Role of Fractures in

Michigan Oil and Gas

Reservoirs
Dr. William B. Harrison, III
Department of Geosciences
Western Michigan University

Advanced Characterization of
Fractured Reservoirs in Carbonate
Rocks: The Michigan Basin
U.S.DOE-funded, 3-year research
project - 1998 to 2001
University/industry consortium for data
gathering and research
Document role of fractures in Michigan
carbonate reservoirs

Project Team
Dr. James R. Wood, Project Manager,
Michigan Technological University
Dr. William B. Harrison, III, Co-Principal
Investigator, Western Michigan University

Project Goals and Objectives

Characterization of Fractures in Michigan
Reservoirs
Quantifying Fracture Patterns at a Variety of
Scales
Developing a Basin Model for Fracture
Development
Determine role of Fractures in Hydrocarbon
Emplacement or Production

Types of Fractured Reservoirs

Type 1 - Fractures provide all reservoir storage,
matrix tight. Fractures provide porosity and
permeability. Ex. Antrim Shale
Type 2 - Fractures connect porous and permeable
matrix zones. Most reservoir storage and porosity
in matrix. Permeability enhanced by fractures.
Ex. Niagaran Reef
Type 3 - Fractures initiate porosity/permeability
in tight rock. Later solution enhancement creates
reservoir quality. Ex. Albion-Scipio Field Trenton

Origin of Fractures
External stress on some portion of rock
mass exceeds the breaking strength of the
rock.
Three dimensional stress field is designated
Sigma-1, Sigma-2, and Sigma-3. Usually
one vertical and two horizontal directions,
all at right angles to each other.
Most fractures are sub-vertical to vertical

Regional Analysis of Stress Fields

and Fracture Development
Intraplate stresses develop throughout the
crust, mostly originating at plate boundaries
Contemporary stress fields reflect modern
Plate movements
Paleostress fields are recorded in the rocks
and reflect ancient plate movements
Contemporary and paleo-stress fields may
have different orientations

Stress Created by Plate Collisions

Eastern Continental Margin

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Contemporary Maximum Horizontal

Compressive Stress Directions

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Bedding Parallel Strain from

Calcite Twin Analyses

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Sources of Data for Analyses

of Fractures
Outcrop measurements
Oriented cores
Borehole imaging logs
Borehole breakout and induced fracture
orientations
Structural trend mapping
Remote sensing and stream drainage
mapping

Fracture Orientations from

Outcrop Measurements

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Antrim Shale Fracture

Orientations

From Dellapenna Thesis, 1991

Correlation of Fracture Frequency

to Logs - Antrim Shale

From Dellapenna Thesis, 1991

Modeling Michigan Structures and

Fractures using Riedel Shears
Assumes effective stress is horizontal
Shear is the primary mechanism for
development of structures
Fractures will develop at predictable angles
to shear direction
Reactivation of structures from basement
and throughout the sedimentary column

Riedel Shear Model for Left

Simple Shear

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Reidel Shear Development

from Basement Fault

Anticlinal Structures created

by Paired Reidel Shear Faults

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Clayton Field Structural

Interpretation from Seismic

Structural Contour Map on

Top of Basement

Structural Model of AlbionScipio Field

Riedel Shear model with left-lateral shear
Localized small-scale folds within field fit
shear model
Reactivated basement fault or zone of
weakness is probable Principle
Displacement Zone

Structural Axis Trends in a

Portion of Albion-Scipio Field

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Fold Orientations and LeftLateral Wrench Fault Model

From Versical, 1991

M.S. Thesis, W.M.U

Albion-Scipio Field, Riedel

Shear Model

Summary and Conclusions

New 3-Year DOE Project on fractures in
Michigan reservoirs in underway.
Research consortium between Michigan
Tech. and Western Michigan Universities.
Initial phase is to classify types of fractured
reservoirs and determine origin of fractures.

Summary and Conclusions

Fractures are present in most reservoirs, but
play vastly different roles depending on
lithology and fabric of the matrix.
Fractures enhance permeability and porosity
and may be very significant in diagenetic
changes.
Stresses that control fractures mostly arise
outside the Michigan basin at plate margins.