PetroMod* 2D/3D TecLink

Many of the world's interesting exploration areas are characterized by structurally complex geologic histories. Structural
Modeling techniques are needed to interpret, reconstruct and validate these histories. Petroleum Systems Modeling is
required to simulate hydrocarbon generation and migration in order to improve predictions of HC locations and properties,
i.e. to assess the petroleum charge risks. Integrating or linking structural and petroleum systems modeling has obvious
benefits.

PetroMod’s approach to simulate petroleum migration in complex tectonic environments is to create links to structural
modeling packages. The main benefits are that users can continue to work with their preferred software tools for both
structural and basin petroleum systems modeling, and that the full functionality of each tool is retained, for example with
advanced phase/component handling methods such as flash calculations for petroleum migration modeling. PetroMod’s
link solution is practical, cost-effective, and commercially available as PetroMod TecLink 2D or 3D.

PetroMod 2D/3D TecLink

PetroMod 2D/3D TecLink is an add-on package to the PetroGen/PetroFlow 2D and 3D packages. It enables the complete
range of petroleum generation and migration methods in PetroMod tools to be applied in complex tectonic environments
such as those affected by shale diapirism or e.g. salt structures, in extensional and especially in compressional tectonic
environments such as thrustbelts. This link solution makes PetroMod the only technology capable of performing fully PVT-
controlled, 3-phase, n-component petroleum migration simulations in complex tectonic environments. Any type of
structural complexity can be handled. Additionally, PetroRisk technology can be applied to these complex models to
assess the effects of uncertainties in the input data on the simulation results.

TecLink Concept
In complex tectonic environments such as massive vertical structural movements and other extensional structures,
kinematic, palinspastic, and structural restorations are needed to take these movements of masses into account. These
reconstructed paleo-geometries can be directly integrated into the petroleum systems modeling process as so-called
paleo-sections or paleo-models, snapshots in time. Instead of building one model with present day geometry the
modeler builds several models with fixed paleo geometries and assigns ages to each model. This is not only beneficial for
validating the present interpretation, but also provides a more complete structural history.

The figure depicts three paleo sections built in

PetroBuilder, fixating the geometries of the section
at a certain point in time – a “snapshot”.

2D/3D TecLink together with PetroBuilder 2D and Input 3D is used for data loading and editing and has been specifically
designed to handle complex structural models: Geometries can be corrected if necessary, properties such as litho- and
organofacies can be assigned and additional time steps can be created in order to closely control the structural
development of the section through geologic time.
 To handle the vertical repetition
of a layer in situations of not only
vertical but also lateral
movements of masses, e.g.
during thrusting and
compression, PetroMod
introduced the block concept.
Each block stands for an
individual mini-model on the input
side, all blocks are then
The example shows the La Barge Section in Wyoming, Utah in combined into one model during
PetroBuilder 2D. simulation.

The blocks and the paleo-sections/models retain their structural integrity during the model’s tectonic evolution but at the
same time they are connected with respect to all geophysical and geochemical parameters.

Simulation: Processing the data model, i.e. running the simulator, is identical to processing 'normal' geologic sections.
The entire range of PetroMod simulation functions is available, such as 3-phase and n-comp phase / component modeling,
as well as PetroMod’s unique source rock tracking technology. Special functions in the PetroMod simulator ensure that the
properties and hydrocarbon contents of each cell in the model are tracked through geologic time, even in the most
complex thrusting scenarios.

Results Analysis: PetroMod’s entire suite of 3D, 2D, and 1D viewers can then be used to analyze the simulation results.
Some examples from PetroMod 2D are shown below:

Oil and gas accumulations in the section can be selected, in-situ 3-phase/n-component relationships can be studied and flashed to
surface conditions in order to calculate properties such as API-gravities and GORs. There are no restrictions to PetroMod’s simulation
technology.

All PetroMod overlays can be used for result analysis, e.g. thermal and maturation histories can be assessed, as well as all hydrocarbon
expulsion and migration processes.

Further Information
For further information, please contact petromod@slb.com

www.petromod.com
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