Abstract
This paper is concerned with the channeling of hydrocarbon flow up a master fault and the diversion of the flow to the left or right at the intersection of the master fault with a second fault. In particular, when reservoirs of different capacities can exist on the master fault and the secondary fault, the question of the retention efficiency of the reservoirs to the hydrocarbon flow is of interest. In addition, given the customary lack of sharp knowledge of the hydrocarbon petroleum system before drilling, the influence of uncertainties in the flow and reservoir properties is discussed in terms of statistical probabilistic representations and the dominant components to the uncertainties of retention and/or bypass are addressed. There is no consideration given in this paper to the possibility of production from the reservoirs before, during, or after fill by the hydrocarbons being supplied along the faults. That problem will be addressed in the next paper.