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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
DOI: 10.1306/03231716076
Geomechanical restoration as a tool for fractured
reservoir
characterization: Application to the Permian Basin, west Texas
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Joseph M. Stockmeyer,1 John H. Shaw,2 Lee T. Billingsley,3 Andreas Plesch,4 Michael Wales,5 Leore C. Lavin,6 Ray Knox,7 and Luke Finger8
1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; present address: Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company, 1500 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002; [email protected]
2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; [email protected]
3Abraxas Petroleum Corporation, 18803 Meisner Drive
, San Antonio, Texas 78258; present address: Windridge Oil & Gas, LP, 518 North Main Street, Boerne, Texas 78006; [email protected]
4Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; [email protected]
5Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; [email protected]
6Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; [email protected]
7Abraxas Petroleum Corporation, 18803 Meisner Drive
, San Antonio, Texas 78258; [email protected]
8Abraxas Petroleum Corporation, 18803 Meisner Drive
, San Antonio, Texas 78258; [email protected]
ABSTRACT
We present a three-dimensional (3-D) geomechanical-restoration method as a reservoir
characterization tool in the Permian Basin, west Texas. The Oates SW field produces gas from the Lower Devonian Thirtyone Formation within structural traps. The Thirtyone is a brittle chert with characteristics of a fractured
reservoir
: field development has experienced variable production trends for decades. To assess the impact of deformation on
reservoir
properties, we employ 3-D geomechanical restorations to model strain patterns associated with fault displacement and fold growth. We correlate these model strains with independent measures of natural rock strain to assess the viability of the restoration results. A semblance volume generated from 3-D seismic reflection data illuminates secondary faults and fracture zones that are not incorporated in the geomechanical restorations. Our analysis yields strong correlations between low semblance and elevated strain throughout the Thirtyone
reservoir
. These correlations indicate that restoration strains may be used to describe the distribution of secondary faults and fractures that are not represented in our models, providing predictive capabilities for defining fractured
reservoir
properties. We integrate strain and semblance with production data to evaluate these correlations at the borehole scale in the study area. We describe how tectonic strain likely enhanced permeability, directly impacting observed production trends. Our characterization of the Thirtyone
reservoir
demonstrates the ability to accurately predict strain distributions with geomechanical restorations where structure has been a significant factor in the development of
reservoir
permeability. We suggest that these methods show promise as a
reservoir
characterization tool for conventional and unconventional development operations.
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