Integrated study of a fractured granitic basement reservoir with connectivity analysis and identification of sweet spots: Cauvery Basin, India

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-261
Author(s):  
Deepa ◽  
J. Nagaraju ◽  
Binod Chetia ◽  
Rajeev Tandon ◽  
P. K. Chaudhuary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Network ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Connectivity Analysis ◽  
Fracture Permeability ◽  
Cauvery Basin ◽  
Well Production ◽  
Fracture Intensity ◽  
Mechanical Earth Model ◽  
Well Data ◽  
Sweet Spots

Basement exploration in India has seen increased interest after the recent discovery of a field in the Cauvery Basin in southeastern India, with an average individual well production of 700 b/d from a fractured basement reservoir. The field is presently under development, with several development well locations identified for drilling. Optimized development of a fractured basement reservoir requires identification of areas with a permeable fracture network. To meet this objective, we adopted a comprehensive integrated workflow involving the use of common reflection angle migrated seismic data, fracture modeling, a 1D mechanical earth model (MEM), identification of critically stressed fractures in 3D space, fracture permeability/connectivity analysis, and sweet spot identification. The workflow yielded a robust discrete fracture network model based on 3D directional fracture intensity, a 1D MEM that gave regional stress gradients (pore pressure, overburden, Shmin, and SHmax), and rock strength and elastic properties. In addition, we generated a critically stressed 3D fracture model and performed sequential stratal surface restoration for predictive strain modeling that was calibrated at wells. Our fracture permeability and connectivity analysis showed that existing hydrocarbon-producing wells are located within areas that have a fracture cluster/swarm with associated good fracture connectivity. A 3D basement facies model constructed by integrating well data and a poststack inversion impedance volume showed that major flow zones occur in weathered basement associated with low impedance. This model, in combination with fracture intensity data, provides good indication of the location of basement sweet spots in the Cauvery Basin. The understanding gained on the controls of occurrence of basement fractures explains why some wells in the field are producers and others are dry. This led to greater confidence in optimizing the locations of previously proposed new development wells.

Optimum well trajectory design in a planned well in Blacktip field, Australia: a case study

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vamegh Rasouli ◽  
Zachariah Pallikathekathil ◽  
Elike Mawuli
Keyword(s):  
Strength Properties ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Trajectory Design ◽  
Lower Section ◽  
Principal Stresses ◽  
Stress Anisotropy ◽  
Major Fault ◽  
Well Trajectory ◽  
Mechanical Earth Model ◽  
Well Data

A geomechanics study carried out in the Blacktip field, offshore Australia led to optimum wellbore deviation and azimuth to minimise drilling-associated instability problems near a major fault in the field. Elastic and strength properties of the formations and magnitude of principal stresses in the field were estimated from a mechanical earth model (MEM) based on offset well data. The direction of the minimum horizontal stresses was predicted from formation microresistivity image (FMI) logs available in offset wells. The MEM results were calibrated using results from laboratory experiments, well tests and drilling incidents from drilling reports. The MEM showed that formations at the lower section of the well are very competent and have high uniaxial strength; however, most of the failures in the form of breakouts observed from calliper and image logs were in this interval. Therefore, obtaining a good match between the model and observed failures required a large stress anisotropy to be considered for the lower section of the wellbore. Further investigations demonstrated that this is because the wellbore trajectory at deeper depth gets closer to the major fault plane, and this large stress anisotropy is due to the stress redistribution near the fault. The data from offset well was mapped into the planned trajectory, and the selection of the optimum trajectory and a stable mud weight window for the appropriate section led to successful drilling of the deviated well.

scholarly journals The Key Factors That Determine the Economically Viable, Horizontal Hydrofractured Gas Wells in Mudrocks

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Haider ◽  
Wardana Saputra ◽  
Tadeusz Patzek
Keyword(s):  
Gas Flow ◽  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Organic Matrix ◽  
Fracture Network ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Fracture Permeability ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Stimulated Reservoir Volume ◽  
Well Production

We assemble a multiscale physical model of gas production in a mudrock (shale). We then tested our model on 45 horizontal gas wells in the Barnett with 12–15 years on production. When properly used, our model may enable shale companies to gain operational insights into how to complete a particular well in a particular shale. Macrofractures, microfractures, and nanopores form a multiscale system that controls gas flow in mudrocks. Near a horizontal well, hydraulic fracturing creates fractures at many scales and increases permeability of the source rock. We model the physical properties of the fracture network embedded in the Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV) with a fractal of dimension D < 2 . This fracture network interacts with the poorly connected nanopores in the organic matrix that are the source of almost all produced gas. In the practically impermeable mudrock, the known volumes of fracturing water and proppant must create an equal volume of fractures at all scales. Therefore, the surface area and the number of macrofractures created after hydrofracturing are constrained by the volume of injected water and proppant. The coupling between the fracture network and the organic matrix controls gas production from a horizontal well. The fracture permeability, k f , and the microscale source term, s, affect this coupling, thus controlling the reservoir pressure decline and mass transfer from the nanopore network to the fractures. Particular values of k f and s are determined by numerically fitting well production data with an optimization algorithm. The relationship between k f and s is somewhat hyperbolic and defines the type of fracture system created after hydrofracturing. The extremes of this relationship create two end-members of the fracture systems. A small value of the ratio k f / s causes faster production decline because of the high microscale source term, s. The effective fracture permeability is lower, but gas flow through the matrix to fractures is efficient, thus nullifying the negative effect of the smaller k f . For the high values of k f / s , production decline is slower. In summary, the fracture network permeability at the macroscale and the microscale source term control production rate of shale wells. The best quality wells have good, but not too good, macroscale connectivity.

scholarly journals Perforation location optimization through 1-D mechanical earth model for high-pressure deep formations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nagham Jasim Al-Ameri
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Young Modulus ◽  
Normal Pressure ◽  
Horizontal Stress ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Location Selection ◽  
Geomechanical Properties ◽  
Well Production ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Mechanical Earth Model

AbstractOptimum perforation location selection is  an important study to improve well production and hence in the reservoir development process, especially for unconventional high-pressure formations such as the formations under study. Reservoir geomechanics is one of the key factors to find optimal perforation location. This study aims to detect optimum perforation location by investigating the changes in geomechanical properties and wellbore stress for high-pressure formations and studying the difference in different stress type behaviors between normal and abnormal formations. The calculations are achieved by building one-dimensional mechanical earth model using the data of four deep abnormal wells located in Southern Iraqi oil fields. The magnitude of different stress types and geomechanical properties was estimated from well-log data using the Techlog software. The directions of the horizontal stresses are determined in the current wells utilizing image-log formation micro-imager (FMI) and caliper logs. The results in terms of rock mechanical properties showed a reduction in Poisson’s ratio, Young modulus, and bulk modulus near the high-pressure zones as compared to normal pressure zones because of the presence of anhydrite, salt cycles, and shales. Low maximum and minimum horizontal stress values are also observed in high-pressure zones as compared to normal pressure zones indicating the effects of geomechanical properties on horizontal stress estimation. Around the wellbore of the studied wells, formation breakouts are the most expected situation according to the results of the wellbore stress state (effective vertical stress (σzz) > effective tangential stress (σθθ) > effective radial stress (σrr)).

Application of extended elastic impedance in seismic geomechanics

Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. R429-R446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Sharifi ◽  
Naser Hafezi Moghaddas ◽  
Gholam Reza Lashkaripour ◽  
Abdolrahim Javaherian ◽  
Marzieh Mirzakhanian
Keyword(s):  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Reservoir Rock ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Simultaneous Inversion ◽  
Geomechanical Parameters ◽  
Mechanical Earth Model ◽  
Well Data ◽  
Southwest Of Iran ◽  
Elastic Impedance

We have evaluated an innovative application of extended elastic impedance (EEI) to integrate seismic and geomechanics for geomechanical interpretation of hydrocarbon reservoirs. EEI analysis is used to extract geomechanical parameters. To verify and assess the capabilities of EEI analysis for extracting geomechanical parameters, we selected a jointed, oil-bearing, shale carbonate reservoir in the southwest of Iran, and we used petrophysical data and core analysis to estimate static and dynamic moduli of the reservoir rock. We calculated the corresponding EEI curve to different intercept-gradient coordinate rotation angles (the chi angle, [Formula: see text]), and we selected the angles of the maximum correlation for the corresponding geomechanical parameters. Then, combining the intercept and gradient, we generated 3D reflectivity patterns of EEI at different angles. To obtain a cube of geomechanical parameters, we performed model-based inversion on the EEI reflectivity pattern. A comparison between the modeling results and well data indicated that the geomechanical parameters estimated by our method were well-correlated to the observed data. Accordingly, we extracted the geomechanical and rock-physical parameters from the EEI cube. We further found that EEI analysis was capable of giving a 3D mechanical earth model of the reservoir with the appropriate accuracy. Finally, we verified the proposed methodology on a blind well and compared the results with those of the simultaneous inversion, indicating comparable levels of accuracy. Therefore, application of this method in seismic geomechanics can bring about significant progress in the future.

Application of geostatistical seismic inversion in reservoir characterization of Sapphire gas field, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 474-479
Author(s):  
Mohamed G. El-Behiry ◽  
Said M. Dahroug ◽  
Mohamed Elattar
Keyword(s):  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Nile Delta ◽  
Seismic Inversion ◽  
Reservoir Modeling ◽  
Connectivity Analysis ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Geostatistical Inversion ◽  
Well Data ◽  
Reservoir Connectivity ◽  
Inversion Techniques

Seismic reservoir characterization becomes challenging when reservoir thickness goes beyond the limits of seismic resolution. Geostatistical inversion techniques are being considered to overcome the resolution limitations of conventional inversion methods and to provide an intuitive understanding of subsurface uncertainty. Geostatistical inversion was applied on a highly compartmentalized area of Sapphire gas field, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt, with the aim of understanding the distribution of thin sands and their impact on reservoir connectivity. The integration of high-resolution well data with seismic partial-angle-stack volumes into geostatistical inversion has resulted in multiple elastic property realizations at the desired resolution. The multitude of inverted elastic properties are analyzed to improve reservoir characterization and reflect the inversion nonuniqueness. These property realizations are then classified into facies probability cubes and ranked based on pay sand volumes to quantify the volumetric uncertainty in static reservoir modeling. Stochastic connectivity analysis was also applied on facies models to assess the possible connected volumes. Sand connectivity analysis showed that the connected pay sand volume derived from the posterior mean of property realizations, which is analogous to deterministic inversion, is much smaller than the volumes generated by any high-frequency realization. This observation supports the role of thin interbed reservoirs in facilitating connectivity between the main sand units.

Seismic pore pressure prediction with uncertainty using a probabilistic mechanical earth model

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Doyen ◽  
A. Malinverno ◽  
R. Prioul ◽  
P. Hooyman ◽  
S. Noeth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Pore Pressure Prediction ◽  
Mechanical Earth Model

Application of Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy for Delineating Mishrif Prospects in Western Onshore, Abu Dhabi, UAE

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subrata Chakraborty ◽  
Monica Maria Mihai ◽  
Nacera Maache ◽  
Gabriela Salomia ◽  
Abdulla Al Blooshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Seismic Sequence ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Oil Accumulation ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Stratigraphic Analysis ◽  
Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy ◽  
Well Data ◽  
Seismic Reflectors ◽  
Sweet Spots

Abstract In Abu Dhabi, the Mishrif Formation is developed in the eastern and western parts conformably above the Shilaif Formation and forms several commercial discoveries. The present study was carried out to understand the development of the Mishrif Formation over a large area in western onshore Abu Dhabi and to identify possible Mishrif sweet spots as future drilling locations. To achieve this objective, seismic mapping of various reflectors below, above, and within the Mishrif Formation was attempted. From drilled wells all the available wireline data and cores were studied. Detailed seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis was carried out to understand the evolution of the Mishrif Formation and places where the good porosity-permeability development and oil accumulation might have happened. The seismic characters of the Mishrif Formation in dry and successful wells were studied and were calibrated with well data. The Mishrif Formation was deposited during Late Cretaceous Cenomanian time. In the study area it has a gross thickness ranging from 532 to 1,269 ft as derived from the drilled wells; the thickness rapidly decreases eastward toward the shelf edge and approaching the Shilaif basin. The Mishrif was divided into three third-order sequences based on core observations from seven wells and log signatures from 25 wells. The bottom-most sequence Mishrif 1.0 was identified is the thickest unit but was also found dry. The next identified sequence Mishrif 2.0 was also dry. The next and the uppermost sequence identified as Mishrif 3.0 shows a thickness from 123 to 328 ft. All the tested oil-bearing intervals lie within this sequence. This sequence was further subdivided into three fourth-order sequences based on log and core signatures; namely, Mishrif 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. In six selected seismic lines of 181 Line Km (LKM) cutting across the depositional axis, seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis was carried out. In those sections all the visible seismic reflectors were picked using a stratigraphic interpretation software. Reflector groups were made to identify lowstand systems tract, transgressive systems tract, maximum flooding surface, and highstand systems tract by tying with the observations of log and core at the wells and by seismic signature. Wheeler diagrams were generated in all these six sections to understand the lateral disposition of these events and locales of their development. Based on stratigraphic analysis, a zone with likely grainy porous facies development was identified in Mishrif 3.0. Paleotopography at the top of Mishrif was reconstructed to help delineate areas where sea-level fall generated leaching-related sweet spots. Analysis of measured permeability data identified the presence of local permeability baffles affecting the reservoir quality and hydrocarbon accumulation. This study helped to identify several drilling locations based on a generic understanding of the Mishrif Formation. Such stratigraphic techniques can be successfully applied in similar carbonate reservoirs to identify the prospect areas.

Joint Application of Diagenetic, Petrophysical and Geomechanical Data for Selecting Hydraulic Fracturing Candidate Zone

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 55-79
Author(s):  
E. Bakhshi ◽  
A. Shahrabadi ◽  
N. Golsanami ◽  
Sh. Seyedsajadi ◽  
X. Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Reservoir Properties ◽  
Stress Regime ◽  
Geomechanical Properties ◽  
Hydrocarbon Reservoir ◽  
Diagenetic Processes ◽  
Mechanical Earth Model ◽  
New Equation

The more comprehensive information on the reservoir properties will help to better plan drilling and design production. Herein, diagenetic processes and geomechanical properties are notable parameters that determine reservoir quality. Recognizing the geomechanical properties of the reservoir as well as building a mechanical earth model play a strong role in the hydrocarbon reservoir life cycle and are key factors in analyzing wellbore instability, drilling operation optimization, and hydraulic fracturing designing operation. Therefore, the present study focuses on selecting the candidate zone for hydraulic fracturing through a novel approach that simultaneously considers the diagenetic, petrophysical, and geomechanical properties. The diagenetic processes were analyzed to determine the porosity types in the reservoir. After that, based on the laboratory test results for estimating reservoir petrophysical parameters, the zones with suitable reservoir properties were selected. Moreover, based on the reservoir geomechanical parameters and the constructed mechanical earth model, the best zones were selected for hydraulic fracturing operation in one of the Iranian fractured carbonate reservoirs. Finally, a new empirical equation for estimating pore pressure in nine zones of the studied well was developed. This equation provides a more precise estimation of stress profiles and thus leads to more accurate decision-making for candidate zone selection. Based on the results, vuggy porosity was the best porosity type, and zones C2, E2 and G2, having suitable values of porosity, permeability, and water saturation, showed good reservoir properties. Therefore, zone E2 and G2 were chosen as the candidate for hydraulic fracturing simulation based on their E (Young’s modulus) and ν (Poisson’s ratio) values. Based on the mechanical earth model and changes in the acoustic data versus depth, a new equation is introduced for calculating the pore pressure in the studied reservoir. According to the new equation, the dominant stress regime in the whole well, especially in the candidate zones, is SigHmax>SigV>Sighmin, while according to the pore pressure equation presented in the literature, the dominant stress regime in the studied well turns out to be SigHmax>Sighmin>SigV.  

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