History of hydrocarbon migration systems

Secondary hydrocarbon migration is induced by hydrocarbon potential gradients, which in turn result from buoyancy forces, capillary forces and net 

For each time period the theoretical hydrostatic hydrocarbon migration pattern should be reconstructed first. A map showing the hydrostatic hydrocarbon migration pattern can be constructed with the help of a paleo-depth contour map of the basement of the sedimentary basin for the appropriate time interval. 

The general picture of the evolution of hydrodynamic conditions thus obtained can be verified with the help of published information on indicators of paleogroundwater flow conditions. Such indicators are paleopressures, -temperatures and -chemical composition of groundwater. For example, geochemical studies on reservoir diagenesis or genesis of ore deposits, may 

By combining the appropriate maps the main characteristics of secondary migration for separate phase hydrocarbons, hydrocarbons in aqueous solution or in very fine suspension, can be identified for each time period. In addition, the influence of periods of increased tectonic activity should be taken into account in the evaluation, because of the direct and indirect effects of tectonic activity on migration, accumulation and entrapment of hydrocarbons (Sections 4.3.4.3 and 5.3.3). 

For each time period the resulting information on directions and lengths of preferred paths of hydrocarbon migration can be used to evaluate the potential distribution of hydrocarbons that have migrated from known or inferred source rock positions and the possibility of the previously accumulated hydrocarbons being destroyed or remigrated. 

---