Fractured reservoirs, fault hydraulic behavior and mechanical instability

裂缝性储层、断层水力行为和机械不稳定性

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04397
• 负责人: Konstantinovskaya, Elena
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=714797
• 关键词: Fractured; reservoirs; fault; hydraulic; behavior

All natural subsurface reservoirs are characterized by faults and natural fractures that influence fluid circulation. Depending on the tectonic evolution of a sedimentary basin, the state of stress and prevailing pressure, faults and fractures may be sealing or leaking. Because reservoir fluids may contain hydrocarbons and can transport heat and hazardous chemicals, the transmissivity of faults and fractures have important consequences for petroleum exploration, geothermal energy, CO2 storage and waste-disposal. Additionally, fault instability during depletion or injection operations may result in induced seismicity and topseal breaching. I propose to investigate the influence of natural and hydraulic fractures and faults on the distribution and state of stresses, pressure regimes, and permeability of flow units. The fault architecture, sealing capacity and shear slip potential of faults will be analyzed, and the significance of fault relay zones and fracture sets examined. Research will involve structural studies of outcrops, interpretation of geophysical data and coupled reservoir geomechanical numerical simulations. HQP will be provided with the opportunity to undertake field- and laboratory-based geological and geophysical investigations. My goal is to build predictive models for faults as barriers or channels in subsurface reservoirs and for fault reactivation potential under the in situ stress and pore pressure changes. Realization of the proposed research will be applied to sedimentary basins at different tectonic settings (extensional, strike-slip and compressional regime), including the conventional Volve oil field (North Sea) and unconventional plays of the McCully gas field (New Brunswick), Fox Creek area (West-central Alberta) and Horn River Basin (NE British Columbia). Developing expertise in fault and fracture detection, fault hydraulic behavior and mechanical instability in the subsurface is important both for increasing efficiency of hydrocarbon exploration and extraction and for safety of hydraulic fracturing operations in unconventional reservoirs. Potential upward fluid migration to shallow aquifers and risk of induced seismicity related to unconventional resource development in the McCully field, Fox Creek area and Horn River Basin represent major environmental concerns for these regions. The proposed coupled reservoir-geomechanical modeling and sensitivity analysis on the relationship of fault transmissivity and mechanical instability caused by injection operations will help to mitigate potential environmental impacts of hydrocarbon development in active production areas.

所有天然地下储层都以断层和天然裂缝为特征，影响流体循环。根据沉积盆地的构造演化，应力和盛行压力的状态，断层和裂缝可能是封闭的或泄漏的。由于储层流体可能含有碳氢化合物，并能传递热量和危险化学品，断层和裂缝的透射性对石油勘探、地热能、二氧化碳储存和废物处理具有重要影响。此外，在枯竭或注入作业期间，断层不稳定可能导致诱发地震活动和顶封破裂。