Pressure, Stress, and Stratigraphy: Hydrodynamic Analysis of a Young Compacting Sedimentary Basin

9614689弗莱明这项研究将利用观测和理论对墨西哥湾路易斯安那州近海的尤金岛330小盆地进行水动力分析。我将描述该系统的地质特征(例如，岩石地层和沉积时代)、压力、孔隙度和应力场。然后，我将研究这些组件的个别行为。这方面的例子包括孔隙度/应力行为、应力/压力行为和岩石特性/压力行为。最后，我将研究这些成分之间的联系，并建立一个定量的二维数值(有限元)流体动力学模型，以预测该地区流体流动的状态和演化。这项研究具有新颖性和创新性，原因有三。首先，它是跨学科的(它结合了地质学、水文学和岩石力学中的理论和观测)。其次，它建议以比以往盆地尺度流体流动研究(例如，贝特克或加文的工作)更高的分辨率来研究一个系统。第三，理论将受到对这一体系的观察的严格约束。该项目的一个关键组成部分是，我选择了一个成熟的油气田，它拥有一个非凡的数据库，使我能够在千米尺度上描述这个系统。这包括多次三维地震勘探、数百口井测井，以及直接测量压力和渗透率。这项研究将直接解决盆地流体流动中一些持续存在的争议。这些问题包括：1)异常压力的产生原因？2)裂隙渗透率控制流体流动的哪种成分？3)压力场的演化如何控制水平应力？4)断层如何以及何时表现为渗透性通道？这些问题的本质表明了岩石力学、地质学和水文学之间的相互依存关系。提出的跨学科或“系统”方法有可能获得对这个系统的个别组成部分的洞察，而S的研究人员没有找到这种洞察力。

9614689 Flemings The research proposed will use observation and theory to pursue a hydrodynamic analysis of the Eugene Island 330 mini-basin of offshore Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico. I will characterize the geology (e.g. lithostratigraphy and age of deposition), pressure, porosity, and stress field of this system. I will then study the individual behavior of these components. Examples of this include porosity/stress behavior, stress/pressure behavior, and rock property/pressure behavior. Finally, I will study the linkages between these components and develop a quantitative two-dimensional numerical (finite-element) hydrodynamic model to predict the state and evolution of fluid flow in this region. This research is new and innovative for three reasons. First, it is interdisciplinary (it integrates theory and observation in geology, hydrology, and rock mechanics). Second, it proposes to study a system at a higher resolution than previous basin-scale fluid-flow studies (for example the work of Bethke or Garven). Third, theory will be tightly constrained by observation of this system. A critical component of the project is that I have chosen a mature oil and gas field with an extraordinary database that will allow me to characterize this system at the kilometer scale. This includes multiple 3-D seismic surveys, hundreds of well logs, and direct measurements of pressure and permeability. This study will directly address a number of continuing controversies in basinal fluid flow. These include: 1) what causes the generation of abnormal pressures? 2) what component of fluid-flow is controlled by fracture permeability? 3) how is the horizontal stress controlled by the evolution of the pressure field? 4) how and when do faults behave as permeability conduits? The very nature of these questions shows the interdependence of rock mechanics, geology and hydrology. The inter-disciplinary or 'systems' approach that is proposed has the potential to gain insight not found with studie s of individual components of this system.