Basin & Petroleum Systems Analysis

BPSM utilises key aspects of geological, geophysical and geochemical interpretation into a unified, integrated subsurface model

Modern basin models can predict the spatial distribution, phase and composition of subsurface fluids, with stochastic uncertainty analysis a common tool

Workflows vary depending on the questions to address and data availability. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches are advocated, ideally with a combined hybrid methodology

Applications for BPSM have been focussed on oil and gas exploration and production, but are increasingly domain agnostic, with recent developments to CCS, geological hydrogen, mining and geothermal energy.

Predict the spatial and temporal variability in source rock maturity and (when properly integrated with geochemical interpretation) the petroleum generation/expulsion volumes and phase 

Integrating source maturity through time, migration routes (e.g., fault seal), reservoir properties, PVT conditions and alteration processes (e.g., biodegradation) allows an estimation of prospect volumes and phase in both deterministic scenarios and stochastic uncertainty analysis

IGI's workflow always includes risk & uncertainty analysis with distributed ranges of input parameters (e.g., TOC, geothermal gradients), dynamically showing which elements are most sensitive to predicted charge volumes and phase

Coupled thermal-burial histories are fundamental to BPSM, integrating tectonic, sedimentological and fluid properties, calibrated to temperature, pressure and palaeothermometric (e.g., vitrinite reflectance) data

For most projects, even building a grid-based 3-D model is a relatively efficient process, providing impactful and powerful results in what is usually a fraction of the time taken for seismic and geological interpretations

Project deliverables include key outputs (e.g., digital maps for GIS/Petrel). Modelling files are also included to be updated as and when new data become available