02 Traps PDF

TRAPS: OIL AND GAS ACCUMULATION
WHAT ARE TRAPS

A trap = is a geological situation (lithology) that concentrates petroleum into one place.
A tap is responsible for making a petroleum reserve economic to extract.
 A stratigraphic trap is one that results from the arrangement of sedimentary rocks and includes
unconformities and those formed due to lithology (rock type).
 A structural trap, however, results from the rock deformation and includes anticlines, synclines, faults and salt
domes.
All traps require the presence of a porous and permeable reservoir rock overlain by an impermeable cap rock.
Fluids will settle under gravity to form horizontal layers, regardless of rock inclinations. It is very important to
show this when drawing diagrams. The order of densities results in the order of fluid layering. Gas is the least
dense so will sit at the top within pore spaces of the reservoir, followed by oil and finally water at the very
bottom.
While you may assume that oil is denser considering the molecules are made
of long chained hydrocarbons with higher molecular masses. It is due to the
bonding within water compared to in petroleum. The molecules making up
petroleum can’t come into close enough contact to pack together as
efficiently as in water. There are very weak intermolecular bonds in oil and
even less so in gas compared to water which has much stronger hydrogen
bonds between water molecules.
TRAP-TYPE 1: ANTICLINE
Anticline traps form due to the deformation of rock strata into an arch shape (antiformal shape).
There MUST always be a cap rock overlaying the reservoir rock as with any trap.
The oil and gas will be concentrated at the top of the reservoir rock at the crest of the anticline. Once filled to
maximum capacity, petroleum will leak out laterally, at spill points, and migrate into adjacent rocks.
The storage capacity of an anticline trap is determined by its size and inter-limb angle. Open folds are going to
store larger amounts than tight folds. Moreover, the larger the fold, the larger the capacity.
Fold type Inter-limb angle / Degrees

Gentle 180 – 120
Open 120 – 70
Closed 70 – 30
Tight <30
A gentle fold may allow for too much lateral leakage, particularly if it is small.
TRAP-TYPE 2: FAULT TRAP
Fault traps occur when there is movement along a fault plane, bringing a reservoir rock into a position adjacent
to an impermeable rock.
There must also be an impermeable cap rock overlaying the reservoir rock. The impermeable rock on the
opposite side of the fault prevents the oil and natural gas leaking laterally.
Provided the strata are dipping, the oil and natural gas will migrate up dip, and settle at the top of the reservoir
rock (being trapped at the top adjacent to the impermeable rock). The fault itself must be sealed to prevent oil
and natural gas escaping up the fault.
TRAP-TYPE 3: SALT DOME

Salt dome traps result from the presence of evaporates such as halite and gypsum. Evaporates are less dense
(2.3 g/cm3) than surrounding rock (2.5g/cm3 to 2.7 g/cm3) so form diapirs that rise up toward the surface. This is
just like magmatic diapirs. The rising diapir uplifts and pierces surrounding rock, gently folding overlying rock
strata into anticlines.
Typical width: 1 – 10 Km Typical height: Up to 6 Km
Petroleum can either accumulate adjacent to the salt dome (in dipping reservoir rocks) or in an anticline trap
situated above the salt dome.
There must always be an impermeable cap rock above the reservoir though.
TRAP-TYPE 4: UNCONFORMITY
Unconformity traps will occur when reservoir rocks are part of an angular unconformity with impermeable cap
rocks being deposited horizontally, overlaying the plane of unconformity.
Oil and natural gas migrate up dip and become trapped at the unconformity due to the impermeable overlaying
rock.
The reservoir rock below the unconformity plane must also have impermeable rocks adjacent on each side. This
prevents lateral leakage and helps concentrate petroleum for economic extraction.
TRAP-TYPE 5: LITHOLOGICAL
Lithological traps occur due to variation in rock types.
Fossilised limestone reefs make excellent traps if surrounded by impermeable rocks; limestone reefs are made
of highly porous rock and form in environments where life thrives to produce lots of organic matter needed to
form petroleum.
Sandstones that formed as river channel, point bar or deltaic deposits often have a lens shape, making small but
common traps. The river or delta clays surrounding them make good impermeable cap rocks.
HOW CAN PETROLEUM BE LOST OR DESTROYED 
Oil and natural gas may be destroyed in temperatures exceeding 2000C. This occurs if there is:
1. Heat from igneous or volcanic activity

2. Regional metamorphism where temperatures are high
3. Burial metamorphism due to the increasing thermal gradient
Oil and natural gas may lost if:
1. Erosion and removal of the overlying cap rock

2. Escaping upward (migration) along an unsealed fault

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TRAPS: OIL AND GAS ACCUMULATION

WHAT ARE TRAPS

A tap is responsible for making a petroleum reserve economic to extract.

Fold type Inter-limb angle / Degrees

TRAP-TYPE 3: SALT DOME

Typical width: 1 – 10 Km Typical height: Up to 6 Km

HOW CAN PETROLEUM BE LOST OR DESTROYED 

1. Heat from igneous or volcanic activity

Oil and natural gas may lost if:

1. Erosion and removal of the overlying cap rock

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