trap | Energy Glossary

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trap

1. n. [Geology]

A configuration of rocks suitable for containing hydrocarbons and sealed by a relatively impermeable formation through which hydrocarbons will not migrate. Traps are described as structural traps (in deformed strata such as folds and faults) or stratigraphic traps (in areas where rock types change, such as unconformities, pinch-outs and reefs). A trap is an essential component of a petroleum system.

See: anticlinal trapanticlinechannelclosureclosurecritical momentdiapirevaporitefault trapfieldflower structureformationhaliteimpermeablemigrationoil fieldoil poolpetroleum systempinch-outprimary migrationprospectsalt domesealshalespill pointstratigraphic trapstructural trapstructuresubsaltsynclineunconformity trap

Block diagrams of structural and stratigraphic traps.