Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.3,
No.2, pp. 237-240, 1980
©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press,
Ltd.
MUSING ON MIGRATION
G. D. Hobson
Abstract
The phenomenon of oil migration
and accumulation poses a fascinating unsolved problem. Numerous
hypotheses have been considered: movement as free oil, dependent
on relative permeability concepts; movement in true or colloidal
solution; and transfer by wick-type action, presumably involving
adsorption. The last three hypotheses require pick-up, transfer
and release. For migration in solution, drop in temperature,
dilution and salting out are among the suggested causes of
release, depending on the details of the migration mechanism
(Baker, 1967; Cordell, 1973; Dickey, 1975; Erdman, 1965; Hobson,
1954; Hunt, 1975; Magara, 1977; Price, 1976). In the case of wick
action, no discussion of the mode of release can be recalled, yet
release is needed to allow continued flow and hence accumulation.
It might also be inherent in the mechanism that there could be a
fairly constant ratio between adsorbed "oil" and solid
organic matter (the wick) until destruction of "oil"
set in. With "oil" being generated from the organic
matter it would seem logical for it to be formed on or in the
organic matter.
