Abstract

A modelling study aimed at providing a better understanding of the hydrocarbon accumulations on the SW flank of the Dead Sea graben in Israel has been performed. It considers the recent geochemical finding that the source rock of the hydrocarbon occurrences in the area is the Senonian bituminous chalk and marl, buried in the central Dead Sea graben. The study investigates the effect of the regional geological and hydrogeological conditions, associated with the physical properries of the rock and fluids, on the migration and types of hydrocarbon accumulations. The investigation was performed by means of a three‐phase, two‐dimensional, numerical reservoir simulator. Typical cross‐sections, through potential anticlinal hydrocarbon traps, were considered. The study analyses possible hydrodynamic flushing in the water‐flow direction, as well as counter‐current migration in a direction opposite to the potentiometric water gradients, from the Dead Sea graben upwards.In addition to conventional hydrodynamic traps. the study includes the case of downdip entrapment due to low permeability regions. It is concluded that: (i)from the hydrodynamic point of view, the easiest oil migration path is through Paleozoic — Triassic formations: (ii) the high water salinity of these beds facilitates the up‐structure oil flow in a direction opposite to the water current movement: (iii) the Jurassic beds are probably impregnated by oil and gas coming from Triassic strata through faults: (iv) undiscovered structural traps are likely to contain mostly gas; and (v) down‐faulted blocks adjacent to sealing faults. or to low‐permeable regions (including permeable faults), are potential oil traps.

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