Static Conceptual Fracture Modeling Preparing for Simulation and Development

Modelling of flow in naturally fractured reservoirs is quickly becoming mandatory in all phases of oil and gas exploration and production. Creation of a Static Conceptual Fracture Model (SCFM) is needed as input to create flow simulations for today and for prediction of flow into the future. Unfortunately, the computer modelers tasked with constructing the gridded fracture model are often not well versed in natural fracture characterization and are often forced to make quick decisions as to the input required by the software used to create these models. 

Static Conceptual Fracture Modelling: Preparing for Simulation and Development describes all the fracture and reservoir parameters needed to create the fracture database for effective modelling and how to generate the data and parameter distributions. The material covered in this volume highlights not only natural fracture system quantification and formatting, but also describes best practices for managing technical teams charged with creating the SCFM. This book will become a must on the shelf for all reservoir modelers.

RONALD A. NELSON specializes in evaluation of naturally fractured reservoirs and structural geology. He has over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, working in technical specialties, research, and exploration for Amoco, BP, and as an independent consultant. Over the years Dr Nelson has taught over 100 industry courses in fractured reservoirs and structural geology for a variety of organizations domestically and internationally. He has been an AAPG "Distinguished Lecturer" twice, and an "SPE Distinguished Author" once.

Foreword xi

Symbols and Abbreviations xiii

Acknowledgments xv

1 Purpose and Scope 1

2 What is a Static Conceptual Fracture Model and Why Do We Build It? 3

3 Fracture Model Creation Workflow 9

4 Gathering Natural Fracture Orientation and Intensity Data Directly 13

4.1 Outcrop Based Data 13

4.1.1 Requirements for Outcrop Selection 14

4.1.2 Data to Be Collected 14

4.1.3 What’s Real and Not 16

4.2 Core Based Data 16

4.2.1 Types of Core 18

4.2.2 Data to Be Collected 20

4.2.3 What’s Real and Not 22

4.2.4 Quantification 27

5 Gathering Natural Fracture Orientation and Intensity Data Indirectly 35

5.1 Bore Hole Image Log Based Data 35

5.1.1 Tool Types and Resolution 36

5.1.2 Data to Be Collected 38

5.1.3 Quantification 38

5.2 Remote Sensing‐based Data 40

5.2.1 Surface Based 40

5.2.2 Basement‐Based Geophysical Methods (Potential Fields or Gravity and Magnetic Data) 42

5.3 3D Seismic Fracture Data Collection 43

5.3.1 Detailed Structural Geometry 44

5.3.2 Seismic Attributes 44

5.3.3 Passive Seismic and Hydraulic Fracture Monitoring 47

6 Analyzing the Natural Fracture Data Once Gathered 51

6.1 Correcting for the Difference Between Measurement Orientation and Fracture Set Intensity 51

6.2 Calibration 51

6.3 Determining Natural Fracture Origin from Fracture Distributions and Morphology 59

6.4 Mapping Natural‐fracture Orientation and Intensity 67

7 Gathering and Analyzing Structural Data 71

7.1 Structural Surface Maps and Sections 71

7.2 Analysis of Structural Surfaces 71

7.2.1 Discontinuity Analysis 71

7.2.2 Lineation Analysis 75

8 Gathering Constraints on Fracture Aperture 81

8.1 Unstressed 82

8.2 Partially Stressed 85

8.3 Fully Stressed 85

8.4 How the Various Aperture Measures Go Together 89

9 Creation of Natural Fracture Scaling Laws 91

10 Gathering and Analyzing Mechanical Property Distribution Data 95

10.1 Rock Modulus and How It Effects Deformation and Fracturing 96

10.2 Rigidity Modulus Distributions 100

10.2.1 Vertical Distribution in Wells 100

10.2.2 Horizontal Distribution in Wells 102

10.2.3 Map Distributions by Unit and Sub‐units 103

11 Locating Fracture Corridors 105

12 Rock Anisotropy and its Importance in Determining Dominant‐Fracture Orientation and Relative Intensity 111

13 Determine the In‐situ Stress Directions and Magnitudes and their Variation 115

13.1 SH_max Directions and Mapping 116

13.2 SH_max Directions with Depth 119

14 Production Calibration 123

15 Determining the Fractured Reservoir Classification and, Therefore, Which Simulation Style is Most Appropriate 129

16 Use of Reservoir Analogs 135

17 The Importance of 3D Visualization in Data Integration and Static Fracture Model Creation 139

18 Thoughts on History Matching of Simulation Results 143

19 Preparing the Fracture Data for Input to the Gridded Model 145

20 Discussion of Error and Uncertainty in the Modeling Process 149

21 Published Examples of the Process 151

22 Final Comments 155

Appendix A Detailed Static Fracture Modeling Workflow 157

Appendix B How we Use Various Seismic Attributes to Predict Natural Fracture Intensity in the Subsurface, After Nelson (2006) 169

Appendix C How I Learned to Interpret Natural Fractures in Core 173

References 175

Index 183

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.