Full text loading...
-
Digitally Derived Fracture Network Relationships in Fractured Zechstein Carbonate Reservoirs from Surface and Well Data
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2017, Jun 2017, Volume 2017, p.1 - 5
Abstract
Natural fracture patterns significantly control hydrocarbon flow paths in tight carbonate reservoirs. A better understanding of fracture geometries may significantly reduce uncertainties in reservoir characterization during development and production. This integrated study focuses on the structural fracture relationships and reservoir quality analysis of Zechstein Ca2 (Stassfurt) carbonates at the southern margin of the Southern Permian Basin, N-Germany. The investigated open-pit quarry of Uehrde on the southwestern margin of the Harz Mountains reflects a similar depositional environment (upper slope) and lithology (dolomite) to actual fractured carbonate reservoirs at depth approximately 130 km to the north-west. We compare the reservoir characteristics of surface and subsurface data regarding their fracture pattern geometries by integrating the modern technique of terrestrial laser scanning (LIDAR).
Our novel approach of automated scanline measurements from terrestrial laser scans in the outcrops results in a full 3D data set of fracture spacing and orientation. Data are compared with image analyses from a development well to derive outcrop-subsurface relationships. Fracture density P10 values of the compared reservoir and analog fracture sets indicate similar results. We highlight to what extent surface and subsurface fracture data may be compared to optimize reservoir quality prediction and well placement in analogous naturally fractured reservoirs.