Cratering reservoir potential by impact cratering
- Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States)
Impact craters are gaining increasing acceptance and value as sites for potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. Nevertheless, such structures are often difficult to interpret and assess because their physical expressions from physical data have few exposed terrestrial analogs for comparison. Observational, theoretical, and experimental studies directed - toward understanding the nature of well-preserved craters on other planets, however, establish a two-dimensional template for understanding and interpreting the three-dimensional view, critical or assessing hydrocarbon potentials. But terminology often used in describing an impact structure needs to be placed in a process context. Impact craters are not produced instantaneously but evolve through time. The process occurs in three different stages of formation corresponding to the transfer of kinetic energy: compression, excavation, and modification. The compression stage roughly corresponds to the time required for transfer of energy from impactor to target and is reflected in the formation of a central penetration zone in smaller craters and the central uplift in larger craters often called the [open quotes]central plug, diapir, brecciated core, or distributed zone[close quotes]. The excavation stage occurs as the cratering flow field draws material downward near the center and outward from the cavity. Traps are created stratigraphically inside (shock-disrupted rock and depositional capping) or outside (inverted stratigraphy, fractured/fault target, porous ejecta) as well as structurally inside (uplift, wall terraces) or outside (concentric listric faults or seismically triggered failure). Larger complex craters create greater potential traps. Consequently, potential reserve can be created during each stage but the most important criteria remains the realtors motto: location, location, location
- OSTI ID:
- 6590615
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960527-; CODEN: AABUD2
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 5; Conference: Annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Inc. and the Society for Sedimentary Geology: global exploration and geotechnology, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-22 May 1996; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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