Integrated studies serve as a mechanism to develop basin models that serve as the foundation of knowledge, upon which sound, cost effective business decisions can be made.
The project planning phase must be formulated within a strategic framework that envisions the final knowledge base and products to be produced. While the basic framework for basin analysis projects is similar, each plan will be unique for a number of reasons. The project design must consider the geographic size of the area, genetic basin(s) type and age, geologic complexity, data availability and the amount of previous exploration.
The project design mimics the geologic events that create a hydrocarbon system-how a basin forms, fills and matures through time. The geologic analysis flows from plate scale to regional to basin to play analysis while integrating across geologic sub-disciplines. The plate scale analysis constrains the genesis of the families of basins and serves as input to more detailed integrated geologic analysis at the regional basin and play scales.
When that understanding is achieved, analysis of the elements of the hydrocarbon system-hydrocarbon source and quality, maturation and yield, and migration into viable reservoirs with effective traps and seals can be better understood.
The transdisciplinary approach of integrating the right people with the right skills is critical to successful basin analysis. This approach has been applied in China, and a case example will be used to demonstrate the methodology of integrated basin analysis.
The new realities of a ‘world without walls’ have plunged economic earth scientists into a wonderful but complex and challenging environment of global exploration and discovery (Fig. 1).
These last few years have seen sweeping changes in the geopolitical climate, the petroleum industry, the earth sciences, and in exploration and production technology. In addition, the catalyst of global cyberspace information and data sets are accelerating the rate of change.
As the international petroleum business moves into the fast-paced wave of strategic positioning, the Exxon Corporation's past investment in global regional projects is paying off. The projects which began in the 1960s and expanded in the 1980s have established a broad foundation of knowledge on geologic processes and analogues about the basins of the world. This long history of integrated basin analysis projects has resulted in the evolution of an effective, systematic process of sedimentary basin and trend analysis (Fig. 2). 2. PLANNING THE PROJECT 2.1. The strategic charge The process is set in motion with the strategic charge to define the oil and gas potential of a given geographic area, basin, sub-basin, tre