scholarly journals Permeability and Mineralogy of the Újfalu Formation, Hungary, from Production Tests and Experimental Rock Characterization: Implications for Geothermal Heat Projects

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4332
Author(s):  
Cees J. L. Willems ◽  
Chaojie Cheng ◽  
Sean M. Watson ◽  
James Minto ◽  
Aislinn Williams ◽  
...  

Hundreds of geothermal wells have been drilled in Hungary to exploit Pannonian Basin sandstones for district heating, agriculture, and industrial heating projects. Most of these sites suffer from reinjection issues, limiting efficient use of this vast geothermal resource and imposing significant extra costs for the required frequent workovers and maintenance. To better understand the cause of this issue requires details of reservoir rock porosity, permeability, and mineralogy. However, publicly available data for the properties of reservoir rocks at geothermal project sites in Hungary is typically very limited, because these projects often omit or limit data acquisition. Many hydrocarbon wells in the same rocks are more extensively documented, but their core, log, or production data are typically decades old and unavailable in the public domain. Furthermore, because many Pannonian sandstone formations are poorly consolidated, coring was always limited and the collected core often unsuitable for conventional analysis, only small remnant fragments typically being available from legacy hydrocarbon wells. This study aims to reduce this data gap and to showcase methods to derive reservoir properties without using core for flow experiments. The methods are thin-section analysis, XRD analysis and mercury intrusion porosimetry, and X-CT scanning followed by numerical flow simulation. We validate our results using permeability data from conventional production testing, demonstrating the effectiveness of our method for detailed reservoir characterization and to better constrain the lateral variation in reservoir properties across the Pannonian Basin. By eliminating the need for expensive bespoke coring to obtain reservoir properties, such analysis will contribute to reducing the capital cost of developing geothermal energy projects, thus facilitating decarbonization of global energy supply.

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sugeng Sapto Surjono ◽  
Indra Arifianto

Hydrocarbon potential within Upper Plover Formation in the Field “A” has not been produced due to unclear in understanding of reservoir problem. This formation consists of heterogeneous reservoir rock with their own physical characteristics. Reservoir characterization has been done by applying rock typing (RT) method utilizing wireline logs data to obtain reservoir properties including clay volume, porosity, water saturation, and permeability. Rock types are classified on the basis of porosity and permeability distribution from routines core analysis (RCAL) data. Meanwhile, conventional core data is utilized to depositional environment interpretations. This study also applied neural network methods to rock types analyze for intervals reservoir without core data. The Upper Plover Formation in the study area indicates potential reservoir distributes into 7 parasequences. Their were deposited during transgressive systems in coastal environments (foreshore - offshore) with coarsening upward pattern during Middle to Late Jurassic. The porosity of reservoir ranges from 1–19 % and permeability varies from 0.01 mD to 1300 mD. Based on the facies association and its physical properties from rock typing analysis, the reservoir within Upper Plover Formation can be grouped into 4 reservoir class: Class A (Excellent), Class B (Good), Class C (Poor), and Class D (Very Poor). For further analysis, only class A-C are considered as potential reservoir, and the remain is neglected.


Geophysics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1969-1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Saggaf ◽  
M. Nafi Toksöz ◽  
H. M. Mustafa

The performance of traditional back‐propagation networks for reservoir characterization in production settings has been inconsistent due to their nonmonotonous generalization, which necessitates extensive tweaking of their parameters in order to achieve satisfactory results and avoid overfitting the data. This makes the accuracy of these networks sensitive to the selection of the network parameters. We present an approach to estimate the reservoir rock properties from seismic data through the use of regularized back propagation networks that have inherent smoothness characteristics. This approach alleviates the nonmonotonous generalization problem associated with traditional networks and helps to avoid overfitting the data. We apply the approach to a 3D seismic survey in the Shedgum area of Ghawar field, Saudi Arabia, to estimate the reservoir porosity distribution of the Arab‐D zone, and we contrast the accuracy of our approach with that of traditional back‐propagation networks through cross‐validation tests. The results of these tests indicate that the accuracy of our approach remains consistent as the network parameters are varied, whereas that of the traditional network deteriorates as soon as deviations from the optimal parameters occur. The approach we present thus leads to more robust estimates of the reservoir properties and requires little or no tweaking of the network parameters to achieve optimal results.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Bauer ◽  
Daniela Pfrang ◽  
Michael Krumbholz

<p>For successful exploitation of geothermal reservoirs, temperature and transmissibility are key factors. The Molasse Basin in Germany is a region in which these requirements are frequently fulfilled. In particular, the Upper Jurassic Malm aquifer, which benefits from high permeability due to locally intense karstification, hosts a large number of successful geothermal projects. Most of these are located close to Munich and the “Stadtwerke München (SWM)” intends to use this potential to generate most of the district heating demands from geothermal plants by 2040.</p><p>We use geophysical logging data and sidewall cores to analyse the spatial distribution of reservoir properties that determine porosity, permeability, and temperature distribution. The data are derived from six deviated wells drilled from one well site. The reservoir rocks are separated by faults and lie in three different tectonic blocks. The datasets include image logs, GR, sonic velocities, temperature, flowmeter- and mud logs. We not only focus on correlations between rock porosity and matrix permeability, but also on how permeability provided by fractures and karstification correlate with inflow zones and reservoir temperature. In addition, we correlate individual parameters with respect to their lithology, dolomitisation and the rock’s image fabric type, adapted from Steiner and Böhm (2011).  </p><p>Our results show that fracture intensity and orientations vary strongly, between and within individual wells. However, we observed local trends between fracture systems and rock properties. For instance fracture intensities and v<sub>p</sub> velocities (implying lower porosities) are higher in rock sections classified as dolomites without bedding contacts. As these homogeneous-appearing dolomites increase, from N to S, the mean fracture intensities and v<sub>p</sub> velocities also increase. Furthermore, we observed most frequently substantial karstification in dolomites and dolomitic limestones. Nevertheless, an opposing trend for the percentage of substantial karstification can be also found, i.e., the amount of massive karstification is higher in the northern wells. The interpretation of flowmeter measurements show that the main inflow zones concentrate in those Upper Malm sections that are characterised by karstification and/or intense fracturing.</p><p>In the next step, we will correlate laboratory measurements of outcrop- and reservoir samples (e.g. porosity, permeability, and mechanical rock properties) with the logging data. The aim is to test the degree to which analogue samples can contribute to reservoir characterization in the Upper Jurassic Malm Aquifer (Bauer et al., 2017).</p><p>This work is carried out in the research project REgine "Geophysical-geological based reservoir engineering for deep-seated carbonates" and is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (FKZ: 0324332B).</p><p>Bauer, J. F., Krumbholz, M., Meier, S., and Tanner, D. C.: Predictability of properties of a fractured geothermal reservoir: The opportunities and limitations of an outcrop analogue study, Geothermal Energy, 5, 24, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-017-0081-0, 2017.</p><p>Steiner, U., Böhm, F.: Lithofacies and Structure in Imagelogs of Carbonates and their Reservoir Implications in Southern Germany. Extended Abstract 1st Sustainable Earth Sciences Conference & Exhibition – Technologies for Sustainable Use of the Deep Sub-surface, Valencia, Spain, 8-11 November, 2011.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bassem Nabawy ◽  
Abdelbaset M. Abudeif ◽  
Marwa M. Masoud

Abstract This study concerns with the petrophysical characteristics of the Lower Jurassic surface analog in Gebel El-Maghara area (from base to top Mashaba, Rajabia, and Shusha formations), north Sinai, Egypt and implementation of the mineral components and diagenetic controls on reservoir characteristics. A full set of petrophysical measurements including porosity (∅He), permeability (k), grain and bulk densities (σg and σb, respectively), and true formation resistivity factor was applied. The Lower Jurassic sequence is subdivided into five hydraulic flow units (HFUs) that consist of three reservoir rock types (RRTs). These RRTs are composed of three microfacies association (MFAs). The RRT1 plug samples consist of the mostly clastic MFA1; they are porous, permeable, and have good reservoir quality that is using the flow zone indicator (FZI), and the reservoir quality index (RQI). The lowest reservoir quality is assigned to the RRT samples which are mostly composed tight carbonates. Based on the petrographical studies, SEM imaging, and the XRD analysis, dissolution and fracturing slightly enhanced the reservoir potentiality of the RRT1 samples, whereas physical compaction, tight cementation, and authigenic clay content (kaolinite, hematite, and goethite) are responsible for deterioration of the reservoir properties of RRT3 samples and reduction of the RRT2 samples.


Resources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Stanislav Jacko ◽  
Roman Farkašovský ◽  
Igor Ďuriška ◽  
Barbora Ščerbáková ◽  
Kristína Bátorová

The Pannonian basin is a major geothermal heat system in Central Europe. Its peripheral basin, the East Slovakian basin, is an example of a geothermal structure with a linear, directed heat flow ranging from 90 to 100 mW/m2 from west to east. However, the use of the geothermal source is limited by several critical tectono-geologic factors: (a) Tectonics, and the associated disintegration of the aquifer block by multiple deformations during the pre-Paleogene, mainly Miocene, period. The main discontinuities of NW-SE and N-S direction negatively affect the permeability of the aquifer environment. For utilization, minor NE-SW dilatation open fractures are important, which have been developed by sinistral transtension on N–S faults and accelerated normal movements to the southeast. (b) Hydrogeologically, the geothermal structure is accommodated by three water types, namely, Na-HCO3 with 10.9 g·L−1 mineralization (in the north), the Ca-Mg-HCO3 with 0.5–4.5 g·L−1 mineralization (in the west), and Na-Cl water type containing 26.8–33.4 g·L−1 mineralization (in the southwest). The chemical composition of the water is influenced by the Middle Triassic dolomite aquifer, as well as by infiltration of saline solutions and meteoric waters along with open fractures/faults. (c) Geothermally anomalous heat flow of 123–129 °C with 170 L/s total flow near the Slanské vchy volcanic chain seems to be the perspective for heat production.


Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miller Zambrano ◽  
Alan D. Pitts ◽  
Ali Salama ◽  
Tiziano Volatili ◽  
Maurizio Giorgioni ◽  
...  

Fluid flow through a single fracture is traditionally described by the cubic law, which is derived from the Navier-Stokes equation for the flow of an incompressible fluid between two smooth-parallel plates. Thus, the permeability of a single fracture depends only on the so-called hydraulic aperture which differs from the mechanical aperture (separation between the two fracture wall surfaces). This difference is mainly related to the roughness of the fracture walls, which has been evaluated in previous works by including a friction factor in the permeability equation or directly deriving the hydraulic aperture. However, these methodologies may lack adequate precision to provide valid results. This work presents a complete protocol for fracture surface mapping, roughness evaluation, fracture modeling, fluid flow simulation, and permeability estimation of individual fracture (open or sheared joint/pressure solution seam). The methodology includes laboratory-based high-resolution structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry of fracture surfaces, power spectral density (PSD) surface evaluation, synthetic fracture modeling, and fluid flow simulation using the Lattice-Boltzmann method. This work evaluates the respective controls on permeability exerted by the fracture displacement (perpendicular and parallel to the fracture walls), surface roughness, and surface pair mismatch. The results may contribute to defining a more accurate equation of hydraulic aperture and permeability of single fractures, which represents a pillar for the modeling and upscaling of the hydraulic properties of a geofluid reservoir.


Geophysics ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. W1-W13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dengliang Gao

In exploration geology and geophysics, seismic texture is still a developing concept that has not been sufficiently known, although quite a number of different algorithms have been published in the literature. This paper provides a review of the seismic texture concepts and methodologies, focusing on latest developments in seismic amplitude texture analysis, with particular reference to the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and the texture model regression (TMR) methods. The GLCM method evaluates spatial arrangements of amplitude samples within an analysis window using a matrix (a two-dimensional histogram) of amplitude co-occurrence. The matrix is then transformed into a suite of texture attributes, such as homogeneity, contrast, and randomness, which provide the basis for seismic facies classification. The TMR method uses a texture model as reference to discriminate among seismic features based on a linear, least-squares regression analysis between the model and the data within an analysis window. By implementing customized texture model schemes, the TMR algorithm has the flexibility to characterize subsurface geology for different purposes. A texture model with a constant phase is effective at enhancing the visibility of seismic structural fabrics, a texture model with a variable phase is helpful for visualizing seismic facies, and a texture model with variable amplitude, frequency, and size is instrumental in calibrating seismic to reservoir properties. Preliminary test case studies in the very recent past have indicated that the latest developments in seismic texture analysis have added to the existing amplitude interpretation theories and methodologies. These and future developments in seismic texture theory and methodologies will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the geologic implications of the seismic texture concept and to an improved geologic interpretation of reflection seismic amplitude.


Geophysics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry Lines ◽  
Henry Tan ◽  
Sven Treitel ◽  
John Beck ◽  
Richard Chambers ◽  
...  

In 1992, there was a collaborative effort in reservoir geophysics involving Amoco, Conoco, Schlumberger, and Stanford University in an attempt to delineate variations in reservoir properties of the Grayburg unit in a West Texas [Formula: see text] pilot at North Cowden Field. Our objective was to go beyond traveltime tomography in characterizing reservoir heterogeneity and flow anisotropy. This effort involved a comprehensive set of measurements to do traveltime tomography, to image reflectors, to analyze channel waves for reservoir continuity, to study shear‐wave splitting for borehole stress‐pattern estimation, and to do seismic anisotropy analysis. All these studies were combined with 3-D surface seismic data and with sonic log interpretation. The results are to be validated in the future with cores and engineering data by history matching of primary, water, and [Formula: see text] injection performance. The implementation of these procedures should provide critical information on reservoir heterogeneities and preferential flow direction. Geophysical methods generally indicated a continuous reservoir zone between wells.


2021 ◽  
pp. 3570-3586
Author(s):  
Mohanad M. Al-Ghuribawi ◽  
Rasha F. Faisal

     The Yamama Formation includes important carbonates reservoir that belongs to the Lower Cretaceous sequence in Southern Iraq. This study covers two oil fields (Sindbad and Siba) that are distributed Southeastern Basrah Governorate, South of Iraq. Yamama reservoir units were determined based on the study of cores, well logs, and petrographic examination of thin sections that required a detailed integration of geological data and petrophysical properties. These parameters were integrated in order to divide the Yamama Formation into six reservoir units (YA0, YA1, YA2, YB1, YB2 and YC), located between five cap rock units. The best facies association and petrophysical properties were found in the shoal environment, where the most common porosity types were the primary (interparticle) and secondary (moldic and vugs) . The main diagenetic process that occurred in YA0, YA2, and YB1 is cementation, which led to the filling of pore spaces by cement and subsequently decreased the reservoir quality (porosity and permeability). Based on the results of the final digital  computer interpretation and processing (CPI) performed by using the Techlog software, the units YA1 and YB2 have the best reservoir properties. The unit YB2 is characterized by a good effective porosity average, low water saturation, good permeability, and large thickness that distinguish it from other reservoir units.


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