Abstract
Salt structures are attractive targets for hydrocarbon exploration. Salt can flow as a viscous fluid, act as hydrocarbon seal, and salt-related deformation may create reservoir traps. The high conductivity of salt can be crucial for hydrocarbon maturation in a basin. Here, we present results from the study of salt structures on the Eastern flank of Central Graben, on the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. By using our in-house basin modeling software (BMTTM), we modelled the salt structure evolution and the effects of salt on temperature and maturation. Our results show up to 85 °C cooling due to the salt heat pipe effect. An integrated impact of cooling is the depression of vitrinite Ro by up to 1.0% at the base of a large salt balloon. Our work shows that it is of critical importance to correctly identify salt volumes and to have a good geological model, and to understand the timing and geometrical evolution of salt structures. This study is, to our knowledge, the most specific analysis of the impact of salt on basin temperature and maturation published so far, and is an example of how basin modeling in the future should be an integrated part of exploration.
Highlights
All over the world, salt structures are found to be potential targets for hydrocarbon exploration [1].The low density and the viscous nature of salt enable it to deform by buoyancy flow, distorting, and perhaps penetrating sedimentary sequences above it
This paper reports modeling of salt evolution in Southern North Sea and quantification of the temperature effects saltsalt diapirs
This study has demonstrated the importance of high resolution basin modeling understanding This study has demonstrated the importance of high resolution basinformodeling for understanding the dynamic evolution of basin geometry, structures, temperature and maturitythe dynamic evolution of basin geometry, structures, temperature and maturity- history in areas history in areas with salt structures
Summary
Salt structures are found to be potential targets for hydrocarbon exploration [1].The low density and the viscous nature of salt enable it to deform by buoyancy flow, distorting, and perhaps penetrating sedimentary sequences above it. Salt structures are found to be potential targets for hydrocarbon exploration [1]. Hydrocarbons may be trapped under large domes above salt, along salt flanks, under salt over-hangs, or along salt associated faults. The structural traps we see on the present seismic sections are unlikely to be the structures that were in place when hydrocarbons migrated into the area. Reconstructing the evolution of salt structures may be crucial for constraining the filling and spilling of hydrocarbon accumulations. Due to the high thermal conductivity of salt, salt structures act like heat pipes and can dramatically change subsurface temperatures, potentially affecting the timing of hydrocarbon maturation. Horsts are developed on the highest salt structures. Background figure is an unedited unedited surface interpreted by LOTOS.
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