7
Geological Models and Play Defi nitions
The initial step in the evaluation of any petroleum resource is the
identifi cation of an appropriate geological population that can be
delineated through subsurface study or basin analysis. A geological
population represents a natural population and possesses a group
of pools and/or prospects sharing common petroleum habitats. A
natural population can be a single sedimentation model, structural
style, type of trapping mechanism or geometry, tectonic cycle, stratigraphic sequence, or any combination of these criteria. Reasons for
adopting these criteria in the defi nition of a geological model are the
following:
The geological population will be defi ned clearly and its associ•
ated resource can readily be estimated.
Geologists can adopt known play data for future comparative
•
geological studies.
Geological variables of a natural population can be described
•
by probability distributions (e.g., the lognormal distribution).
2
Evaluation Models
How quaint the ways of paradox
At common sense she gaily mocks
—W. S. Gilbert
Geological Models and Play Defi nitions
The initial step in the evaluation of any petroleum resource is the
identifi cation of an appropriate geological population that can be
delineated through subsurface study or basin analysis. A geological
population represents a natural population and possesses a group
of pools and/or prospects sharing common petroleum habitats. A
natural population can be a single sedimentation model, structural
style, type of trapping mechanism or geometry, tectonic cycle, stratigraphic sequence, or any combination of these criteria. Reasons for
adopting these criteria in the defi nition of a geological model are the
following:
The geological population will be defi ned clearly and its associ•
ated resource can readily be estimated.
Geologists can adopt known play data for future comparative
•
geological studies.
Geological variables of a natural population can be described
•
by probability distributions (e.g., the lognormal distribution).
2
Evaluation Models
How quaint the ways of paradox
At common sense she gaily mocks
—W. S. Gilbert