Integration of Fracture, Production, and Diagenetic Data in Static Subsurface Models Using 3-D Visualization

R.A. Nelson
Broken N Consulting, Inc., Simonton, TX

        A major aim in petroleum industry fracture studies is in field development programs. Field development plans are guided by detailed numerical reservoir simulation. These simulations are used first as a guide to define previous natural fracture effects through iterations of history matching and later to predict fracture effects in a variety of potential development plans. Key to effective simulation is a well-constrained subsurface static model that integrates all physical descriptive elements of the reservoir geology. Natural fracture distribution plays a large role in the process of generating the appropriate static model.

        This presentation will show how currently available 3-d modeling tools and 3-d visualization of multiple data sets can facilitate static model generation using natural fracture elements. In addition to standard matrix property variations such as porosity, directional permeability, saturation, and the structure of unit boundaries, additional structural features are added to the visualization: fracture intensity curves along the wellbore for both open and cemented fractures; fracture “stick plots” displaying the position and orientation of all individual interpreted features, color-coded by feature type; 3-d fault geometries, seismic attribute maps, Production Logging Tool curves, and standard saturation and porosity wireline logs. The presentation will highlight procedures that have proven useful in quickly integrating these various data to quickly understand how the fracture systems present have effected fluid motion and diagenesis in the past, such as conduits for diagenetic fluids causing dissolution and cementation, and how they will likely effect the reservoir in the future within our choice of field development plans in the future. In addition, procedures for effectively inputting the fracture elements into the simulators will be discussed. Examples will come from non-US carbonate reservoirs.

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