pinch-out | Energy Glossary

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pinch-out

1. n. [Geology]

A type of stratigraphic trap. The termination by thinning or tapering out ("pinching out") of a reservoir against a nonporous sealing rock creates a favorable geometry to trap hydrocarbons, particularly if the adjacent sealing rock is a source rock such as a shale.

See related terms: reservoirsealsource rockstratigraphic traptrap

2. n. [Geology]

A reduction in bed thickness resulting from onlapping stratigraphic sequences.

See related terms: onlapsource rock