Petroleum Trap Types - A Basic Primer

A petroleum trap is a key part of the overall petroleum system Oil & Gas are buoyant and will float to the surface unless they are trapped by ponding Traps are a relative topographic high within the reservoir layer Traps come in a wide variety: Structural traps formed by tectonic deformation Stratigraphic traps formed by changes in sedimentary rock layering Only applies to conventional hydrocarbons – tight oil and gas (shale) do not need a trap as they are confined to the original source rock