Top seals trap and accumulate migrating hydrocarbons and commonly involve very low porosity rocks. Effective seals for hydrocarbon accumulations are typically thick, laterally continuous, ductile rocks with high capillary entry pressures. Seals need to be evaluated at differing scales. Fracturing the top seal can mechanically breach the reservoir and leave hydrocarbons behind.

Our Seal Integrity Analysis service allows assess the possibility of a top-seal breach using seismic and geologic information available during the exploration phase of a project. Consideration of subsurface hydrocarbon seals should therefore have a high priority in an exploration program. The analysis may target a specific reservoir, or may be completed regionally to better understand the possibility of maintaining a commercial hydrocarbon store in an area.

Brittle failure is the most common cause of the loss of top seal integrity.A consideration of the basic requirements for a sealing surface to a prospect can contribute to the proper judgment on the likelihood of occurrence of a seal. Studying seal risk allows a more intelligent choice among alternative exploration prospects. Fracture intersection mapping only the top seal help locate fractures along the top seal.