Hydrocarbon Phase, Column Heights and their Prediction – Cases from Papua New Guinea and Australia

Oil fields exist in sedimentary basins with gas-dominated charge. However, to find those, it is important to identify the accumulation driving mechanisms. An understanding of charge (source rock type and maturity, liquid-gas ratio, charge amount) and seals (top seals, fault seals, capillary thresholds) can be derived from observed in-place phase, fluid properties and column heights and is necessary to perform reasonable predictions.

The natural distribution of hydrocarbon phase and column heights in oil and gas traps show patterns which largely depend on charge composition and seal properties. The underlying concept can be quantitatively used in prospect assessments to predict phase, column height, risk and volumes.

Those predictions can be tied to observed phase and column height occurrence in specific basins or plays and are therefore more reliable, transparent.