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Geomechanical Production Optimization in Faulted and Fractured Reservoirs
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, EAGE/SPE Workshop on Integrated Geomechanics in Exploration and Production, Oct 2016, Volume 2016, p.1 - 5
Abstract
Summary
Faults and fractures in hydrocarbon reservoirs are key to some major production issues including (1) varying productivity of different well sections due to intersection of preferential flow paths with the wellbore, (2) varying hydrocarbon column heights in different reservoir compartments due to differences in the sealing capacity of faults, and (3) water breakthrough along preferential flow paths in case of production assisted by water injection. Dynamic coupling of mechanical responses to flow and properties of faults and fracture networks should be incorporated in the geomechanical analysis of reservoir behaviour during injection and production. In particular, if local stress changes lead to fault reactivation. In this paper, a geomechanical production optimization workflow is presented that includes well-based models of local stress state and geomechanical reservoir properties, analytical or generic numerical models to perform sensitivity studies, and full field numerical models of the 3D spatial distribution of stress and deformation. The models determine fracture-controlled reservoir behaviour that can be used to perform geomechanical production optimization. It determines the optimum conditions for injection and depletion to achieve maximum hydrocarbon production with a minimum number of wells and a minimum number of stimulation operations, taking into account reactivation of faults and fractures.
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