Paleokarst Related Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

This volume is a compilation of papers relative to paleokarst and associated reservoirs. The examples illustrate many of the rock types, and stratigraphic, structural, and paleotopographic features of carbonate strata which result chiefly from solution and collapse due to ingress of meteoric waters at and below unconformities. Examples presented here range from settings with considerable dissolution and collapse to those with significant unconformities but little evidence of meteoric alteration. It is estimated that 20–30% of recoverable hydrocarbons are in some way related to unconformities. Paleokarst reservoirs may also be important future reservoirs for application of horizontal drilling technology.