Thermophysical reservoir properties of the Hauptdolomit-facies underneath the Viennese basin across fault zones analogues – a reservoir study for the GeoTief EXPLORE project

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Rupprecht ◽  
Sven Fuchs ◽  
Andrea Förster ◽  
Mariella Penz-Wolfmayr
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Thermal Diffusivity ◽  
Fractured Rocks ◽  
Damage Zone ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Rock Properties ◽  
Zone Model ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Fault Rocks ◽  
The Impact

<p>The GeoTief EXPLORE project aims to explore the geothermal potential and quantify the geothermal resources of the Vienna Basin (Austria) and the underlying Northern Calcareous Alpine basement. The main target of geothermal interest is the massive and tectonically remolded Hauptdolomite facies that has been identified as potential geothermal reservoir in previous studies. Now, this formation is studied using outcrop analogues for the investigation of their petrophysical characterization and specific thermal properties (thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity).</p><p> </p><p>Here, we report new measurements on a total of 60 samples from 6 outcrops in and around the area of Vienna applying different methods for the laboratory measurement of thermal and hydraulic rock properties. The petrophysical analysis considers the impact of deformation along and across fault zones, which introduces heterogeneity of storage properties and consequently in the thermophysical properties. Using the standard fault core and damage zone model, outcrop samples were grouped into unfractured and fractured protoliths, as well as in fault rocks, like breccias and cataclasites. Rock samples are then classified by their fracture density (m² fracture surface per m³ rock) and by their matrix content and differences in grain sizes, respectively.</p><p> </p><p>The measured thermal rock properties vary significantly between the selected rock groups. The total range [90 % of values] is between 3.2 and 5.0 W/(mK) for thermal conductivity and between 1.3 and 2.7 mm²/s for thermal diffusivity. The results generally met the expected trend for fractured rocks as conductivity and diffusivity decreases with increasing porosity under unsaturated and saturated conditions. The total porosities are less than 5%. The variability of thermal conductivity under saturated conditions shows complex trends depending on the different rock classifications where fault rocks and highly fractured rocks of the damage zone show lower increase in thermal conductivities.</p><p> </p><p>The new petrophysical characterization will be the base for further numerical investigations of the hydraulic and thermal regime as well as for the analysis of the geothermal resources of the Hauptdolomite.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

Partitioned Permeability Diagram: an innovative way to estimate Fault Zones hydraulics.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irène Aubert ◽  
Juliette Lamarche ◽  
Philippe Leonide
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Damage Zone ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Matrix Permeability ◽  
Vertical Fault ◽  
Core Permeability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Evolution With Time ◽  
Fluid Pathway

<p>Understanding the impact of fault zones on reservoir trap properties is a major challenge for a variety of geological ressources applications. Fault zones in cohesive rocks are complex structures, composed of 3 components: rock matrix, damage zone fractures and fault core rock. Despite the diversity of existing methods to estimate fault zone permeability/drain properties, up to date none of them integrate simultaneously the 3 components of fracture, fault core and matrix permeability, neither their evolution with time. We present a ternary plot that characterizes the fault zones permeability as well as their drainage properties. The ternary plot aims at (i) characterizing the fault zone permeability between the three vertices of matrix, fractures and fault core permeability ; and at (ii) defining the drain properties among 4 possible hydraulic system: (I) good horizontal and vertical, fault-perpendicular and -parallel; (II) moderate parallel fluid pathway; (III) good parallel fault-core and (IV) good parallel fractures. The ternary plot method is valid for 3 and 2 components fault zones. The application to the Castellas Fault case study show the simplicity and efficiency of the plot for studying underground and/or fossil, simple or polyphase faults in reservoirs with complete or limited permeability data.</p>

scholarly journals Characterization of the Petrophysical Properties of the Timahdit Oil Shale Layers in Morocco

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Hanane Sghiouri El Idrissi ◽  
Abderrahim Samaouali ◽  
Younes El Rhaffari ◽  
Salah El Alami ◽  
Yves Geraud
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Thermal Diffusivity ◽  
Oil Shale ◽  
Velocity Ratio ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
The Impact

In this work, we study the variability of the lithological composition and organic matter content of samples were taken from the different layers M, X and Y of the Timahdit oil shale in Morocco, in order to experimentally analyze the impact of this variability on petrophysical measurements. The objective of this study is to predict the properties of the layers, including their thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, porosity and P and S wave velocities. The results of the study of the impact of the organic matter content of the samples on the petrophysical measurements show that, regardless of the organic matter content, thermal conductivity and diffusivity remain insensitive, while P and S wave velocities decrease linearly and porosity increases with increasing organic matter content. On the other hand, the study of the organic matter variability content is consistent with the velocity ratio, so can be used as an organic matter indicator of the layers. Conductivity and thermal diffusivity are almost invariant to the variability of the organic matter.

Seismic imaging and statistical analysis of fault facies models

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. SP71-SP82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitriy R. Kolyukhin ◽  
Vadim V. Lisitsa ◽  
Maxim I. Protasov ◽  
Dongfang Qu ◽  
Galina V. Reshetova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Rock Properties ◽  
Zone Structure ◽  
Structure And Property ◽  
Subsurface Fluid ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Seismic Images

Interpretation of seismic responses from subsurface fault zones is hampered by the fact that the geologic structure and property distributions of fault zones can generally not be directly observed. This shortcoming curtails the use of seismic data for characterizing internal structure and properties of fault zones, and it has instead promoted the use of interpretation techniques that tend to simplify actual structural complexity by rendering faults as lines and planes rather than volumes of deformed rock. Facilitating the correlation of rock properties and seismic images of fault zones would enable active use of these images for interpreting fault zones, which in turn would improve our ability to assess the impact of fault zones on subsurface fluid flow. We use a combination of 3D fault zone models, based on empirical data and 2D forward seismic modeling to investigate the link between fault zone properties and seismic response. A comparison of spatial statistics from the geologic models and the seismic images was carried out to study how well seismic images render the modeled geologic features. Our results indicate the feasibility of extracting information about fault zone structure from seismic data by the methods used.

Discrete and continuous conceptual models of fault zones.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Manzocchi
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Damage Zone ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Zone Model ◽  
Multiple Model ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Scale Properties

<p>Faults can control the large-scale properties of rock volumes through their behaviour as flow conduits and/or barriers or by localising geomechanical effects. Hence, often the fidelity of a numerical model of faulted site relies on the accuracy with which the fault zone is represented.  There are two distinct factors that must be considered in a modelling study: first, does the model contain the most relevant characteristics of the fault that influence the behaviour of interest; and second, are these characteristics assigned realistic and representative values that capture both their natural variability and the uncertainty with which they can be determined for the specific case of interest. These two factors are contained in the conceptual fault model and choice of modelling proxy-properties, respectively.</p><p>In recent years, two classes of conceptual fault zone model have dominated the description of fault zones, broadly characterised by either a continuous or a discrete approach. Continuous fault zone properties (e.g. fault core and damage zone thickness, displacement partitioning statistics) often show high variability which many modelling studies attempt to capture by running multiple model containing property values sampled from the distribution. Discrete descriptions focus on the presence of individual fault zone elements (e.g. shale smears, relay zones), and models guided by a discrete conceptual model attempt to place representative frequencies of elements. A single discrete model might contain the same property distributions as an ensemble of continuous models yet, because it contains a representative frequency of different elements, its behaviour might lie beyond the extreme behaviour of the continuous ensemble. Hence, the manner in which a geologist’s conceptual model is represented in a modeller’s numerical model can be hugely important for the outcome of the study, and it is in the interest of both modellers and geologists to ensure that they have a correct understanding of the other’s part of the process.</p>

Permeability of carbonate fault rocks: a case study from Malta

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy P. Cooke ◽  
Quentin J. Fisher ◽  
Emma A. H. Michie ◽  
Graham Yielding
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Host Rock ◽  
Damage Zone ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
High Porosity ◽  
Rock Permeability ◽  
Fault Rock ◽  
Fault Rocks ◽  
Diagenetic Alteration ◽  
Hydraulic Behaviour

The inherent heterogeneity of carbonate rocks suggests that carbonate-hosted fault zones are also likely to be heterogeneous. Coupled with a lack of host–fault petrophysical relationships, this makes the hydraulic behaviour of carbonate-hosted fault zones difficult to predict. Here we investigate the link between host rock and fault rock porosity, permeability and texture, by presenting data from series of host rock, damage zone and fault rock samples from normally faulted, shallowly buried limestones from Malta. Core plug X-ray tomography indicates that texturally heterogeneous host rocks lead to greater variability in the porosity and permeability of fault rocks. Fault rocks derived from moderate- to high-porosity (>20%) formations experience permeability reductions of up to six orders of magnitude relative to the host; >30% of these fault rocks could act as baffles or barriers to fluid flow over production timescales. Fault rocks derived from lower-porosity (<20%) algal packstones have permeabilities that are lower than their hosts by up to three orders of magnitude, which is unlikely to impact fluid flow on production timescales. The variability of fault rock permeability is controlled by a number of factors, including the initial host rock texture and porosity, the magnitude of strain localization, and the extent of post-deformation diagenetic alteration. Fault displacement has no obvious control over fault rock permeability. The results enable better predictions of fault rock permeability in similar lithotypes and tectonic regimes. This may enable predictions of across-fault fluid flow potential when combined with data on fault zone architecture.

scholarly journals Processing and Generalization of Experimental Data on Thermal Diffusivity and Thermal Conductivity of Magnetic Fluids Depending on the Impact of the Magnetic Field

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-237
Author(s):  
D. S. Dzhuraev
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Experimental Data ◽  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Thermal Diffusivity ◽  
Iron Powder ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Magnetic Fluids ◽  
Transformer Oil ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The paper presents the results of experimental studies of the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of magnetic fluids based on transformer oil, depending on the effect of a magnetic field in the range of B = 1.59...3.866 mT, and the addition of iron powder 0.1...0.3 g with an interval of 0.05 g. Equations were obtained for calculation with a certain fraction of error in thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of unexplored magnetic fluids.

Permeability contrasts of fault zones - from conceptual model to numerical simulation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Kelka ◽  
Thomas Poulet ◽  
Luk Peeters
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Damage Zone ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Fault Zone Architecture ◽  
The Impact

&lt;p&gt;Fault and fracture networks can govern fluid flow patterns in the subsurface and predicting fluid flow on a regional scale is of interest in a variety of fields like groundwater management, mining engineering, energy, and mineral resources. Especially the pore fluid pressure can have a strong impact on the strength of fault zones and might be one of the drivers for fault reactivation. Reliable simulations of the transient changes in fluid pressure need to account for the generic architecture of fault zones that comprises strong permeability contrast between the fault core and damage zone.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Particularly, the distribution and connectivity of large-scale fault zones can have a strong impact on the flow field. Yet, modelling numerically such features in their full complexity remains challenging. Often faults zones are conceptualized as forming exclusively either barriers or conduits to fluid flow. However, a generic architecture of fault zones often comprises a discrete fault core surrounded by a diffuse damage zone and conceptualizing large scale discontinuities simply as a barrier or conduit is unlikely to capture the regional scale fluid flow dynamics. It is known that if the fault zone is hosted in low-permeability strata, such as clays or crystalline rocks, a transversal flow barrier can form along the fault core whereas the fracture-rich fault damage zone represents a longitudinal conduit. In more permeable host-rocks (i.e. sandstones or carbonates) the reverse situation can occur, and the permeability distributions in the damage zones can be governed by the abundance of low-permeability deformation features. A reliable numerical model needs to account for the difference and strong contrasts in fluid flow properties of the core and the damage zone, both transversally and longitudinally, in order to make prediction about the regional fluid flow pattern.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we present a numerical method that accounts for the generic fault zone architecture as lower dimensional interfaces in conforming meshes during fluid flow simulations in fault networks. With this method we aim to decipher the impact of fault zone architecture on subsurface flow pattern and fluid pressure evolution in fractures and faulted porous media. The method is implemented in a finite element framework for Multiphysics simulations. We demonstrate the impact of considering the more generic geological structure of individual faults on the flow field by conceptualizing discontinuities either as barriers, conduits or as a conduit-barrier system and show were these conceptualizations are applicable in natural systems. We further show that a reliable regional scale fluid flow simulation in faulted porous media needs to account for the generic fault zone architecture. The approach is finally used to evaluate the fluid flow response of statistically parameterised faulted media, in order to investigate the impact and sensitivity of each variable parameter.&lt;/p&gt;

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