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Title: A petroleum system in search of a reservoir; the Palmyrid Region, Syria

Abstract

World class accumulations of hydrocarbons have not been discovered in the Palmyrid region of central Syria despite the presence of all of the essential elements of a petroleum system such as source rock, seal rock, trap and, to a lesser extent, reservoir rock. Recent exploration has resulted in an appreciation of why the Palmyrid region has failed to yield significant hydrocarbon discoveries even though active source generation appears more than adequate to charge the basin. The early Triassic Mulussa E, D1 and C2 source-reservoir system is characterized by an overall shallowing up sequence capped by Mulussa C-1 salt rock. Source rock quality and facies distribution and subsequent oil and gas generation and migration are correctly placed in time and space to take advantage of the structural evolution of traps. The sub-salt system fails primarily because of poor reservoir quality although patchy, unpredictable porosity-permeability enhancement provides adequate reservoir quality for the Ash Shaer and Cherrife gas fields. The Palmyrid petroleum system illustrates a case where all of the processes and elements required to form large accumulations are present but for one essential element, the reservoir, is insufficiently developed to form major hydrocarbon accumulations.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Marathon Oil Company, Houston, TX (United States)
  2. Marathon Oil Company, Littleton, CO (United States)
  3. DGSI, Woodlands, TX (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
127355
Report Number(s):
CONF-950995-
Journal ID: AABUD2; ISSN 0149-1423; TRN: 95:005942-0048
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
AAPG Bulletin
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 79; Journal Issue: 8; Conference: International conference and exhibition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Inc.: managing change at the turn of the century, Nice (France), 10-13 Sep 1995; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; 03 NATURAL GAS; SYRIA; PETROLEUM DEPOSITS; SEDIMENTARY BASINS; NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS; EXPLORATION; RESOURCE POTENTIAL; RESERVOIR ROCK; GEOLOGIC TRAPS

Citation Formats

Blanchard, D C, Dembicki, H Jr, and Dow, W G. A petroleum system in search of a reservoir; the Palmyrid Region, Syria. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Blanchard, D C, Dembicki, H Jr, & Dow, W G. A petroleum system in search of a reservoir; the Palmyrid Region, Syria. United States.
Blanchard, D C, Dembicki, H Jr, and Dow, W G. 1995. "A petroleum system in search of a reservoir; the Palmyrid Region, Syria". United States.
@article{osti_127355,
title = {A petroleum system in search of a reservoir; the Palmyrid Region, Syria},
author = {Blanchard, D C and Dembicki, H Jr and Dow, W G},
abstractNote = {World class accumulations of hydrocarbons have not been discovered in the Palmyrid region of central Syria despite the presence of all of the essential elements of a petroleum system such as source rock, seal rock, trap and, to a lesser extent, reservoir rock. Recent exploration has resulted in an appreciation of why the Palmyrid region has failed to yield significant hydrocarbon discoveries even though active source generation appears more than adequate to charge the basin. The early Triassic Mulussa E, D1 and C2 source-reservoir system is characterized by an overall shallowing up sequence capped by Mulussa C-1 salt rock. Source rock quality and facies distribution and subsequent oil and gas generation and migration are correctly placed in time and space to take advantage of the structural evolution of traps. The sub-salt system fails primarily because of poor reservoir quality although patchy, unpredictable porosity-permeability enhancement provides adequate reservoir quality for the Ash Shaer and Cherrife gas fields. The Palmyrid petroleum system illustrates a case where all of the processes and elements required to form large accumulations are present but for one essential element, the reservoir, is insufficiently developed to form major hydrocarbon accumulations.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/127355}, journal = {AAPG Bulletin},
number = 8,
volume = 79,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}