IFP SCHOOL

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONS

Where does petroleum

come from?

O
il (liquid hydrocarbon) and natural gas are fossil fuels, which come from the decomposition of organic
matter present in various concentrations in sediments. The progressive burial of sediments (subsidence
of several kilometers) means the organic matter is slowly transformed over millions of years.

THE ORGANIC MATTER

(plankton, bacteria, seaweeds, plants),
consists essentially of carbon, hydrogen,
nitrogen and oxygen. Depending on their
origin, various types of hydrocarbons
Micro-organisms Plants Pollen («chemical types») can be defined.

Dead organisms are deposited on the

ground or sink to the bottom of the sea
or continental lakes. A large quantity of
organic matter is destroyed during its fall
between the surface and the bottom of
Continental the ocean. Only 2% reaches the bottom of
Lake margin the sea at shallow depths and only 0.02%
reaches the deep offshore sea bed.

Delta

Plankton, Algae

SEDIMENTS mainly consist of rock SUBSIDENCE: The bottom of the basin

fragments and minerals (clay particles,
fine sand grains …).
The organic matter which has been
preserved from destruction mixes with
mineral matter. The resulting dark
mud accumulates over time, forming
successive layers, several kilometers
thick in sedimentary basins (the sea
bed, lakes, deltas …).
sinks under the influence of various geological
phenomena, which contribute to the burial
of sediments and to the preservation of the
organic matter.
As a result, pressure and temperature
increase within the accumulated sediments
(temperature increases about 3°C every 100
meters).
The petroleum system
- a source rock, which generates the hydrocarbons, Hydrocarbon %
- a porous and permeable reservoir rock, which hosts
Biogenic origine gas
hydrocarbons after migration,
- a non-permeable cap rock, the seal, which will prevent the
50
hydrocarbons from leaking out of the trap. 60°C

Temperature °C
Oil generation window
SOURCE ROCK AND HYDROCARBON GENERATION 100

A fine-grained sedimentary rock containing at least 1 to 2% of organic matter can play the 120°C
role of a source rock.
150
Under the influence of temperature and pressure, the organic matter contained in the Gas generation window
source rock is gradually converted into kerogen, which is distributed throughout the rock
as small particles. The kerogen starts to mature at temperatures of 60 to100°C (at depths Gas
below 2000m). The increasing temperature and pressure, as burial depth increases,
breaks and reorganizes molecules. The kerogen starts to generate hydrocarbons: oil first 200 Oil
(oil window) and gas at higher temperatures and pressures (gas window). (liquid hydrocarbon)

Seal Natural
(non-permeable) oil seep
EXPULSION, MIGRATION Rock
AND TRAPS

The maturation process causes pressure

Seal
build-up in the source rock. When this
(non-permeable)
pressure exceeds the pressure of adjacent
Rock
layers, oil or gas is expelled to a porous and
permeable rock which allows fluids to flow Non-mature
through it. This is called the reservoir rock (thermally)
(usually 5 to 30% porosity). Hydrocarbons
are lighter than the water contained in the
rock. They migrate upward through the Reservoir Oil window
porous and permeable rocks, or along faults. rock
Source Gas window
Hydrocarbons can migrate in the reservoir rock
over distances ranging from a few meters
to several hundred kilometers, until they
accumulate in a trap covered with a non-
permeable layer (the seal). In the trap,
hydrocarbons are separated according to
their density. Document printed on 100% FSC-certified paper, partially recycled in a printing plant with the Imprim'Vert printing

Reservoir rock sample Source rock: very fine

Seal sample (10 cm):
(microscope image, size 4 mm): grained rock,
claystones, anhydrite …
sandstones, carbonates … low permeability

HYDROCARBON GENERATION: A SUMMARY

label. © CREAV Communication - IFP School, October 2014.

Organic matter Kerogen Hydrocarbons

Living organisms Sedimentation Preservation Burial Maturation Chemical Molecular modification Expulsion Migration Trapping

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