Fractured reservoirs, fault hydraulic behavior and mechanical instability

所有天然地下储层的特征在于影响流体循环的断层和天然裂缝。根据沉积盆地的构造演化、应力状态和主导压力，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，并且可以传输热量和危险化学品，因此断层和裂缝的平移对石油勘探，地热能，CO2储存和废物处理具有重要影响。此外，衰竭或注入操作期间的断层不稳定性可能导致诱发地震和顶封破坏。 我建议调查的影响，自然和水力压裂和故障的分布和状态的应力，压力制度，和渗透率的流动单元。将分析断层的结构、封闭能力和剪切滑动潜力，并检查断层接力带和裂缝组的意义。研究将涉及露头的结构研究、地球物理数据的解释和耦合的油藏地质力学数值模拟。HQP将有机会进行实地和实验室地质和地球物理调查。本文的目标是建立地下储层中断层作为屏障或通道的预测模型，以及在地应力和孔隙压力变化下断层再活化潜力的预测模型。实现拟议的研究将适用于沉积盆地在不同的构造环境（伸展，走滑和挤压制度），包括常规的沃尔沃油田（北海）和非常规的麦卡利气田（新玩法），福克斯溪地区（中西部阿尔伯塔）和霍恩河盆地（东北不列颠哥伦比亚省）。 开发断层和裂缝检测、断层水力行为和地下机械不稳定性方面的专业知识对于提高油气勘探和开采效率以及非常规储层中水力压裂作业的安全性都很重要。在McCully油田、福克斯溪地区和霍恩河流域，与非常规资源开发相关的潜在向上流体迁移至浅层含水层和诱发地震活动的风险代表了这些地区的主要环境问题。所提出的耦合断层-地质力学模型和断层平移与注入作业引起的力学不稳定性关系的敏感性分析将有助于减轻活跃生产区油气开发的潜在环境影响。

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.