Petroleum Exploration in New Zealand — Basin Modeling Using GIS

The evolution of New Zealand's sedimentary basins has been complex, often involving radical changes in tectonic history and depositional styles. The structural complexity of New Zealand's basins makes exploration for oil and gas particularly difficult.

This project presents a multiple one-dimensional modeling approach developed by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, which investigates the relationships between basin evolution and the formation and migration of hydrocarbons.

The technique combines a one-dimensional basin modeling program and ArcInfo to present map-based maturity and structural data for anytime in the basin's history. ArcInfo software's hydrologic functions trace the flow directions of oil generated from mature "kitchens" using present day or paleostructure migration horizons.

The display shows the entire petroleum system including migration paths, structural development, and the distribution of mature sources and potential reservoirs. More complex migration algorithms are being developed. The oil industry has reacted to initial presentations with considerable interest.