Rodriquez, K, Intawong, A, Hodgson, N et al. (2 more authors) (2017) Fractured Basement – An Overlooked Play Type with Strong Indications of Significant Potential from a Global Seismic Database. First Break, 35 (7). pp. 77-82. ISSN 1365-2397
Abstract
Fractured basement reservoirs are most commonly defined as metamorphic and igneous rocks unconformably overlain by a sedimentary sequence, where faulting has led to the creation of a natural fracture network where hydrocarbons can accumulate. Here, we also consider basement rocks to include those of sedimentary origin with little or no matrix porosity (North, 1990), such as the Cambro-Ordovician quartzitic sandstones of the Table Mountain group in South Africa. Fractured quartzites and granites are generally considered to be the optimum reservoirs (Koning, 2013). Basement reservoirs have been recognized for decades but are still often disregarded – with wells barely penetrating them – as many oil companies stop drilling as soon as basement rocks are intersected. Where basement has been penetrated to a sufficient depth (approximately 300 m), significant volumes of undiscovered hydrocarbons may still have been missed by a failure to intersect the fracture systems (Aguilera, 1996). Despite inadequate exploration, fractured basement rocks are important oil and gas reservoirs around the globe (Figure 1). Though many were originally found by chance, the large discoveries made in Vietnam and more recently in the UK are now paving the way for an exploration strategy of this unconventional highly prospective play type.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 EAGE Publications. This is an author produced version of a paper published in First Break. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Institute for Applied Geosciences (IAG) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 11 Sep 2017 12:44 |
Last Modified: | 30 Jun 2018 00:39 |
Published Version: | http://fb.eage.org/publication/content?id=89734 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:121048 |