New constraints on stress and fracture orientations in the Shipwreck Trough, Otway Basin: implications for conventional and unconventional exploration and production

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 697
Author(s):  
David Tassone ◽  
Simon Holford ◽  
Rosalind King ◽  
Guillaume Backé

A detailed understanding of the in-situ stress tensor within energy-rich basins is integral for planning successful drilling completions, evaluating the reactivation potential of sealing faults and developing unconventional plays where fracture stimulation strategies are required to enhance low permeability reservoirs. Newly available leak-off test results interpreted using a new method for analysing leak-off test data constrains the minimal horizontal stress magnitude for the offshore Shipwreck Trough wells to be ∼20 MPa/km, which is similar to the vertical stress magnitude derived from wireline data for depths shallower than ∼2–2.5 km. Breakouts interpreted from image log data reveal a ∼northwest–southeast maximum horizontal stress orientation and formation pressure tests confirm near-hydrostatic conditions for all wells. The new method for analysing leak-off test data has constrained the upper limit of the maximum horizontal stress magnitude to be the greatest, indicating a reverse-to-strike-slip faulting regime, which is consistent with neotectonic faulting evidence. Petrophysical wireline data and image log data to characterise extant natural fracture populations within conventional reservoirs and stratigraphic units that may be exploited as future unconventional reservoirs have also been used. These fracture sets are compared with possible fracture populations recognised in contiguous, high-fidelity 3D seismic datasets using a new method for identifying fracture systems based on attribute mapping techniques. This study represents the first of its kind in the Otway Basin. Combined analysis of the in-situ stress tensor and fracture density and geometries provides a powerful workflow for constraining fracture-related fluid flow pathways in sedimentary basins.

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Bailey ◽  
Rosalind King ◽  
Simon Holford ◽  
Joshua Sage ◽  
Martin Hand ◽  
...  

Declining conventional hydrocarbon reserves have triggered exploration towards unconventional energy, such as CSG, shale gas and enhanced geothermal systems. Unconventional play viability is often heavily dependent on the presence of secondary permeability in the form of interconnected natural fracture networks that commonly exert a prime control over permeability due to low primary permeabiliy of in situ rock units. Structural permeability in the Northern Perth, SA Otway, and Northern Carnarvon basins is characterised using an integrated geophysical and geological approach combining wellbore logs, seismic attribute analysis and detailed structural geology. Integration of these methods allows for the identification of faults and fractures across a range of scales (millimetre to kilometre), providing crucial permeability information. New stress orientation data is also interpreted, allowing for stress-based predictions of fracture reactivation. Otway Basin core shows open fractures are rarer than image logs indicate; this is due to the presence of fracture-filling siderite, an electrically conductive cement that may cause fractures to appear hydraulically conductive in image logs. Although the majority of fractures detected are favourably oriented for reactivation under in situ stresses, fracture fill primarily controls which fractures are open, demonstrating that lithological data is often essential for understanding potential structural permeability networks. The Carnarvon Basin is shown to host distinct variations in fracture orientation attributable to the in situ stress regime, regional tectonic development and local structure. A detailed understanding of the structural development, from regional-scale (hundreds of kilometres) down to local-scale (kilometres), is demonstrated to be of importance when attempting to understand structural permeability.


Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yushuai Zhang ◽  
Shangxian Yin ◽  
Jincai Zhang

Methods for determining in situ stresses are reviewed, and a new approach is proposed for a better prediction of the in situ stresses. For theoretically calculating horizontal stresses, horizontal strains are needed; however, these strains are very difficult to be obtained. Alternative methods are presented in this paper to allow an easier way for determining horizontal stresses. The uniaxial strain method is oversimplified for the minimum horizontal stress determination; however, it is the lower bound minimum horizontal stress. Based on this concept, a modified stress polygon method is proposed to obtain the minimum and maximum horizontal stresses. This new stress polygon is easier to implement and is more accurate to determine in situ stresses by narrowing the area of the conventional stress polygon when drilling-induced tensile fracture and wellbore breakout data are available. Using the generalized Hooke’s law and coupling pore pressure and in situ stresses, a new method for estimating the maximum horizontal stress is proposed. Combined it to the stress polygon method, a reliable in situ stress estimation can be obtained. The field measurement method, such as minifrac test, is also analyzed in different stress regimes to determine horizontal stress magnitudes and calibrate the proposed theoretical method. The proposed workflow combined theoretical methods to field measurements provides an integrated approach for horizontal stress estimation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-105
Author(s):  
Agus M. Ramdhan

In situ stress is importance in the petroleum industry because it will significantly enhance our understanding of present-day deformation in a sedimentary basin. The Northeast Java Basin is an example of a tectonically active basin in Indonesia. However, the in situ stress in this basin is still little known. This study attempts to analyze the regional in situ stress (i.e., vertical stress, minimum and maximum horizontal stresses) magnitude and orientation, and stress regime in the onshore part of the Northeast Java Basin based on twelve wells data, consist of density log, direct/indirect pressure test, and leak-off test (LOT) data. The magnitude of vertical (  and minimum horizontal (  stresses were determined using density log and LOT data, respectively. Meanwhile, the orientation of maximum horizontal stress  (  was determined using image log data, while its magnitude was determined based on pore pressure, mudweight, and the vertical and minimum horizontal stresses. The stress regime was simply analyzed based on the magnitude of in situ stress using Anderson’s faulting theory. The results show that the vertical stress ( ) in wells that experienced less erosion can be determined using the following equation: , where  is in psi, and z is in ft. However, wells that experienced severe erosion have vertical stress gradients higher than one psi/ft ( . The minimum horizontal stress ( ) in the hydrostatic zone can be estimated as, while in the overpressured zone, . The maximum horizontal stress ( ) in the shallow and deep hydrostatic zones can be estimated using equations: and , respectively. While in the overpressured zone, . The orientation of  is ~NE-SW, with a strike-slip faulting stress regime.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. T759-T781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samin Raziperchikolaee ◽  
Mark Kelley ◽  
Neeraj Gupta

Assessing the mechanical integrity of the caprock-reservoir system is necessary to evaluate the practical storage capacity for geologic [Formula: see text] storage. We used a combination of well-log and experimental data to estimate the statistical distribution (mean and variance) of rock mechanical properties of Cambrian-Ordovician strata within the Northern Appalachian region of Ohio and studied their heterogeneity throughout the study area. Empirical correlations between static-dynamic moduli of carbonate and sandstone formations of the Northern Appalachian Basin were developed. The state of stress (the orientation and magnitude of the maximum horizontal stress) for caprock and reservoir formations in the Cambrian-Ordovician sequence was determined at multiple well locations to understand the regional variability of these properties throughout the study area. The maximum horizontal stress ([Formula: see text]) azimuth was estimated from image logs for six wells and S-wave anisotropy data for five wells. The [Formula: see text] magnitude was estimated by analytical and numerical modeling of stresses around the wellbore calibrated to the occurrence of wellbore breakouts and drilling-induced fractures in three wells as a function of depth. The results of assessing the [Formula: see text] magnitude and stress regime in the caprock and reservoirs in the Cambrian-Ordovician sequence using rock mechanical data acquired in this study, well-log data, and drilling data indicate that both parameters vary throughout the study area. In this work, we determined how integrating different types of data from multiple wells allowed us to estimate mechanical properties and characterize the spatial variability (laterally and vertically) of in situ stress for Cambrian-Ordovician caprock and reservoirs throughout the study area. A combination of different methods — numerical, analytical, and stress polygon — is used to estimate the in situ stress magnitude, especially [Formula: see text], regionally on a formation-by-formation basis. The results of this work can be used to improve our understanding the complex nature of stress in the Northern Appalachian Basin.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siyu Wei ◽  
Yanjun Shang ◽  
Yanyan Li

This paper presents a method for reconstructing denudation in sedimentary basins. The principle of this method is to use the Kaiser effect involving the acoustic emission (AE) of rock samples under a uniaxial load test. Based on the proposed method, the denudation thickness since the Late Cretaceous period in the southeastern margin of the Ordos Basin in China was estimated. The results showed that the denudation increased gradually from the northwest (1600 m a.s.l) to the southeast (1800 m a.s.l) of the study area. A comparison of the denudation results with those obtained from other methods illustrated that the AE method was reliable and easy to use. Finally, using computer simulation, we analyzed the influence of strata denudation and ground topography on the current in situ stress. The results suggested that due to the denudation, the horizontal stress played a dominant role in the distribution of the in situ stress of the study area, but the in situ stress could be reduced by the uplifted movement of the ground. The analysis could facilitate future applications of the AE method and improve understanding of the basin stress field.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Xuelong Li ◽  
Shaojie Chen ◽  
Sheng Wang ◽  
Meng Zhao ◽  
Hui Liu

The variation of the in situ stress state is closely related to various factors. In situ stress state is also an important indicator to guide mining production. The study of in situ stress measurement and its distribution characteristics has always been a basic and very important work in mine production. In this study, the deep mines of Linyi Mining Area were considered as the research object. In this regard, the stress distribution law of each mine was studied. We found that the relationship between principal stresses was σH >  σ v  > σh, which belongs to the strike-slip stress regime. In this stress regime, the lateral Earth pressure coefficient was greater than one, and the magnitude of the three principal stresses all showed an increasing trend with the increase of depth. The maximum horizontal stress direction of the Gucheng Coal Mine, Guotun Coal Mine, and Pengzhuang Coal Mine was NW-SE under the influence of regional geological structure, while the maximum horizontal stress direction of Wanglou Coal Mine was NE-SW under the influence of local geological structure. Besides, the relationship between mine in situ stress and mine geological structure, the impact of original rock stress on stope stability, and the effect of original rock stress on floor water inrushing were also investigated. We believe that the research results are beneficial to mine disaster prevention and safety production.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-95
Author(s):  
Agus M. Ramdhan

In situ stress is importance in the petroleum industry because it will significantly enhance our understanding of present-day deformation in a sedimentary basin. The Northeast Java Basin is an example of a tectonically active basin in Indonesia. However, the in situ stress in this basin is still little known. This study attempts to analyze the regional in situ stress (i.e., vertical stress, minimum and maximum horizontal stresses) magnitude and orientation, and stress regime in the onshore part of the Northeast Java Basin based on twelve wells data, consist of density log, direct/indirect pressure test, and leak-off test (LOT) data. The magnitude of vertical (  and minimum horizontal (  stresses were determined using density log and LOT data, respectively. Meanwhile, the orientation of maximum horizontal stress  (  was determined using image log data, while its magnitude was determined based on pore pressure, mudweight, and the vertical and minimum horizontal stresses. The stress regime was simply analyzed based on the magnitude of in situ stress using Anderson’s faulting theory. The results show that the vertical stress ( ) in wells that experienced less erosion can be determined using the following equation: , where  is in psi, and z is in ft. However, wells that experienced severe erosion have vertical stress gradients higher than one psi/ft ( . The minimum horizontal stress ( ) in the hydrostatic zone can be estimated as, while in the overpressured zone, . The maximum horizontal stress ( ) in the shallow and deep hydrostatic zones can be estimated using equations: and , respectively. While in the overpressured zone, . The orientation of  is ~NE-SW, with a strike-slip faulting stress regime.


2012 ◽  
Vol 616-618 ◽  
pp. 538-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fu Xiang Zhang ◽  
Wei Feng Ge ◽  
Xiang Tong Yang ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Jian Xin Peng

To alleviate the problems of casing collapse induced by the coupling effect of rock salt creep and casing wear, the effects of salt creep, attrition rate and casing abrasive position on the equivalent stress on casings in non-uniform in-situ stress field is analyzed by finite-difference model with worn casing, cement and salt formation. It indicates that, creep reduces the yield strength of worn casing to a certain extent; Equivalent stress on casings is bigger and more non-uniform when the abrasion is more serious; Wear position obviously changes the distribution of equivalent stress on casing, and when the wear located along the direction of the minimum in-situ stress, equivalent stress on casing could be the largest that leads to the casing being failed more easily. Equivalent stress on casings increases gradually with creep time increasing and will get to balance in one year or so; In addition, new conclusions are obtained which are different from before: the maximum equivalent stress on casings is in the direction of the minimum horizontal stress, only when the attrition rate of the casing is little; otherwise, it is not. This method could help to improve the wear prediction and design of casings.


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