Difference between revisions of "Reservoir simulations and field unitization"

From AAPG Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(5 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 6: Line 6:
 
  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
 
  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
 
  | chapter = Evaluating top and fault seal
 
  | chapter = Evaluating top and fault seal
  | frompg  = 10-1
+
  | frompg  = 10-43
  | topg    = 10-94
+
  | topg    = 10-44
 
  | author  = Grant M. Skerlec
 
  | author  = Grant M. Skerlec
 
  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm
 
  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch10/ch10.htm
Line 14: Line 14:
 
  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X
 
  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X
 
}}
 
}}
Fault plane profiles and quantitative fault seal analysis are required for realistic reservoir simulations. Neither the seal behavior, transmissibility, [[permeability]], nor areas of sand/sand juxtaposition are constant over the entire fault surface.
+
[[Fault plane profile analysis|Fault plane profiles]] and quantitative [[Fault seal behavior|fault seal analysis]] are required for realistic reservoir simulations. Neither the seal behavior, [[transmissibility]], [[permeability]], nor areas of sand/sand juxtaposition are constant over the entire fault surface.
  
 
==Movement of hydrocarbons==
 
==Movement of hydrocarbons==
Faults can “pond” hydrocarbons and affect sweep and waterflood efficiency. Routine fault seal analysis may be required for producing residual oil accumulations missed by assuming a laterally continuous reservoir.
+
Faults can “pond” hydrocarbons and affect sweep and [[Waterflooding|waterflood]] efficiency. Routine fault seal analysis may be required for producing residual oil accumulations missed by assuming a laterally continuous reservoir.
  
 
==Fault control of pressure gradients==
 
==Fault control of pressure gradients==
Faults control changing pressure gradients within a field. Hydrocarbons move in response to these pressure gradients and not necessarily in response to structural dip. Gas in the Beryl field, for example, migrated downdip during production in response to changing pressure gradients, [[pressure compartments]], and [[migration pathway]]s controlled by sealing and leaking faults.<ref name=ch10r43>Knutson, C., A., Erga, R., 1991, Effect of horizontal and vertical permeability restrictions in the Beryl reservoir: Journal of Petroleum Technology, vol. 43, p. 1502–1509., 10., 2118/19299-PA</ref><ref name=ch10r74>Skerlec, G., M., 1997b, Atlas of fault seal behavior in the Gulf Coast: Franklin, Pennsylvania, SEALS International, 4356 p.</ref>
+
Faults control changing [[Hydrocarbon pressure gradient: plotting|pressure gradients]] within a field. [[Hydrocarbon]]s move in response to these pressure gradients and not necessarily in response to structural [[dip]]. Gas in the Beryl field, for example, migrated downdip during production in response to changing pressure gradients, [[pressure compartments]], and [[migration pathway]]s controlled by sealing and [[Hydrocarbon pressure gradient: plotting|leaking faults]].<ref name=ch10r43>Knutson, C., A., Erga, R., 1991, Effect of horizontal and vertical permeability restrictions in the Beryl reservoir: Journal of Petroleum Technology, vol. 43, p. 1502–1509, DOI: 10.2118/19299-PA.</ref><ref name=ch10r74>Skerlec, G., M., 1997b, Atlas of fault seal behavior in the Gulf Coast: Franklin, Pennsylvania, SEALS International, 4356 p.</ref>
  
 
==Fault seal behavior alteration==
 
==Fault seal behavior alteration==
Faults can also leak over geologic time spans but seal during production time spans. Even a low fault-zone permeability may allow hydrocarbons to leak given a time span of 10<sup>6</sup> m.y. High production rates, however, creating pressure changes over a span of 1–10 years, will cause low-permeability fault zones to act as barriers to hydrocarbon movement. A cross-leaking fault may develop different hydrocarbon contacts and different pressures during production. Shale gouge ratio (SGR) thresholds for seal behavior may have to be calibrated separately for exploration and for reservoir simulations.
+
Faults can also leak over geologic time spans but seal during production time spans. Even a low fault-zone [[permeability]] may allow hydrocarbons to [[Fault seal breakdown during production|leak]] given a time span of 10<sup>6</sup> m.y. High production rates, however, creating pressure changes over a span of 1–10 years, will cause low-permeability fault zones to act as barriers to hydrocarbon movement. A [[cross-leaking fault]] may develop different hydrocarbon contacts and different pressures during production. Shale gouge ratio (SGR) thresholds for seal behavior may have to be calibrated separately for exploration and for reservoir simulations.
  
 
==Fault seal and field unitization==
 
==Fault seal and field unitization==
Fault seal is important in field unitization. Ignoring fault seal and depending solely on reservoir parameters and estimated hydrocarbon contacts can lead to extremely unequal division of reserves. The sealing behavior of faults controls both the original distribution of hydrocarbons in a field as well as the volumes of hydrocarbons produced from individual fault compartments.
+
Fault seal is important in [[field unitization]]. Ignoring fault seal and depending solely on reservoir parameters and estimated hydrocarbon contacts can lead to extremely unequal division of reserves. The sealing behavior of faults controls both the original distribution of hydrocarbons in a field as well as the volumes of hydrocarbons produced from individual fault compartments.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
* [[How faults affect field development]]
 
 
* [[Fault control on hydrocarbon distribution]]
 
* [[Fault control on hydrocarbon distribution]]
 
* [[Fault seal breakdown during production]]
 
* [[Fault seal breakdown during production]]
Line 43: Line 42:
 
[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  
 
[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  
 
[[Category:Evaluating top and fault seal]]
 
[[Category:Evaluating top and fault seal]]
 +
[[Category:Treatise Handbook 3]]

Latest revision as of 15:21, 30 March 2022

Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
Series Treatise in Petroleum Geology
Part Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
Chapter Evaluating top and fault seal
Author Grant M. Skerlec
Link Web page
Store AAPG Store

Fault plane profiles and quantitative fault seal analysis are required for realistic reservoir simulations. Neither the seal behavior, transmissibility, permeability, nor areas of sand/sand juxtaposition are constant over the entire fault surface.

Movement of hydrocarbons

Faults can “pond” hydrocarbons and affect sweep and waterflood efficiency. Routine fault seal analysis may be required for producing residual oil accumulations missed by assuming a laterally continuous reservoir.

Fault control of pressure gradients

Faults control changing pressure gradients within a field. Hydrocarbons move in response to these pressure gradients and not necessarily in response to structural dip. Gas in the Beryl field, for example, migrated downdip during production in response to changing pressure gradients, pressure compartments, and migration pathways controlled by sealing and leaking faults.[1][2]

Fault seal behavior alteration

Faults can also leak over geologic time spans but seal during production time spans. Even a low fault-zone permeability may allow hydrocarbons to leak given a time span of 106 m.y. High production rates, however, creating pressure changes over a span of 1–10 years, will cause low-permeability fault zones to act as barriers to hydrocarbon movement. A cross-leaking fault may develop different hydrocarbon contacts and different pressures during production. Shale gouge ratio (SGR) thresholds for seal behavior may have to be calibrated separately for exploration and for reservoir simulations.

Fault seal and field unitization

Fault seal is important in field unitization. Ignoring fault seal and depending solely on reservoir parameters and estimated hydrocarbon contacts can lead to extremely unequal division of reserves. The sealing behavior of faults controls both the original distribution of hydrocarbons in a field as well as the volumes of hydrocarbons produced from individual fault compartments.

See also

References

  1. Knutson, C., A., Erga, R., 1991, Effect of horizontal and vertical permeability restrictions in the Beryl reservoir: Journal of Petroleum Technology, vol. 43, p. 1502–1509, DOI: 10.2118/19299-PA.
  2. Skerlec, G., M., 1997b, Atlas of fault seal behavior in the Gulf Coast: Franklin, Pennsylvania, SEALS International, 4356 p.

External links

find literature about
Reservoir simulations and field unitization
Datapages button.png GeoScienceWorld button.png OnePetro button.png Google button.png