1. Structural Traps – A Simple Anticline
Synclinal Spill Point
If HC charge is great A’
Low A
Synclinal Spill Point
Controls HC Level A’ A
Slide 11
Here is an example of a structural trap – a simple anticline
On the left is a map view; right is cross-section A-A’
If enough HC has migrated into the trap, it will be filled to a spill or leak point
For this example, the spill point is on the ENE
Any more HC added will spill to the ENE, possibly filling another trap further along the migration pathway
Low
HCs migrate to anticline
Traps progressively fills down
When HCs reaching the trap is greater, the trap is filled to a leak point
Here there is a synclinal leak point on the east side of the trap
Courtesy of ExxonMobil
L12 – Data Analysis