Flow Modelling Across Faults

SPE YP Technical Showcase Event

28 May 2013
Wahab Ahmed

Agenda

Faults-Introduction

Fault Pattern

Fault Zone Properties

Fault Permeability, Fault Thickness

Fault Transmissibility Multiplier Calculation

Fault Threshold Pressure

Constant Fault Threshold Pressure , Variable Fault Threshold Pressure

Wrap-up

Conclusions , References

Fault

Fault

Fault is a fracture, fissure or joint along which there have been relative displacement

Normal Faults

Normal fault is one in which the hanging wall falls down relative to the foot wall due to tensional
stress

Reverse Faults

Reverse fault is one in which the hanging wall moves up relative to the foot wall due to
compression

Fault Pattern

Parallel Fault or Bookshelf Model

Graben or Rift Fault

North Sea Examples

(After Glennie, 1990)

Thistle Field (from Williams
and Milne,1991)

Fault Zone

Factors affecting Fault zone seal

Fault zone architecture

Burial and Fault History and Juxtaposition of lithologies

Local facies

Pressure difference across fault

Reservoir fluid type and saturation

Fault Zone Properties

Fault Permeability

-Vshale vs Permeability relationship , Explicit ,SGR &

Vclay methods (Manzocchi ,Sperrevik methods)

Fault Thickness
- Estimation from Fault Displacement

Manzocchi Algorithm

D=Fault Displacement in m
SGR=Shale Gouge Ratio
K=Permeability in mD

Sperrevik Algorithm
Fault rock clay content (Vf)
Maximum rock burial depth and (Zmax)
Depth at time of deformation (Zf)

10

Fault Thickness

Displacement to Thickness Ratio

Two Algorithms
tf= D/66 (Hull, 1988)
tf=D/170 (Walsh,1998)

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Transmissibility Calculation

Transmissibility in X direction

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Fault Transmissibility Multiplier

L1

L2
Trans12

K1
tf K2
KTrans1-f
1

Kf

Transf-2
Transfault

K2

L1

L2

Assumptions:

Intersection Area=1

No Grid block dips

1D single phase flow

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Field Case Study-Gulfaks

5 Injectors in the west flank

5 Producers in the eastern flank

Injectors Control=Voidage replacement

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Effect of Fault Permeability on Fault

Transmissibility multiplier
Fault Permeability=10mD

Fault Permeability=1mD

Fault Permeability=100mD

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Effect of Fault Permeability on Flow

Simulation

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Fault Transmissibility multiplier (Manzocchi

Vs Sperrevick Correlation)
Sperrevik method for Fault
Permeability from SGR

Manzocchi Method for Fault

Permeability from SGR

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Manzocchi Vs Sperrevick Correlation effect

on Flow Simulation

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Effect of Fault Thickness on Fault

Transmissibility multiplier
Thickness to
Displacement Ratio=170
Walsh Correlation

Thickness to
Displacement Ratio=66
Hulls Correlation

Thickness to
Displacement Ratio=100

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Effect of Fault Thickness on Flow Simulation

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Fault Threshold Pressure

Pressure=2500 psi

Pressure=2550 psi

Fault Threshold Pressure=100 psi

No Flow

Constant Fault Threshold Pressure

- same value across the fault
Variable Fault Threshold Pressure
- different values for each cell connection across fault
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Variable Fault Threshold Pressure

Vshale

Pressure
(bar)

0.5

100

200

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Transmissibility Multiplier for Fault Threshold

Pressure Cases
Fault Permeability=1 mD

Fault Permeability=10 mD

Fault Thickness to Displacement Ratio=66

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Constant vs Variable Fault Threshold

Pressure -1mD Case

Early breakthrough
for Variable Fault
Threshold Pressure
Case & gentle
increase in water
cut
Difference in water
cut is significant for
lower values of
Fault Permeability

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Constant vs Variable Fault Threshold

Pressure -10mD Case

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Conclusion

Fault zone Thickness and Permeability are important for

flow modelling

Fault Permeability affects are more significant between 1mD

and 10 mD
Manzocchi algorithm gives low values of Fault Transmissibility multiplier as
compare to Sperrevik

Fault Displacement is used to predict fault thickness

Fault Transmissibility will be higher for higher value of Fault Displacement to
Thickness ratio

Fault Threshold pressure prevents the flow across fault interface

Early water breakthrough and gentle increase will be observed for variable fault
threshold pressure case as compare to constant fault threshold pressure
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References
1. Manzocchi, T. et al. (1999). Fault transmissibility multipliers for flow simulation models, Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 5,
pp. 53-63
2. Sperrevik, S. et al. (2002). Empirical estimation of fault rock properties, In: Hydrocarbon Seal Quantification (edited
by Koestler, A.G and Hunsdale, R), NPF Special Publication 11, pp 109 -125.
3. Fisher, Q.J. et al. (Jan. 2006). Microstructural and Petrophysical Properties of Fault Rocks from the Snorre Field,
Rock Deformation Research Group, report 9454
4. Jonas Cordazzo , Clovis Raimundo Maliska , Antonio Fabio Carvalho da Silva Interblock Transmissibility Calculation
Analysis for Petroleum Reservoir Simulation Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Santa
Catarina . Brazil , pp 5 -7
5. Reservoir Structure Course material of IPE Heriot Watt University by Dr J Couple

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Questions