A Multi 1-D Modeling Approach for Complex Basins: An Example from Taranaki Basin, New Zealand
Multi-1D, or pseudo-3D, basin models allow basin evolution and expelled petroleum volumes to be rapidly quantified for input to flowpath or full 3D basin flow simulators. The multi-1D BM1D code has been developed from a 1D finite-element conductive heat flow code, and parallelised to permit stochastic modeling with Monte Carlo methods for probabilistic assessment of petroleum prospects. Run times are significantly shortened from single 3D basin simulations by use of a PC-cluster or supercomputer (up to 1000 nodes). While a large number of input maps or grids are required, with isopachs, lithologic composition, depositional ages, and paleo-bathymetric data (all input as grids), the approach provides a detailed basin evolution model accurately accounting for the effects of time-transgressive deposition, volcanic intrusions and erosional unconformities.
New Zealand's Taranaki Basin has a complex history, including rift transform, passive margin, foreland fold-thrust belt, arc volcanics and back-arc rift elements. The modeling of petroleum systems within such complex polyphase basins therefore requires a specialist modeling code. Regional models are presented from BM1D for the Taranaki Basin illustrating how this diverse input data-set can rapidly characterise basin evolution and quantify volumes of petroleum phases expelled from source rocks through time. The data is available for direct input to map-based flowpath or full 3D fluid flow models for fluid-migration and prospect charge assessment.
This approach provides a sensitivity analysis for input parameters, considerably enhancing prospect risk assessment, and can relatively rapidly produce (pseudo) 3D structural or generation history models for petroleum exploration in complex sedimentary basins.
Basin Modeling Advances
2006 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, (November 5-8, 2006) Technical Program