Compaction in sedimentary basins; implications for characterization of petroleum systems

Porosity loss during burial is called compaction. A petroleum system encompasses a pod of active source rock and all genetically related oil and gas accumulations. Appropriate relative timing of formation of the petroleum system elements and processes requires a practical knowledge of compaction. In sedimentary basins, compaction plays an important role in basin evolution with regard to basin history restoration. In particular, understandingcompaction is critical to rock properties and deformation analyses. Compaction is involved with vertical movements of sedimentary strata and hence it implies for understanding of burial history including subsidence and exhumation history. Chemical compaction is most commonly involved with dissolution of unstable clay minerals and precipitation of more stable clay minerals and quartz where it is largely controlled by thermal profile in sedimentary basins. Therefore, chemical compaction have implications for paleo-temperature reconstructions and vertical movements of strata

Keywords:

compaction , burial history , clay minerals , petroleum systems , pore pressure