Title: Modelling hydrocarbon generation and migration in tertiary source rocks of deepwater, Phu Khanh Basin, offshore Vietnam

Authors: Nguyen Xuan Huy; Ta Quoc Dung; Nguyen Thi Thu Trang; Cu Minh Hoang; Min Baehyun; Delia Anne-Marie Androne; Kieu Nguyen Binh

Addresses: Faculty of Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam ' Petrovietnam Exploration and Production Corporation, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam ' Department of Climate and Energy Systems Engineering, Ewha Woman University, Seoul 03760, South Korea ' Department of Geography, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iaşi 700506, Romania ' Faculty of Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

Abstract: This study modelled a petroleum system to analyse the history of basin evolution, maturity, and hydrocarbon generation in the deepwater of the Phu Khanh Basin, offshore Vietnam. The paleo-heat flow, surface-water interface temperatures, and paleo water-depth were modelled using existing wells occurring in shallow to deep marine environments. Based on the geochemical analysis, the Oligocene and Lower-Middle Miocene source rocks are predominantly a mixture of type II and type III kerogens, with differences in distribution and maturation level. In the Phu Khanh Basin, hydrocarbon generation started during the Early Miocene. Petroleum migrated to a trap and accumulated in an uplift structure in the sandstone and carbonate reservoirs of the Lower Miocene formation. The results of this study can assist in defining the distribution of reservoir locations for future field development planning in the Phu Khanh Basin. [Received: March 28, 2020; Accepted: August 7, 2020]

Keywords: Phu Khanh Basin; hydrocarbon generation; migration; heat flow; source rock; Vietnam.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2021.117452

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2021 Vol.28 No.2, pp.137 - 159

Received: 28 Mar 2020
Accepted: 07 Aug 2020

Published online: 07 Sep 2021 *

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