Thermal and pressure histories of the Malay Basin, offshore Malaysia
- Univ. of Durham (United Kingdom)
- Petronas, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
The Malay Basin is a Neogene intracratonic basin characterized by high heat flow and rapid sedimentation; moderate to high overpressure is common in deeper reservoirs. Thermal conductivity and temperature data from 55 wells have been used to reassess the areal and vertical heat-flow distribution within the basin. Anomalously high temperatures have been observed in some sandstone intervals above the overpressured reservoir section. A narrow to rather abrupt pressure transition zone could be recognized. All hydrocarbon-filled reservoirs seemed to be associated with high heat flow (i.e., about 90 mW/m[sup 2]). Overpressure in some wells is approaching critical fracture pressure (i.e., 0.85 psi/ft. pressure gradient) in the region. In the central part of the basin, the overpressured sections are found within the shallower (<2000 m) hydrocarbon-bearing units. Selective studies of the temporal development of the pore pressure indicated that overpressure development is associated with episodes of rapid sedimentation. A preliminary fluid flow model supported by pressure modeling is proposed whereby hot fluids are currently being expelled from deeper overpressured sandstone and mudrocks through a fractured seal induced by overpressure. The latter is caused by relatively rapid burial since late Tertiary times. Hydrocarbon migration may have been aided by this fluid movement.
- OSTI ID:
- 7017613
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940803-; CODEN: AABUD2
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 78:7; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) international conference and exhibition, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), 21-24 Aug 1994; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
New exploration targets in Malaysia: Deep sandstone reservoirs in Malay basin and turbidites in Sabah basin
Deposition model of a Miocene barred wave- and storm-dominated shoreface and shelf, southeastern Malay basin, offshore west Malaysia