Ten Reasons to do Routine Fault Seal Analysis


	Why Do It? Faults control not only whether there is or is not hydrocarbon in a trap but also how much. Faults control not only how much hydrocarbons but also how they are distributed: how they're distributed vertically among a series of stacked sands AND how they're distributed within a single sand among a series of fault compartments. Here are 12 reasons why you should be doing routine fault seal analysis:	This is a sample	"If your last well was a dry hole, take the time to understand the possible role of fault seal before you test the next prospect."

Dry Holes
Leaking faults can bleed a trap dry

Dry Holes
Faults can create empty reservoirs & empty compartments within a producing field

Limited Reserves
Fault dependent spill points can limit hydrocarbon columns to less than expected. In addition, column heights are limited by gouge composition, fault displacement, and structural style.

Compartmentalization
Faults control the degree of communication between fault compartments

Dry Holes
Sealing faults can keep a trap from being charged

Dry Holes
Faults can channel migrating hydrocarbons away from your prospect

Limited Reserves
Faults can restrict hydrocarbons to only a few of the many potential reservoir intervals

New Plays
Purely fault dependent traps with no structurally independent closure are common AND they're more common in some areas than others

New Prospects
Hydrocarbons may be trapped along faults down-dip of dry holes

New Prospects

Hydrocarbons may be trapped along faults down-dip of known accumulations & they may be larger columns

Field Unitization
Are you giving away reserves in a highly fault-compartmentalized field?

Residual Reserves
A fault that is partially sealing may trap residual reserves that remain after hydrocarbons are produced from the leaking segments.

plus CO2 & Nuclear Waste Storage

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