Effects of Permeability Anisotropy and Throw on the Transmissivity in the Vicinity of a Fault

Author(s):  
D. Bernard ◽  
M. Danis ◽  
M. Quintard
Geophysics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge O. Parra

The transversely isotropic poroelastic wave equation can be formulated to include the Biot and the squirt‐flow mechanisms to yield a new analytical solution in terms of the elements of the squirt‐flow tensor. The new model gives estimates of the vertical and the horizontal permeabilities, as well as other measurable rock and fluid properties. In particular, the model estimates phase velocity and attenuation of waves traveling at different angles of incidence with respect to the principal axis of anisotropy. The attenuation and dispersion of the fast quasi P‐wave and the quasi SV‐wave are related to the vertical and the horizontal permeabilities. Modeling suggests that the attenuation of both the quasi P‐wave and quasi SV‐wave depend on the direction of permeability. For frequencies from 500 to 4500 Hz, the quasi P‐wave attenuation will be of maximum permeability. To test the theory, interwell seismic waveforms, well logs, and hydraulic conductivity measurements (recorded in the fluvial Gypsy sandstone reservoir, Oklahoma) provide the material and fluid property parameters. For example, the analysis of petrophysical data suggests that the vertical permeability (1 md) is affected by the presence of mudstone and siltstone bodies, which are barriers to vertical fluid movement, and the horizontal permeability (1640 md) is controlled by cross‐bedded and planar‐laminated sandstones. The theoretical dispersion curves based on measurable rock and fluid properties, and the phase velocity curve obtained from seismic signatures, give the ingredients to evaluate the model. Theoretical predictions show the influence of the permeability anisotropy on the dispersion of seismic waves. These dispersion values derived from interwell seismic signatures are consistent with the theoretical model and with the direction of propagation of the seismic waves that travel parallel to the maximum permeability. This analysis with the new analytical solution is the first step toward a quantitative evaluation of the preferential directions of fluid flow in reservoir formation containing hydrocarbons. The results of the present work may lead to the development of algorithms to extract the permeability anisotropy from attenuation and dispersion data (derived from sonic logs and crosswell seismics) to map the fluid flow distribution in a reservoir.


2021 ◽  
Vol 86 ◽  
pp. 103733
Author(s):  
Zhen Lou ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Jie Zang ◽  
Wei Zhao ◽  
Binbin Qin ◽  
...  

SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Yingli Xia ◽  
Tianfu Xu ◽  
Yilong Yuan ◽  
Xin Xin ◽  
Huixing Zhu

Summary Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is regarded as an important alternative future energy resource. In recent years, a few short-term production tests have been successfully conducted with both permafrost and marine sediments. However, long-term hydrate production performance and the potential geomechanical problems are not very clear. According to the available geological data at the Mallik site, a more realistic hydrate reservoir model that considers the heterogeneity of porosity, permeability, and hydrate saturation was developed and validated by reproducing the field depressurization test. The coupled multiphase and heat flow and geomechanical response induced by depressurization were fully investigated for long-term gas production from the validated hydrate reservoir model. The results indicate that long-term gas production through depressurization from a vertically heterogeneous hydrate reservoir is technically feasible, but the production efficiency is generally modest, with the low average gas production rate of 4.93 × 103 ST m3/d (ST represents the standard conditions) over a 1-year period. The hydrate dissociation region is significantly affected by the reservoir heterogeneity and reveals a heterogeneous dissociation front in the reservoir. The depressurization production results in significant increase of shear stress and vertical compaction in the hydrate reservoir. The response of shear stress indicates that the potential region of sand migration is mainly in the sand-dominant layer during gas production from the hydraulically heterogeneous hydrate reservoir (e.g., sand layers interbedded with clay layers). The maximum subsidence is approximately 78 mm and occurred at the 72nd day, whereas the final subsidence is slowly dropped to 63 mm after 1-year of depressurization production. The vertical subsidence is greatly dependent on the elastic properties and the permeability anisotropy. In particular, the maximum subsidence increased by approximately 81% when the ratio of permeability anisotropy was set at 5:1. Furthermore, the potential shear failure in the hydrate reservoir is strongly correlated to the in-situ stress state. For the normal fault stress regime, the greater the initial horizontal stress is, the less likely the hydrate reservoir is to undergo shear failure during depressurization production.


2019 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 705-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Dai ◽  
Jongchan Kim ◽  
Yue Xu ◽  
William F. Waite ◽  
Junbong Jang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Breislin ◽  
Laura Galluccio ◽  
Kate Al Tameemi ◽  
Riaz Khan ◽  
Atef Abdelaal

Abstract Understanding reservoir architecture is key to comprehend the distribution of reservoir quality when evaluating a field's prospectivity. Renewed interest in the tight, gas-rich Middle Miocene anhydrite intervals (Anh-1, Anh-2, Anh-3, Anh-4 and Anh-6) by ADNOC has given new impetus to improving its reservoir characterisation. In this context, this study provides valuable new insights in geological knowledge at the field scale within a formation with limited existing studies. From a sedimentological point of view, the anhydrite layers of the Miocene Formation, Anh-1, Anh-2, Anh-3, Anh-4 and Anh-6 (which comprise three stacked sequences: Bur1, Bur2 and Bur3; Hardenbol et al., 1998), have comparable depositional organisation throughout the study area. Bur1 and Bur2 are characterised by an upward transition from intertidal-dominated deposits to low-energy inner ramp-dominated sedimentation displaying reasonably consistent thickness across the area. Bur3 deposits imply an initial upward deepening from an argillaceous intertidal-dominated to an argillaceous subtidal-dominated setting, followed by an upward shallowing into intertidal and supratidal sabkha-dominated environments. This Bur3 cycle thickens towards the south-east due to a possible deepening, resulting in the subtle increase in thickness of the subtidal and intertidal deposits occurring around the maximum-flooding surface. The interbedded relationship between the thin limestone and anhydrite layers within the intertidal and proximal inner ramp deposits impart strong permeability anisotropy, with the anhydrite acting as significant baffles to vertical fluid flow. A qualitative reservoir quality analysis, combining core sedimentology data from 10 wells, 331 CCA data points, 58 thin-sections and 10 SEM samples has identified that reservoir layers Anh-4 and Anh-6 contain the best porosity and permeability values, with the carbonate facies of the argillaceous-prone intertidal and distal inner ramp deposits hosting the best reservoir potential. Within these facies, the pore systems within the carbonate facies are impacted by varying degrees of dolomitisation and dissolution which enhance the pore system, and cementation (anhydrite and calcite), which degrade the pore system. The combination of these diagenetic phases results in the wide spread of porosity and permeability data observed. The integration of both the sedimentological features and diagenetic overprint of the Middle Miocene anhydrite intervals shows the fundamental role played by the depositional environment in its reservoir architecture. This study has revealed the carbonate-dominated depositional environment groups within the anhydrite stratigraphic layers likely host both the best storage capacity and flow potential. Within these carbonate-dominated layers, the thicker, homogenous carbonate deposits would be more conducive to vertical and lateral flow than thinner interbedded carbonates and anhydrites, which may present as baffles or barriers to vertical flow and create significant permeability anisotropy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel Thomas ◽  
Sönke Reiche ◽  
Christoph Clauser

<p>Offshore fresh groundwater reservoirs have been identified on continental shelves in several regions of the world. In many cases, sea-level change over geologic time-scales has been identified as a key factor in the emplacement of these freshwater systems. This numerical study analyzes a range of paleo-hydrogeological conditions on the New Jersey transect during the late Pleistocene, during which vast sections of the shelf were sub-aerially exposed. Coupled variable-density flow and heat transport simulations were conducted on a geologically representative 2D shelf model using SHEMAT-Suite. The model combines sequence stratigraphic interpretation of 2D depth migrated seismic lines and a stochastic facies distribution, with petrophysical properties derived from IODP Expedition 313 well data. The study considers a 60<sub></sub>000 year period of surface meteoric recharge, and the subsequent marine transgression from 12 000 years ago to present-day. A sensitivity analysis is conducted for key factors that influence offshore freshened groundwater emplacement during recharge phase: (1) topography-driven flow, and (2) permeability anisotropy. Systematically introducing anisotropy resulted in a 11 % – 31 % decrease in emplaced volume relative to the base-case. The results were analysed to determine whether the late Pleistocene sea-level lowstand drove enough freshwater emplacement that can explain the complex present-day observations. All of the simulated scenarios indicate that surface recharge lead to freshening of sediments across the entire transect during this period, even in case of high permeability anisotropy. The observations also suggest that the cyclical flushing and re-salinification of shelf sediments that takes place over glacial – interglacial cycles is an asymmetrical process, which favours storage of freshened pore fluid in the long run.</p>


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