To answer your question: Different Reservoirs
We are not talking about light oil lying beneath heavier oil within the same reservoir; rather light oil reservoirs lying below heavier oil reservoirs. Wikipedia talks about how reservoirs are formed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum
Crude oil reservoirs
Three conditions must be present for oil reservoirs to form: a source rock rich in hydrocarbon material buried deep enough for subterranean heat to cook it into oil; a porous and permeable reservoir rock for it to accumulate in; and a cap rock (seal) or other mechanism that prevents it from escaping to the surface. Within these reservoirs, fluids will typically organize themselves like a three-layer cake with a layer of water below the oil layer and a layer of gas above it, although the different layers vary in size between reservoirs.
Because most hydrocarbons are lighter than rock or water, they often migrate upward through adjacent rock layers until either reaching the surface or becoming trapped within porous rocks (known as reservoirs) by impermeable rocks above. However, the process is influenced by underground water flows, causing oil to migrate hundreds of kilometres horizontally or even short distances downward before becoming trapped in a reservoir. When hydrocarbons are concentrated in a trap, an oil field forms, from which the liquid can be extracted by drilling and pumping.
So to answer your question as to why the light oil reservoirs are found below heavier ones, it has to do with the Geothermal Gradient. For instance in Western Canada, the increase in temperature with depth (Geothermal Gradient) is 1.8 degrees C per 100 meters. Without going into all the chemistry, light oil reservoirs need a higher temperature to be formed, which is usually deeper.
Recent SNV News
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/21/2024 08:29:18 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/21/2024 08:24:50 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/20/2024 08:08:52 PM
- Form 13F-HR - Quarterly report filed by institutional managers, Holdings • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/14/2024 07:27:35 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/13/2024 08:23:09 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/13/2024 08:22:52 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/13/2024 08:22:18 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/13/2024 08:21:52 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/13/2024 08:21:25 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/13/2024 08:20:54 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/13/2024 08:20:34 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/06/2024 08:31:28 PM
- Synovus announces earnings for the first quarter 2024 • Business Wire • 04/17/2024 09:00:00 PM
- US Index Futures See Gains, Oil Prices Dip • IH Market News • 04/17/2024 10:59:02 AM
- Synovus Financial Corp. releases 2023 Annual Report • Business Wire • 04/11/2024 01:29:00 PM
- Synovus introduces Accelerate Pay for business payments • Business Wire • 04/03/2024 03:52:00 PM
- Synovus to announce first quarter 2024 earnings results • Business Wire • 03/18/2024 01:15:00 PM
- Synovus Names Chief Third-Party Payments Officer, Maast CEO • Business Wire • 03/05/2024 08:10:00 PM
- Synovus Announces Quarterly Dividends • Business Wire • 03/04/2024 10:00:00 PM
- Synovus wins 25 Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards • Business Wire • 02/21/2024 09:43:00 PM
- Synovus to participate at BofA Securities Financial Services Conference • Business Wire • 01/31/2024 01:56:00 PM
- Synovus announces earnings for the fourth quarter 2023 • Business Wire • 01/17/2024 10:44:00 PM
- Synovus to announce fourth quarter 2023 earnings results • Business Wire • 12/18/2023 06:48:00 PM
- Synovus donates $1 million to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to expand prevention efforts in rural Georgia • Business Wire • 12/07/2023 02:00:00 PM
- Synovus announces expiration and final tender results of its previously announced tender offer • Business Wire • 12/04/2023 11:45:00 AM
PickleJar Debuts Nationwide Contest With Brian Kelley for Fans to Win a Three-Day Bahama Cruise • NREG • Jun 3, 2024 8:45 AM
ILUS Provides an Update on the Binding Term Sheet Signed with Actelis Networks (NASDAQ: ASNS) • ILUS • May 31, 2024 12:52 PM
Element79 Gold To Provide Summary and Update on Active Exploration Program, Community Relations at RMEC on June 4 • ELEM • May 30, 2024 1:18 PM
Branded Legacy Secures Exclusive Extraction Partnership with One of the World's Largest Kava Distributors and Producers • BLEG • May 30, 2024 8:30 AM
ECGI Holdings, Inc. Announces $2 Million Debt-to-Equity Conversion • ECGI • May 30, 2024 8:30 AM
North Bay Resources Reports Assays up to >25% Mg, 0.1% Ni, 0.1% Cu, 0.01% Co, 0.3 ppm Pt at Tulameen Platinum Project, British Columbia • NBRI • May 29, 2024 9:03 AM