AAPG Bulletin, V. 84, No. 9 (September 2000), P. 1311-1324.

How to Constrain 3-D Fault Continuity and Linkage Using Reflection Seismic Data: A Geomechanical Approach¹

Laurent Maerten,² David D. Pollard,³ and Ridvan Karpuz⁴

©Copyright 2000. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.
¹Manuscript received May 17, 1999; revised manuscript received February 28, 2000; final acceptance March 15, 2000.
²Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115. Present address: Institut Français du Pétrole, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex, France; e-mail: [email protected]
³Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115.
⁴Norsk Hydro Research Center, Sandsliveien 90, N-5020, Norway.
Norsk Hydro (Norway) provided financial support to L. Maerten and provided the 3-D seismic data set. These are gratefully acknowledged. Many thanks to Lars Frøyland, Chris Dart, Paul Gillespie, Grø Mangeroy, and Nils Talnes. Special thanks to Frantz Maerten for his help in making Poly3D input file preparation much easier.

ABSTRACT

Spatial continuity and linkage of faults may substantially affect fluid flow either by compartmentalizing the reservoir or by increasing the tortuosity of flow pathways, whether the faults act as seals or conduits; therefore, understanding fault linkage geometry should improve reservoir flow simulation models and, in turn, significantly reduce the number of wells required to drain reserves.