Basin2

Basin2 is a numerical model designed to trace through geologic time the evolution of groundwater flow regimes within sedimentary basins. The modeler provides data on the arrangement of basin strata along a vertical cross section, the timing of sediment deposition and erosion, and the physical and hydrologic properties of sediments and rocks in the basin. From these data and equations describing flow and transport, the model reconstructs basin development.

It is a solution for:

• Petroleum exploration
• Basin hydrology
• Mineral exploration
• Deep waste disposal

Basin2 includes:

• Built-in compiler and gridder
• Interactive graphics
• Corss-section and x-y plots
• Overlay of data points from spreadsheets onto any plot
• Animation and output to video
• User's guide and online help

Depending on how input is configured, output from the program can include the evolution of:

• Porosity and permeability of strata across the basin, as calculated from overburden stress, fluid pressure, and stress history.
• Fluid pressure in basin strata, accounting for the effects of sediment compaction during burial and rebound during unloading, the development of topographic relief, thermal expansion, and fluid migration.
• Flow patterns of groundwaters through the basin in response to sediment compaction and rebound, buoyant forces, and topographic relief.
• Temperature throughout the basin as controlled by heat conduction, groundwater advection, and the crustal heat flux.
• Thermal maturation of organic matter in basin strata, including the timing of oil and gas generation and the distribution of mature petroleum sources through geologic time.
• Salinity of basin groundwaters, accounting for diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion, advection, and the presence of evaporites.
• Cementation of basin strata, including the rates at which cements precipitate and minerals dissolve as a result of the migration of groundwaters over flow paths along which temperature and pressure vary.
• Radioactive and radiogenic isotopes in basin groundwater, including the distribution of isotopes in the systems ⁴He/³He, ³⁶Cl/Cl, and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar. These isotopes are used in basin hydrology to estimate the residence time (or age) of groundwater in sedimentary basins.

Rockware Inc., 2221 East Street, Suite 101, Golden, CO 80401. Tel: 303-278-3534; Fax: 303-278-4099.