About This Item
- Full TextFull Text(subscription required)
- Pay-Per-View PurchasePay-Per-View
Purchase Options Explain
Share This Item
The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
AAPG Bulletin, V.
2009. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.
DOI:10.1306/07270909041
Two-dimensional simulation of controls of fracture parameters on fracture connectivity
Kajari Ghosh,1 Shankar Mitra2
1School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019; present address: ExxonMobil Development Company, Houston, Texas; [email protected]
2School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019; [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Two-dimensional fracture simulation is conducted to analyze the controls of different fracture parameters (variations in fracture orientation, density, and length) on fracture network connectivity. Three different scenarios, which are commonly encountered in natural fracture systems, are analyzed: (1) a single fracture set; (2) two fracture sets, with one primary through going set; and (3) two fracture sets with approximately equal parameters. The modeling reveals that certain parameters are more dominant in controlling the connectivity for each of the settings. For a single set of fractures, increases in length and dispersion and a decrease in spacing all result in higher fracture-parallel connectivity, but the decrease in spacing is the most important in increasing fracture-normal connectivity, especially where the dispersion in fracture strike is very low. Simulations of two sets of fractures reveal that the density, length, and angle
between the two sets are important factors in producing complete connectivity. In cases where one set of fractures is a systematic throughgoing set, a critical combination of length of the second set and the
angle
between the two sets results in complete connectivity. Where both sets of fractures have varying length and density, the influence of increasing density of one set has a great effect on connectivity when the other set is short and a more subtle to insignificant change when the other set is long. The network also shows higher connectivity with increasing angles (up to 90
) between the two sets.
Pay-Per-View Purchase Options
The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.
Watermarked PDF Document: $14 | |
Open PDF Document: $24 |
AAPG Member?
Please login with your Member username and password.
Members of AAPG receive access to the full AAPG Bulletin Archives as part of their membership. For more information, contact the AAPG Membership Department at [email protected].