Journal of Petroleum Geology, 3, 2, pp.

187-207, 1980

187

PETROLEUM BASINSCLASSIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

H. D. Klemme*

ETROLEUM occurs in concentrated accumulations (fields) in depressed, sediment filled areas (basins or provinces) (Coury et al., 1978) (Fig. 1). Worldwide, more than 600 basins (Huff 1979) and sub-basins are known to occurof these, about a quarter by number (Fitzgerald 1979) and about 50% by area and volume (Fig. 23) have production in some portion to almost all of the basin. Many of the larger and land basins have established production. The principal producing areas are in the more extensive land mass area of the Northern Hemisphere. About 50% of the worlds basins by area and volume and three-quarters by number are non-productive. About one-third of these have never been test drilled. More than one-third of the worlds basins may be considered exploration frontier basins. Many basin classifications have been proposed (Fig. 2) (see additionally Olenin 1967, Dewey and Bird 1970, McCrossan and Porter 1973, Dickinson 1976, Perrodon 1977, Wood 1979). Petroleum industry classifications stress the basin as a container for petroleum and attempt to concentrate on defining those processes of basin evolution involved in the formation of petroleum deposits. Structural outline or form (basin architecture) and evolution or genesis are often factors on which industry classifications are based. Industry classifications have involved six to eight basin types within two to three categories. Most authors who have classified basins generally agree on the classification of about three-quarters of the worlds individual
* International Petroleum Consultant, Westport, CT, USA.

basins and differ on about a quarter of those that are either poorly known or are much studied but controversial due to a geologic evolution which often includes a change in basin type through time (Klemme 1977) (Fig. 22). A basin classification when linked to the variability of petroleum characteristics may provide a worthwhile exercise in appraising the petroleum potential of new "frontier basins or developing further production in newly developing basins. The relative usefulness of applying a look-alike or analog derived from basin classifications in appraisal of new frontier basins or estimating ultimate reserves in producing basins has been rejected by about as many specialists in petroleum geology as those that consider it useful (Haun 1975). Opinion varies on a basin classifications usefulness from the conclusion that it does little to improve our hydrocarbon volume forecasting (Bally 1980) to the conclusion that within broad limits, it is possible to categorize (basins) and speculate on what most likely plays might be (Huff 1979). Current methods of resource appraisal emphasize the utilization of multiple appraisal techniques involving fundamental petroleum factors ( s o u r c e , r e s e r v o i r , tra p and r e c o v e r y ) . R e s o u r c e e s t i m a t e s are p r e s e n t e d in a probability format. Look-alike or analog-yield factors (i.e. estimates by area, volume, and to a limited extent by geochemical material balance, field size distribution and the play or petroleum

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zone concept) use the experience factors available in basin classifications as one of many elements in resource appraisal (Miller 1979, White and Gehman 1979). All assessors emphasize the limitations in any single method of appraisal.

The general dimensions and shape of basins may be divided into both (1) large and small sizes, (2) surface area to sedimentary volume ratio and (3) linear and circular shaped basins. Further differences are noted in the effective basement profile or cross-section of basins

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(Fig. 3). The dimensions and proportions of basins, with exceptions, display common characteristics (Figs. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20). These architectural characteristics when related to the earths crust, tectonic setting, and basin evolution (primarily in the framework of plate tectonics) result in eight types of basins with notable sub-types (Figs. 3 and 4). Type 1 Interior Basins (Figs 5, 6) Type 1 Interior basins are simple, large, circular basins with a symmetrical profile. They are generally areas of Paleozoic platform deposition and the ratio of the volume of sediments in the basin to the surface area of the basin is low. The genesis of this type of basin is poorly known. It is speculated that initial rifting or a thermal hot-spot with introduction of denser material in the subcrust preceded basin development. The denser material may have locally altered crustal buoyancy creating a sag basin. They are located in the central portion of cratons near or upon Precambrian shield areas. They generally consist of a mixture of clastic and carbonate sediments. They generally display low hydrocarbon recovery with few giant fields, containing about 2% of the worlds oil and less than 1% of the worlds gas. Low gas recovery may be attributable to the often shallow basement involved in this type of basin. Their traps for petroleum accumulation are predominantly associated with central arches or stratigraphic traps around the basin margin. Figs. 5 and 6 show location of basins

and architectural dimensions of basins (with no directional orientation). Type 2 Composite and 2A Complex Basins (Figs. 7, 8) Type 2 Composite basins are large, linear to elliptical intracontinental, cratonic basins with an asymmetric profile. They are generally areas which, initially, were sites of shield derived Paleozoic platform deposits displaying characteristics similar to Type 1 basins. They became multicycle or composite in Upper Paleozoic or Mesozoic time when a second cycle of sediments derived from an orogenic uplift on the exterior margin of the craton providing sediments from an opposite source area (2-sided source), thus creating the asymmetry to the basin profile. The ratio of the volume of sediments to surface area is high. Extension during the early cycle was followed by compression during the second cycle of basin development and appears to be related to the action of sea floor spreading on the exterior portions of cratons. Type 2A Complex basins are also multicycle basins located in exterior portions of cratons. They are large, more often elliptical basins with an irregular to asymmetrical profile. Their genesis appears to have been more complex, with multiple rifting followed by a more or less symmetrical sag resembling a Type I basin. Type 2 Composite basins have developed

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around the North American shield, west of the South American and east of the European Fennoscandia and Asian Siberia Shield areas. Type 2A complex basins appear to be limited to the eastern hemisphere (Fig. 7). Type 2 basins generally consist of a mixture of carbonate and clastic sediments, however some are dominantly clastic. Their traps are primarily large arches or block uplifts. Production from both types of basins comes from both the lower (first) tectonic cycle and the upper (second or later) tectonic cycle. Compression folds and stratigraphic accumulations also act as traps in most Type 2 Composite basins. In many Type 2 Composite basins where a large uplift or arch is present, up to 50% of the basins reserves are located in one large accumulation. Type 2 Composite basins generally display normal geothermal gradients and more than normal amounts of shallow production. The shallow production results from both deeper burial followed by post-maturation uplift and updip secondary migration along ramp-like carrier beds.

Type 2A Complex basins often involve a higher range of geothermal gradients. Type 2 Basins represent about one-quarter of the worlds oil and gas reserves (14% of the worlds oil mainly in Type 2 Composite basins and 48% of the worlds gas mainly in Type 2A Complex basins). About three-quarters of these basins are productive. Type 3 Rift Basins (Figs. 9,10) Type 3 rifts are small, linear basins with an irregular profile displaying a high sediment volume to surface ratio. They appear to be a very fundamental earth structure as they are formed at various stages during the development of almost all other types of basins (Fig. 3). They are primarily Upper Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Tertiary in age and are located on or near cratonic areas. About two-thirds of them are formed along the trend of older deformation belts and one-third are developed upon Precambrian shield areas. Their sedimentary

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fill is most often clastic, however where the rift opened to a warm climate sea, carbonates are often present. Many of these linear, down-faulted grabens appear to form by (1) thermal expansion of the lithosphere during a period of high heat flow, coupled with (2) subareal or subcrustal reduction of the lithosphere and increase in subcrustal density which results in a linear, down-faulted sag. Others appear to form primarily by wrench motion along older lines of weakness within cratonic plates. In some instances, these rift basins are the sites of the introduction of oceanic crustal material and therefore the forerunner to sea-floor spreading centers, while other rifts remain dormant and continue to subside with no development of a spreading center. Because their genesis provides extension features, they form an irregular profile with considerable fault block movement. As a result, they display more than normal combination structural-stratigraphic traps where depositional variations and unconformities are developed over differentially subsiding blocks. Migration often involves short distance lateral migration. Geothermal gradients are normal to high.

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By area, these basins represent slightly over 5% of the worlds basins (50% are productive). However, high recovery has resulted, as they contain 10% of the worlds present reserves (12% of the worlds oil and 4% of the worlds gas). Where they contain marine or lacustrine sediments, they provide above-average oil recovery per unit volume of sediments and display a normal field size distribution. Type 4 Downwarps (into small ocean basins): A-closed, B-trough, C-open (Figs. 11,12) Type 4 Downwarp (A -closed and B - t r o u g h ) basins resemble Type 2 Composite basins in size, profile and sediment volume to area ratios. Type 4 Downwarp (C-open) basins, architecturally resemble Type 5 Pull-apart basins. However, because of their unique genesis, a different temperature regime, often a diffe rent sedimentary environment and their hydrocarbon recovery, they warrant a separate category. Type 4C, Downwarps-open, are separated from the main trends of major ocean basin spreading zones. They are located along the Tethyan trend between Gondwana a n d Laurasia and in Arctic. They often overlie

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older deformed orthogeosynclinal zones (miogeosyncline/eugeosyncline sequence) and have been labelle d as successor basins (King 1969). They are large, linear basins with a one-sided source and seaward asymmetry. Their genesis is related to the evolution of the small ocean basin they open into. Considerable, speculative mechanisms have been proposed for the highly complex genesis of the Arctic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean and South China Sea, where 4C basins are present. Type 4C open basins may become Type 4A closed basins as the result of collision of continental plates (Fig. 21). The Middle East and South Asia Tethyan basins result from collision of the African and Indian plates with the Eurasian plate. Upon closing a large, linear, asymmetric basin with a two-sided source (similar to Type 2 Composite basins) is formed. Further plate moveme nt appears to destroy a considerable portion of the Type 4A closed b a s i n leaving only a Type 4B trough such as the narrow, sinuous, basinal-fordeeps south of the Himalayas on the India plate and the narrow Alpine and North African troughs. Type 4 Downwarp basins represent 18% of the

worlds basin area: however, they contain 48% of the worlds oil and gas reserves (54% of the worlds oil and 38% of the worlds gas). Relatively high recovery rates in Type 4A and C may be related to the above-normal to often high g e o t h e r m a l g r a d i e n t s w hich may provide

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more efficient maturation with shallow primary and secondary long-distance (ramp) migration of hydrocarbons. Often, differing from their more centrally located cratonic counterparts, the sedimentary facies associated with a small, restricted ocean basin appears to provide rich source shales and considerable evaporites. In addition, along the latitudinal Tethys and its extension between the American continents, considerable porous carbonates were developed which provide extensive reservoir rocks. A predominance of several other special features, which enhance the fundamental petroleum character of trans source reservoir and cap rocks are present in these basin types (Fig. 3). Trap types are dominantly anticlinal (either drape over large arches or compressional folds often assisted by salt flowage) in Types 4A and 4B, while more than normal stratigraphic-structural or combination traps, growth fault anticlines and stratigraphic traps are present in 4C open basins. The presence of considerable evaporite deposits in many Type 4 basins results, in many instances, in highly effective cap rocks and large flowage-assisted features.

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Type 5 Pull-Apart (Figs. 13,14) Type 5 Pull-apart basins are large, linear basins displaying a high volume of sediment to surface ratio, and a one sided source asymmetry, that occupy the intermediate crustal zone between thick continental crust and thin oceanic crust. They are located along the major oceanic boundaries of spreading plates (divergent margins). Their genesis appears to be initiated by a rifting stage which has occurred either over Precambrian basement lineations (zone of weakness) or along older orogenic trends. At some later time, one or more of the rifts becomes the site of the introduction of basic oceanic material and an axis of sea floor spreading is established. As the spreading reaches oceanic distances, a post-rift series (sedimentary fan) is deposited seaward from the continent. It is speculated that subsidence is caused by both thermal cooling of the denser oceanic material (which creates a buoyancy sag along the continental margin) and the weight of the sediments derived from the continental mass. Due to an extensional genesis, most traps are tensional growth (rollover) anticlines, or

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flowage type. Generally, normal to low geothermal gradients and deeper than normal production are present where oceanic distances of spreading have occurred. The initial rifts may have had a higher heat input. Sediments are dominantly clastic, although the post-rift series may form as a carbonate bank as well as a clastic fan. The basins are primarily of Mesozoic and Tertiary age. They represent 18% of the worlds surface basin area. However, due to their predominant offshore location and accessibility to the petroleum industry technology (90% offshore and 55% in deep water), only 10% of these basins are productive. To date, these basins have displayed low productivity. The eventual contribution of these recently explored basins will greatly affect the magnitude of the worlds ultimate petroleum resources. Two subtypes (A Parallel and B Transverse) are related to the axis of sea floor spreading and the relative displacement of coastal margin. Type 6 Subduction Basins (Figs. 15,16) Type 6 Subduction basins are small, linear

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basins with an irregular profile. Many are in the form of a cluster of basins arranged in a borderland festoon. They may be subdivided on the basis of their relation to the volcanic island arc which is often present on the cratonic of a subduction zone; 6A Fore-arc basins, are located on the oceanward side of the volcanic arc; 6B Back-arc basins are located on the immediate, cratonic or cratonic side of the volcanic arc; and 6C Non-arc basins are located where subduction and wrench faulting have destroyed the island arc. Their genesis is related to regional compression along subducting or convergent margins. They are mainly developed over deformed eugeo-synclines, which make up the basins effective basement rocks. They are most often Tertiary in age and most often filled with clastic sediments. Although regional compression is present, in the areas where these basins develop, considerable wrench movement takes place creating tensional block movement over which sediments are draped. Drape over fault blocks provide the main traps while compressional anticlines, wrench anticlines and flowage features provide the traps in some basins. Type 6B and 6C basins, because of the high heat

flow in the back of or on the craton side of subduction zones, display high geothermal gradients often providing for a highly efficient maturation and migration of petroleum. Reservoirs are predominantly sandstones, ranging from shallow marine deposits to turbidites, often in the form of multiple pay

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zones. These basins represent 7% of the worlds basin area and only about a quarte r are productive. However, while the productive basins of this type consist of only 2% of the world basinal areas, they represent 7% of the worlds reserves (over 8% of worlds oil and 2% of worlds gas). Some of these basins (6C and 6B) have the highest oil recovery per volume of sediments of all basin types. Subduction basin, commonly have one field which contains from 25% to 45% of the basin reserves. Type 7 Median Basins (Figs. 17,18) Type 7 Median basins are small, linear basins with an irregular profile. They occupy the mountainous, folded, and intruded median zone (or interior portions of Cenozoic/Mesozoic megasuturesBally 1975) which has been developed either between an oceanic subduction zone and the basins of the craton or the collision zone between two cratonic plates. They are essentially the rifts of the median zone formed by wrench movements and foundering creating local tension within the compressed and uplifted mountain belts surrounding the convergent margins of some continents.

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Geothermal gradients appear to be normal to high, sediments are dominantly clastic and trap types are block uplifts over which structural-stratigraphic accumulations occur characteristics similar to Type 3 Cratonic Rifts. Their genesis appears to be a complex mix of subcrustal erosion and foundering together with local introduction of oceanic material and extension, in addition to which considerable stress from wrench faulting has occurred. They represent about 3.5% of the worlds basin area (about one-quarter are productive) and 2.5% of the worlds reserves. Type 8 Deltas (Figs. 19, 20) Type 8 Deltas are generally small to medium size, circular-shaped depocenters with an extremely high ratio of sedimentary volume to their surface area. They are most often the site of present day bird-foot deltas which are prograding seaward. Their sedimentary fill is derived from major continental drainage areas. They appear to develop in any tectonic setting; with more than one-third developed over Type 4 Downwarp basins, 17% along Type 5 Pullapart basins, 16% are over Type 6 Subduction basins, 12% in Type 3 Rift basins, 12% in Type 7 Median basins, and 7% over the submerged portions of Type 2 Composite basins. Their location is about equally divided between divergent and convergent margins either along open or confined coastal areas. They are predominantly Upper Tertiary in age with an entirely clastic fill. Sediment load in a prograding depocenter has been most often given for the genesis of deltas although the depocenter usually coincides with regional tectonic zone of weakness (triple junctions of plate divergence and lineaments of plate convergence). The tensional regime established by the outward slump of the depocenter results in non-basement or sedimentary structural development with traps primarily provided by tensional, growth (roll-over) anticlines and flowage. Low geothermal gradients, perhaps due to the dampening effect of rapid deposition, result in below average depths of most accumulations. A unique field size distribution (in those deltas of divergent margins) involves few giant fields with the largest field less than 7% of the basins reserves; deltas of convergent margins which have inherited underlying structure contain more giants. A predominance of land-derived terrestrial (humic) organic matter leads to higher than

normal gas content. These unique petroleum provinces are relatively rich in hydrocarbon recovery as they represent 2.5% of the worlds basin area (40% productive) and 6% of the worlds reserves. Basin Development and Evolution As the crust of the earth has now generally agreed to have been mobile through time, it follows that this crustal mobility produces changes in the tectonics and fundamental character in basin type as individual basins develop (Figs. 21, 22). Some of these changes are a recurring pattern and appear to be part of the genesis of specific basin classesi.e. Type 1 Interior platform basins overlain by second cycle sediments to form Type 2 Composite basins, Type 3 Rift basins become the axis of sea floor spreading to form Type 5 Pull-apart basins, Type 3 Rift basins provide a denser subcrust which sags to form Type 1 Interior or Type 2A Complex basins. Type 6 Subduction and 7 Median basins developing over deformed geosynclines and Type 4C open Downwarp basins over the orthogeosynclines of older craton margins. Other changes appear to be more random or less able to relate to our current understanding of plate tectonics, and perhaps are associated with the variations in plate motions and their resulting juxtapositions i.e. Type 4C open Downwarp basins closing along continental plate collision zones developing Type 4A c l o s e d Downwarp basins and eventually Type 4B t r o u g h Downwarp basins, while Type 8 Deltas appear to occur over any tectonic setting wherever major continental drainage reaches an ocean or sea. Comparison of Petroleum Characteristics by Basin Type From left to right on Fig. 3, basin types, with few exceptions, show some generally consistent variations, namely: (1) they are younger, (2) contain less basement-controlled and more sediment-controlled structures, (3) contain a greater amount of clastic rocks, (4) are relatively smaller, (5) involve a different manner of secondary migration, and (6) occupy a higher percentage of offshore and deep water areas. Trap types are related to a basins tectonic genesis and the resulting architectural framework. Basement arches and compressional anticlines form traps in the large size, asymmetric (two-sided source) basins Type 2 Composite, many Type 2A Complex, and

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Type 4A closed. Fault-block traps and resulting combination structural-stratigraphic traps predominate in smaller basins with an irregular basement profile Type 3 Rift, Type 6 Subduction and Type 7 Median. Tensional growth fault anticlines (roll-over) and stratigraphic traps predominate in asymmetric (one-sided source or depocenter) basinsType 4C open. Type 5 Pull-apart and Type 8 Deltas. Stratigraphic or combination structural-stratigraphic traps are present on the margins of Type 1 interior basins, while more than

normal combination or geomorphic traps are present in Type 4C open and Type 5 Pull-apart basins. Flowage traps are related to a basins sedimentary genesis (providing e vaporites) and subsidence. Although flowage traps are present in almost all basin types they account for many reserves either directly in Type 8 Deltas, Type 5 Pull-apart, or indirectly in Type 4 Downwarp basins. Visible or detectable, most often structural, traps have provided the worlds major petroleum accumulations (Klemme 1975b).

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The various basin types have a general commonality on the basis of dimensional and tectonic configuration. However, when the sedimentary fill of the eight basin types is considered, there is

g r e at e r v a r i a t i o n . B a s i n f i l l a n d p r i m a r y reservoir quality is a critical modifier of the hydrocarbon potential. Variations in basin lithology may be linked to

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basin size, the time they take to be filled, and their age and tectonic setting. Geologically older, larger, longlived basin Types 1, 2, and 4 are generally mixed clastics and carbonates, while smaller basin Types 6, 7, and 8 with a shorter fill time contain more clastics. Younger basins also often have more clastics and frequently display rapid lateral facies changes. Types of crude oil and gas-to-oil ratios appear to be initially related to lithologic types, more specifically to the influx of humic (terrestrial) to sapropelic (Marine, lacustrial) organic matter (Hunt 1979, Tissot and Welte 1978), and effectiveness of cap rock character. The worlds heat flow and resulting temperature regime in any given basin influence the depth at which petroleum formation and primary migration occurs. In addition, temperature affects petroleum viscosity, volume, pressure and solubility. Temperature, depth, and the timing of hydrocarbon accumulation also affects the secondary changes in reservoir rock petrography. The geothermal regime for the various basin types appears to be related to tectonic location and basin evolution (Klemme 1975a). More heat input occurs on the cratonic of subduction zones (Type 6B and C) along convergent margins, within many Type 3 cratonic rifts and during the initial rifting of the Type 5 Pull-apart basins on divergent margins. More than normal heat input seems to be present in portions of Type 4 Downwarps into small ocean basins. Higher geothermal gradients are often present in Type 2A basins, whose evolution includes initial rifting. Type 1 Interior and Type 2 Composite basins generally have a low heat flow. Lower gradients are present in Type R Deltas and Type 5 Pull-apart basins where rapidlydeposited, thick fans of sediments are present. At present, the least measurable or distinguishable phase of the petroleum cycle of generation, migration and accumulation appears to be migration. Movement of hydrocarbons from source rocks to traps involves both (1) primary migration, which involves the release and expulsion of petroleum from source rocks, and to a considerable extent, is dependent upon temperature and depth, and (2) secondary migration which involves the movement of petroleum to traps, principally by buoyancy, where the tectonic and hydrodynamic character (Coustau 1975)of the basin become equally important. The variation in basin characteristics from left to right in Fig. 3 are also noted in the hydrodynamic character of basins. Types 1, 2, 4A and 4B basins are more consolidated and

compressed (mature), on both an evolutionary basis and as a hydrodynamic setting, with considerable invasion of meteoric waters where centripital movement along extensive structural-stratigraphic ramps and a tilted potentiometric surface provide the framework for secondary migration. Types 4C, 5 and Type 8 (and some Type 3) basins are younger, tensional, less consolidated, less mature basins and involve more tension or vertical fractures (often underlain by geopressured zones). A large portion of these basin sediments is still compacting and secondary migration may be influenced by both centrifugal and more than normal vertical water and gas movement. A basins evolution through time often includes different tectonic environments with different hydrodynamic regimes. Variation in permeability of both the basin fill and the vertical fracturing or faults within the fill may change as a basin evolves. Initial tension basins with vertical fracturing and vertical or short distance lateral migration may mature to consolidated basins with extensive ramp migration, which when further compressed may again fracture vertically allowing late phase vertical migration as in the Iranian Fold Belt of the Arabian/Iranian basin (Dunnington 1958, Young 1977). The relation of oil to gas by basin type indicates that more gas than oil is associated with the large basins (Types 2 and 4) and high volume Type 8 depocenters, whereas smaller basins (Types 3, 6 and 7) to date have been relatively richer in oil. While gas reservoirs, lithologically are essentially the same ratio as oil (2/3 sandstone1/3 carbonate), they are older (more Upper Paleozoic reservoirs) and it is speculated that much of the source rock is often humic (threefifths). Because of the highly dispersible nature of gas, it appears that cap rock character is of great importance. All gas supergiants (30 TCF or over) are related to either extensive, regional evaporite seals or regional hydrates in permafrost barriers. Gas giants contain 75% of their reserves (in 42% of the fields) in either evaporite or permafrost capped areas, whereas oil giants have 63% of their reserves and 70% of their fields capped by shale. It appears, that the extensive region a l evaporite caps which occur more e x t e n s i v e l y in l a r g e r b a s i n s ( T y p e 2 Composite and Complex, and Type 4 Downwarps), although important for oil giants, are more effective and necessary

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for major gas accumulations. The more clastic cap rocks in smaller hotter basins(Type 3 Rift, 6 Subduction and 7 Median) appear to have been prone to gas leakage (Klemme, in press). High recovery or high petroleum yield basins in any class are often attributable to special features which enhance the fundamental petroleum parameters of source, reservoir, cap rock and trap (Klemme 1975b). Special features appear to reach an optimum in many Type 4 Downwarp basins (Fig. 3). Giant fields (over 500 million barrels or BTU gas equivalent) represent slightly more than 1% of the worlds fields, yet they make up 75% of all oil and gas found to date (Halbouty 1970, Nehring 1 97 8, T ir at so o 19 79 ). Th e hi st or ic a l r is k of finding giants by basin type indicates that many Type 4 Downwarp (A-closed and C- o p e n ) and T y p e 6 S u b d uction (primarily 6C and 6B) and Type 3 Rifts have a high chance of finding giants. Type 2 Composite and Complex basins have many giant fields, however, by productive volume (with the exception of West Siberia) their abundance is about

average. Type 1 Interior and Type 8 Deltas generally contain very few giants. The relative richness or recovery for all basins ranges from 0 to over 4 x 106 bbls (BOE) per cubic mile of sedimentary fill. Most basins have a wide range of recovery (Fig. 3). Average area and volumetric recovery may be calculated from Fig. 23. In general, Type 1 Interior basins have a history of low recovery. To date this has been the case for the little explored Type 5 Pull-apart basins. When productive, Type 3 Rifts, Type 6 Subduction and Type 8 Deltas often provide high recovery. The large Type 2 Composite and Complex basins (with the exception of West Siberia) display more average recovery, while the large Type 4 Downwarp basins (4A closed and 4C open) often have a much higher yield. These large basins (Types 2 and 4) make up about 50% of the worlds basin area and contain about 75% of the proven and produced oil reserves. The evolution of petroleum basin classifications has resulted in categor ies which often display particular to unique hydrocarbon characteristics.

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TABLE 1 PRODUCING BASINS OF THE WORLD CLASSIFIED BY BASIN TYPE

Type 1 Interior (Giant Production) Illinois (Production) Williston Denver Michigan Paris Baltic

Dzungaria Gulf of Siam (Production) Rhine Valencia Irish Sea Poland Reconavo Commodoro-Rivadavia Central African grabens Type 4 Downwarps (Extracontinental) 4A closed (Giant Production) Arabian-Iranian Southern USSR basins East Venezuela (Maturin) (Production) North Australia 4B Trough (Giant Production) Indus Po Valley Ploesti (Production) Molasse Carpathian East Italy North Africa-Potwar Assam-Bangladesh 4C Open (Giant Production) Gulf Coast North Slope Sverdrup Tampico Reforma-Campeche North Borneo-Sarawak (Production) West Florida East Mediterranean Gulf of Gabes Type 5 Pull-apart (Giant Production) Northwest Australia Angola-Cabinda Newfoundland (Production) Campos Sergipe-Alagoas Gabon Ivory Coast-Ghana (Transverse) Northeast Brazil (Transverse) Palawan Perth

Type 6 Subduction 6A Fore-arc (Giant Production) Talara

Type 2 Intracontinental 2 Composite (Giant Production) Alberta Appalachian Rocky Mountain basins (5) Permian Anadarko Oriente Volga-Ural Vilyuy-Lena Sechwan Amadeus Aquitaine (Production) Arkhoma Rocky Mountains (4) Ordos Sub-Caspian Magallenes Neuquen N. Argentina Bolivia 2A Complex (Giant Production) West Siberia Pechora Erg Occidental Erg Oriental Izili (Polignac) Artesian (Cooper) Southern North Sea (Production) Surat Northwest Germany Type 3 Rift (Giant Production) Sirte Suez Viking, etc. Dnieper-Donetz Cambay-Bombay Sungliao Bohai-North China Tsaidam

6B Back-arc (Giant Production) Central Sumatra North Sumatra Cook Inlet (Production) South Sumatra Java Sea Vogelkap West Honshu Sakhalin

6C Non-arc (Giant Production) Los Angeles Ventura San Joaquin Sacramento Vienna Baku (Production) Crimea West Caspian Santa Maria Salinas Burma

Type 7 Median (Giant Production) Maracaibo Upper Magdalena Taranaki Gippsland (Production) Pannonian, etc. Central Iran Kutei Type 8 Deltas (Giant Production) Mississippi Niger MacKenzie Mahakan Magdalena? (Production) Nile Po North Borneo

Petroleum Basins
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