Mechanisms for Generating Overpressure in Sedimentary Basins: A Reevaluation

TLDR: Osborne et al. as discussed by the authors investigated the potential for generating overpressure by hydrocarbon generation and cracking and concluded that these processes may be self-limiting in a sealed system because buildup of pressure could inhibit further organic metamorphism.

Abstract: Overpressure can be produced by the following processes: (1) increase of compressive stress, (2) changes in the volume of the pore fluid or rock matrix, and (3) fluid movement or buoyancy. Loading during burial can generate considerable overpressure due to disequilibrium compaction, particularly during the rapid subsidence of low- permeability sediments. Horizontal stress changes can rapidly generate and dissipate large amounts of overpressure in tectonically active areas. Overpressure mechanisms involving change in volume must be well sealed to be effective. Fluid volume increases associated with aquathermal expansion and clay dehydration are too small to generate significant overpressure unless perfect sealing occurs. Hydrocarbon generation and cracking to gas could possibly produce overpressure, depending upon the kerogen type, abundance of organic matter, temperature history, and rock permeability; however, these processes may be self-limiting in a sealed system because buildup of pressure could inhibit further organic metamorphism. The potential for generating overpressure by hydrocarbon generation and cracking must be regarded as unproven at present. Fluid movement due to a hydraulic head can generate significant overpressure in shallowly buried, "well-plumbed" basins. Calculations indicate that hydrocarbon buoyancy and osmosis can generate only small amounts of localized overpressure. The upward movement of gas in an incompressible fluid also could generate ©Copyright 1997. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.1Manuscript received October 17, 1995; revised manuscript received September 4, 1996; final acceptance January 20, 1997. 2Department of Geological Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom. Osborne e-mail: M.J.Osborne@ durham.ac.uk; GeoPOP web site http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dgl0zz7/ We wish to thank the companies that support the Geosciences Project on Overpressure (GeoPOP) at the universities of Durham, Newcastle, and Heriot-Watt: Agip, Amerada Hess, Amoco, ARCO, Chevron, Conoco, Elf Exploration, Mobil, Norsk Hydro, Phillips Petroleum UK Company Limited, Statoil, and Total. We also thank Neil Goulty (Durham) for commenting on an earlier draft of this paper. Osborne thanks Gordon Macleod (Newcastle) for help with geochemical modeling.