Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 181-196, 1991

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

HYDROCARBON ACCUMULATIONS ON THE DEAD SEA GRABEN:
A SIMULATION APPROACH

C. Braester*, H. Fligelman** and E. Kashai**

* Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200, Israel.

** Oil Exploration (Investment) Ltd., PO Box 50199, Tel-Aviv 61500, Israel.

Abstract

A model1ing study aimed at providing a better understanding of the hydrocarbon accumulations on the SW flank of the Dead Sea graben in Israel has been performed. It considers the recent geochemical finding that the source rock of the hydrocarbon occurrences in the area is the Senonian bituminous chalk and marl, buried in the central Dead Sea graben. The study investigates the effect of the regional geological and hydrogeological conditions, associated with the physical properties of the rock and fluids, on the migration and types of hydrocarbon accumulations. The investigation was performed by means of a three-phase, two-dimensional, numerical reservoir simulator. Typical cross-sections, through potential anticlinal hydrocarbon traps, were considered. The study analyses possible hydrodynamic flushing in the water-flow direction, as well as counter-current migration in a direction opposite to the potentiometric water gradients, from the Dead Sea graben upwards.