Geology · Exploration
Fault Trap
A structural trap whose closure depends on at least one fault surface.
What it does
The fault blocks the reservoir laterally. A fault does not simply seal or leak: it can seal oil and leak gas, or hold a column up to a certain height and leak above it, and this can change over time.
Basics
| Type | Structural trap |
| Key risk | Fault seal behavior |
| Limits volume | Fault dependent leak points |
Common failures
- A fault that leaks, so the trap holds a shorter column or nothing
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Dry or short column next to a fault
- Likely cause
- Fault leaks at that point
- What to check
- Run fault seal analysis before drilling the next block