The intimate associations of petroleum and water can be treated geologically as pertaining to primary and recurrent migration and accumulation by recognizing the paleohydrogeologic cycles and cyclic stages, beginning with origin and diagenesis of fluids, and continuing to an end point of orogenesis and metamorphism.

The so-called stratigraphic, anticlinal, and fault traps are local fluid anomalies when measured with (1) reservoir-pressure gradients, (2) isobars (superposed on subsurface structure contours), and (3) permeability gradients inside and outside of reservoir rock bodies.

The concept is presented in an attempt (1) to widen professional horizons and make it possible for geologists to concur with mineral economists, who state that the future reserves of oil and gas are limited only by contemporary economics, and (2) to make geologists aware that future discoveries of oil and gas are limited only by their imperfect understanding of migration and accumulation.

End_of_Article - Last_Page 617------------