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The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth Typical depths: 1,000 - 10,000 feet / 300-3000 meters Deepest petroleum well to date: BPs 2009 Tiber discovery well in Gulf of Mexico 35,055 ft / 10,685 m sub-seafloor in 4132 ft / 1259 m of water in Lower Tertiary strata Drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig destroyed in April 2010. Deepest (?) onshore petroleum well GHK #1-27 Bertha Rogers in Washita County, Oklahoma (Anadarko Basin) (1974) 31,441 feet / 9583 m, P&A in molten sulfur Deepest drillhole to date: Kola Superdeep Borehole in Kola Peninsula, Russia (1989) 40,230 ft / 12,262 m (drilled non-rotary with a mud-motor bit) Temperature Pressure Water Chemistry
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth Typical depths: 1,000 - 10,000 feet / 300-3000 meters Deepest petroleum well to date: BPs 2009 Tiber discovery well in Gulf of Mexico 35,055 ft / 10,685 m sub-seafloor in 4132 ft / 1259 m of water in Lower Tertiary strata Drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig destroyed in April 2010. Deepest (?) onshore petroleum well GHK #1-27 Bertha Rogers in Washita County, Oklahoma (Anadarko Basin) (1974) 31,441 feet / 9583 m, P&A in molten sulfur Deepest drillhole to date: Kola Superdeep Borehole in Kola Peninsula, Russia (1989) 40,230 ft / 12,262 m (drilled non-rotary with a mud-motor bit) Temperature Pressure Water Chemistry
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth Typical depths: 1,000 - 10,000 feet / 300-3000 meters Deepest petroleum well to date: BPs 2009 Tiber discovery well in Gulf of Mexico 35,055 ft / 10,685 m sub-seafloor in 4132 ft / 1259 m of water in Lower Tertiary strata Drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig destroyed in April 2010. Deepest (?) onshore petroleum well GHK #1-27 Bertha Rogers in Washita County, Oklahoma (Anadarko Basin) (1974) 31,441 feet / 9583 m, P&A in molten sulfur Deepest drillhole to date: Kola Superdeep Borehole in Kola Peninsula, Russia (1989) 40,230 ft / 12,262 m (drilled non-rotary with a mud-motor bit) Temperature Pressure Water Chemistry
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth Typical depths: 1,000 - 10,000 feet / 300-3000 meters Deepest petroleum well to date: BPs 2009 Tiber discovery well in Gulf of Mexico 35,055 ft / 10,685 m sub-seafloor in 4132 ft / 1259 m of water in Lower Tertiary strata Drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig destroyed in April 2010. Deepest (?) onshore petroleum well GHK #1-27 Bertha Rogers in Washita County, Oklahoma (Anadarko Basin) (1974) 31,441 feet / 9583 m, P&A in molten sulfur. Deepest drillhole to date: Kola Superdeep Borehole in Kola Peninsula, Russia (1989) 40,230 ft / 12,262 m (drilled non-rotary with a mud-motor bit) Temperature Pressure Water Chemistry
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth Typical depths: 1,000 - 10,000 feet / 300-3000 meters Deepest petroleum well to date: BPs 2009 Tiber discovery well in Gulf of Mexico 35,055 ft / 10,685 m sub-seafloor in 4132 ft / 1259 m of water in Lower Tertiary strata Drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig destroyed in April 2010. Deepest (?) onshore petroleum well GHK #1-27 Bertha Rogers in Washita County, Oklahoma (Anadarko Basin) (1974) 31,441 feet / 9583 m, P&A in molten sulfur.
Deepest drillhole to date: Kola Superdeep Borehole in Kola Peninsula, Russia (1989) 40,230 ft / 12,262 m (drilled non-rotary with a mud-motor bit) Temperature
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth Deepest petroleum well to date: BPs 2009 Tiber discovery well in Gulf of Mexico 35,055 ft / 10,685 m sub-seafloor Deepest (?) onshore petroleum well GHK #1-27 Bertha Rogers in Washita County, Oklahoma 31,441 feet / 9583 m, P&A in molten sulfur. Deepest drillhole to date: Kola Superdeep Borehole in Kola Peninsula, Russia (1989) 40,230 ft / 12,262 m (drilled non-rotary with a mud-motor bit:
With a lot of rounding: Deepest onshore petroleum well: 30 thousand feet Deepest offshore petroleum well: 35 thousand feet Deepest well/borehole of any sort: 40 thousand feet
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Significance: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km (Lowest T of oil generation to ~metamorphism) Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Significance: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Significance: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
Geothermal gradients:
From smu.edu/geothermal/heatflow/heatflow.htm
Geothermal gradients:
Geothermal gradients:
Geothermal gradients:
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Measured during logging, well after circulation has stopped. Significance: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Measured during logging, well after circulation has stopped. Significance: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Measured during logging, well after circulation has stopped. Significance of temperature: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Measured during logging, well after circulation has stopped. Significance of temperature: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
North 1985
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Measured during logging, well after circulation has stopped. Significance of temperature: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Diagenetic reactions that destroy porosity Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
*Diagenesis: the physical and chemical modification of sediments that turns them into sedimentary rocks, including but not limited to compaction (lessening of bulk volume)
North 1985
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Measured during logging, well after circulation has stopped. Significance of temperature: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Diagenetic reactions that destroy porosity Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature Relevant range: 60-250C Geothermal gradients: 5-100 C/km Typically ~25 C/km Bottom-hole Temperatures (BHTs) Measured during logging, well after circulation has stopped. Significance of temperature: (past) Thermal maturation of kerogen to yield petroleum Oil window: ~65-160C Diagenetic reactions that destroy porosity Decreased resistivity of formation waters Degradation / melting of drill bit
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry Increasing total dissolved solids / salinity with depth Thus increasing density with depth Cl- typically the dominant anion Na+ and Ca2+ the dominant cations
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North 1985
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry Increasing total dissolved solids / salinity with depth Thus increasing density with depth Cl- typically the dominant anion Na+ and Ca2+ the dominant cations
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry Increasing total dissolved solids / salinity with depth Thus increasing density with depth Cl- typically the dominant anion Na+ and Ca2+ the dominant cations
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry Increasing total dissolved solids / salinity with depth Thus increasing density with depth Cl- typically the dominant anion Na+ and Ca2+ the dominant cations
North 1985
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The dashed curve labeled Natural water is the pressure trajectory of a water column with porewaters increasing from G = 1.00 in the uppermost 1000 feet to 1.08 at 20,000 feet depth. The dashed curve labeled Natural strata is the pressure trajectory of a stratigraphic section with a mineral G of 2.65 with porosity decreasing from 25% in the uppermost 1000 feet to 4% at 20,000 feet.
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry These two are not nearly IV. Pressure synonymous in the isotropic sense Force/area Weight/area (psi) sometimes used in Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock structural Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid geology (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry These two are not nearly IV. Pressure synonymous in the isotropic sense Force/area Weight/area (psi) sometimes used in Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock structural Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid geology (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry These two are not nearly IV. Pressure synonymous in the isotropic sense Force/area Weight/area (psi) sometimes used in Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock structural Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid geology (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The dashed curve labeled Natural water is the pressure trajectory of a water column with porewaters increasing from G = 1.00 in the uppermost 1000 feet to 1.08 at 20,000 feet depth. The dashed curve labeled Natural strata is the pressure trajectory of a stratigraphic section with a mineral G of 2.65 with porosity decreasing from 25% in the uppermost 1000 feet to 4% at 20,000 feet.
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
North 1985
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
Overpressure
The dashed curve labeled Natural water is the pressure trajectory of a water column with porewaters increasing from G = 1.00 in the uppermost 1000 feet to 1.08 at 20,000 feet depth. The dashed curve labeled Natural strata is the pressure trajectory of a stratigraphic section with a mineral G of 2.65 with porosity decreasing from 25% in the uppermost 1000 feet to 4% at 20,000 feet.
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Fracturing of rock ii) Blowout of well
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure:
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Less extensive compaction ii)Fracturing of rock
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Less extensive compaction ii) Fracturing of rock
The Subsurface Environment(s) of Petroleum I. Depth II. Temperature III. Water Chemistry IV. Pressure Force/area Weight/area (psi) Lithostatic: Weight of overlying rock Hydrostatic: Weight of overlying column of fluid (in which density typically increases downward) Results Greater pressure at depth Compaction of sediments/rocks Overpressure: subsurface liquid/gas pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure Pore fluids sealed below an impermeable stratum are pressurized a) because of compaction (decrease of pore volume) or b) because of diagenetic chemical reactions that release liquid or gas (increase of fluid volume) Potential results of overpressure: i) Less extensive compaction ii) Fracturing of rock iii) Blowout of well
200 foot flames at a 1998 natural gas well blowout near Bakersfield, CA.
Image from Sandia National Laboratories via a Wilderness Society webpage..