Print this pageTemperature, Maturity and Timing of Hc Generation in the Dutch Sector of North Sea Basin
Several factors may affect temperature, maturity and, consequently, the timing of hydrocarbons generation in a basin. The present work shows the impact of source depth location as well as salt structures on the time evolution of temperature, source maturation and hydrocarbon generation in a salt-dominenated basin in the Netherlands.
Introduction
TNO uses basin modelling approaches to integrate the wealth of data and information gathered and mapped in its detailed mapping programme of subareas of offshore Netherlands. The main objective is to evaluate the interdependencies of the different processes that affect rocks and fluids during its geological history. Special attention is paid to processes and conditions affecting hydrocarbon potential. Here we present selected results of the 3D reconstruction of the history of temperature, source rock maturity and timing of hydrocarbon generation in the Terschelling Basin and the southern part of the Dutch Central Graben from 320 Ma until present-day.
Basin modelling: Input and boundary conditions
The basin modelling programme used at this work is Petromod (version 10) of IES. For steady state Petromod simulations, the regional variations in temperature in a stratigraphic unit at a certain time in history result mainly from regional variation in: 1 -depth of burial, 2 -basal heat flow and 3 -bulk thermal conductivity of a sedimentary sequence. For the heat flow paleo trends we used an in-house software called Petroprob. Petroprob is a 1D tectonic heat flow predictor which calculates variable basal heat flow boundary conditions. The simulations used here also incorporate effects of rapid sedimentation or uplift on the temperature distribution at a certain time.
Conclusion and outlook
The data and information recently gathered and mapped in TNO’s mapping programme in combination with the newly reconstructed tectonic heat flow boundary conditions improved the 3D characterization and understanding of the thermal and maturity history in the study area and the timing of the main periods of hydrocarbon generation of Posidonia source rock. The 3D modelling revealed large lateral variations in maturity and hydrocarbon generation history. Those factors have a fundamental importance for the identification of i.e. present-day "kitchen" areas, allowing a better understanding of the petroleum systems in a basin.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #90100©2009 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition 15-18 November 2009, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil