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Geomechanics, Faults and Fractures Modelling

Conference Paper · November 2012

DOI: 10.3997/2214-4609.20142861

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Thomas Finkbeiner
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
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RM20
Geomechanics, Faults and Fractures Modelling
T. Finkbeiner* (Baker Hughes)

SUMMARY
In recent years, the petroleum industry achieved marked advances in the development of full 3D
geomechanical models (both static as well as dynamic). If robust, these 3D models provide the benefit for
more accurate well and field development planning in structurally complex settings such as areas with
significant topography or/and faulting, or/and when substantial pore pressure changes in response to
injection or/and depletion are likely to cause changes in the in situ stress field. These stress changes may
then be accompanied by phenomena such as fault and fracture reactivation, reservoir compaction and
surface subsidence etc. Furthermore, proper 3D geomechanical modeling is often required when wells are
planned to intersect salt diapirs or other frictionless bodies/layers with different material characteristics. In
many cases, these 3D geomechanical models also require advanced finite element modeling coupled with
reservoir simulation. To maximize the value from such modeling, in particular understanding the in situ
stresses, pore pressure, and material properties and their variability (lateral, in depth as well as with time)
are of critical importance to better evaluate and mitigate risk during the drilling, completion, and
production phase of a field development. In other words, a sound and accurate 3D structural model is
critically important, since it not only covers the structural elements and layering (stratigraphy) of the
reservoir but also the overburden all the way to the surface (or seafloor in offshore environments); it
thereby provides the basis for a 3D geomechanical model. When combined with a well calibrated fracture
network model (e.g., DFN), 3D geomechanical models can be utilized to investigate the possibility for
natural fractures to be or become critically-stressed in response to production or injection and evaluate the
impact on the reservoir-wide permeability tensor as a function of time.
This presentation will provide an overview of the basics of 3D static as well as dynamic geomechanics and
how it is linked and integrated with structural modeling, discrete fracture network models as well reservoir
simulation. Current model limitations and a future outlook as to where technology develop is and should
head is also included in the discussion.

Integrated Reservoir Modelling:

Are we doing it right?
25-28 November 2012, Dubai, UAE
In recent years, the petroleum industry achieved marked advances in the development of full 3D
geomechanical models (both static as well as dynamic). If robust, these 3D models provide the benefit
for more accurate well and field development planning in structurally complex settings such as areas
with significant topography or/and faulting, or/and when substantial pore pressure changes in
response to injection or/and depletion are likely to cause changes in the in situ stress field. These
stress changes may then be accompanied by phenomena such as fault and fracture reactivation,
reservoir compaction and surface subsidence etc. Furthermore, proper 3D geomechanical modeling is
often required when wells are planned to intersect salt diapirs or other frictionless bodies/layers with
different material characteristics. In many cases, these 3D geomechanical models also require
advanced finite element modeling coupled with reservoir simulation. To maximize the value from
such modeling, in particular understanding the in situ stresses, pore pressure, and material properties
and their variability (lateral, in depth as well as with time) are of critical importance to better evaluate
and mitigate risk during the drilling, completion, and production phase of a field development. In
other words, a sound and accurate 3D structural model is critically important, since it not only covers
the structural elements and layering (stratigraphy) of the reservoir but also the overburden all the way
to the surface (or seafloor in offshore environments); it thereby provides the basis for a 3D
geomechanical model. When combined with a well calibrated fracture network model (e.g., DFN), 3D
geomechanical models can be utilized to investigate the possibility for natural fractures to be or
become critically-stressed in response to production or injection and evaluate the impact on the
reservoir-wide permeability tensor as a function of time.
This presentation will provide an overview of the basics of 3D static as well as dynamic
geomechanics and how it is linked and integrated with structural modeling, discrete fracture network
models as well reservoir simulation. Current model limitations and a future outlook as to where
technology develop is and should head is also included in the discussion.

Integrated Reservoir Modelling:

Are we doing it right?
25-28 November 2012, Dubai, UAE

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