Fluids Migrate Together

One implication of a compartmented basin is that brines and hydrocarbons will tend to migrate together more than they otherwise might. Both will pass through the compartment seals only where and when they leak. Because the e ffective stress is lowest there, seals will tend to leak at topographic highs in the top of overpressure. Thus it is no surprise that hydrocarbon reservoirs are located preferentially near these highs. Brines will also flow preferentially through the topographic highs, and flow down the pressure gradient of the seal (and the higher temperature gradient it tends to host) will alter the seal. In the final volume of the GRI report, Jennifer Shosa lays the foundation for using the alteration as a flow meter for expelled brine [16].
