 X Distance (m)
12000
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 90000
VE = 6.58 X Distance (m)
 Modelling Work Flow
• 1.-Conceptual model. Basin analysis and definition of Petroleum System Elements.
• 2.-Input of data:
•Geological data: Lithostratigraphy & Chronostratigraphy (formations, erosions,
depth/thicknes, age, lithology and rock properties like porosity data).
•Thermal data: Present day temperatures (BHT data geothermal gradients, heat flow),
paleotemperatures (paleogeothermal gradients and heat flow history, thermochronology).
•Geochemical data: Source rock type, richness, source potential, maturity data & kinetics.
• & Calculation Options: Compaction, Geothermal, Permeability, Expulsion, Kinetics etc.
• 3.-Calibration: Process by which input data and calculation parameters and equations are
optimized by comparison between calculated (modeled) and measured (real) data:
•Compaction with porosity data
•Present Day Heat Flow with measured BHT
•Heat flow history and amount of erosions with maturity data.
• 4.-Modelling: Source Rock Maturity, Hydrocarbon. generation, expulsion, migration,
accumulation and preservation.
• 5.-Output
Input Stratigraphy
Input Thermal Data
Input Geochemical Data
Calculation Parameters and Equations
 Model: Burial History

A1-NC186

C O S Dev C Perm T J K Pal NQ

H Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
Dembaba
2000
Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar
Depth Subsurface (feet)

Awaynat Wanin
4000 Tanezzuft-Akakus

Cambro-Ordovician

6000

8000

10000
t=0
600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Age (my)
 Model: Temperature History

A1-NC186

C O S Dev C Perm T J K Pal NQ

H Fm
0
75(F) Quaternary

Tiguentourine
Dembaba
100(F)
2000
Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar
125(F)
Depth Subsurface (feet)

Awaynat Wanin
150(F)
4000 Tanezzuft-Akakus

175(F)
Cambro-Ordovician

6000
200(F)

8000 225(F)
275(F)
250(F)

300(F)
10000
t=0
600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Age (my)
 Calculated porosity

A1-NC186
Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
1000

Dembaba
Depth Subsurface (feet)

2000

Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar

3000

Awaynat Wanin

4000
Tanezzuft-Akakus

5000 Cambro-Ordovician

6000
t=0
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Porosity
Porosity (fraction)
 Calibration of calculated porosity

A1-NC186
Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
1000

Dembaba
Depth Subsurface (feet)

2000

Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar

3000

Awaynat Wanin

4000
Tanezzuft-Akakus

5000 Cambro-Ordovician

6000
t=0 Porosity
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Porosity
Porosity (fraction)
 Calculated temperature

A1-NC186 Sep 3, 2006

8:10 pm

Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
1000

Dembaba
Depth Subsurface (feet)

2000

Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar

3000

Awaynat Wanin

4000
Tanezzuft-Akakus

5000 Cambro-Ordovician

6000
t=0
60 100 150 200 220
Temperature
Temperature (F)
Calibration of calculated temperature

A1-NC186 Sep 3, 2006

8:11 pm

Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
1000

Dembaba
Depth Subsurface (feet)

2000

Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar

3000

Awaynat Wanin

4000
Tanezzuft-Akakus

5000 Cambro-Ordovician

6000
t=0 Temperature
60 100 150 200 220
BHT
Temperature (F)
 Calculated maturity

A1-NC186 Sep 3, 2006

8:01 pm

Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
1000

Dembaba
Depth Subsurface (feet)

2000

Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar

3000

Awaynat Wanin

4000
Tanezzuft-Akakus
Maturity VR LLNL

Early Mature (oil)

0.5 to 0.7 (%Ro)
5000 Cambro-Ordovician
Mid Mature (oil)
0.7 to 1 (%Ro)
1
Late Mature (oil)
1 to 1.3 (%Ro)
6000
t=0 Main Gas Generation
0.27234 1 2.6
1.3 to 2.6 (%Ro)
Maturity VR LLNL (%Ro)
 Calibration of calculated maturity

A1-NC186 Sep 3, 2006

7:59 pm

Fm
0
Quaternary

Tiguentourine
1000

Dembaba
Depth Subsurface (feet)

2000

Tahara-Mrar-Assedjefar

3000

Awaynat Wanin

4000
Tanezzuft-Akakus Maturity VR LLNL
Early Mature (oil)
0.5 to 0.7 (%Ro)
Mid Mature (oil)
5000 Cambro-Ordovician
0.7 to 1 (%Ro)

1 Late Mature (oil)

1 to 1.3 (%Ro)
Main Gas Generation
6000
t=0 1.3 to 2.6 (%Ro)
0.27234 1 2.6
%Ro
Maturity VR LLNL (%Ro)
Output: Burial and Maturity History
Output: Burial and Kinetic Windows
 Output: Hc. Generation and Expulsion

A1-NC186 Sep 3, 2006

8:09 pm

O S Dev C Perm T J K Pal N Q

H
500
Cumulative Hydrocarbon / TOC (mg/g TOC)

400

300

200

in-situ
Oil

in-situ
Gas
100
in-situ
Residue

expelled
Oil
0
expelled
500 400 300 200 100 0
Gas
Age (my)
 Recommendations

• Always examine different scenarios -- what if?

• Use them as a ranking tool
• Recognize gaps in data and in knowledge
• Continually improve input data
• Use the best available data
• Recognize problems with assumptions
• Examine failures as well as successes
• Place model results into context
• Simplify incredibly complex dynamics