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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

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Abstract

P. Boult and J. Kaldi, eds., 2005, Evaluating Previous HitfaultNext Hit and cap rock seals: AAPG Hedberg Series, no. 2, p. 73-85.

DOI:10.1306/1060757H23163

Copyright copy2005 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

FAST: A New Technique for Geomechanical Assessment of the Risk of Reactivation-related Breach of Previous HitFaultNext Hit Seals

Scott D. Mildren,1 Richard R. Hillis,2 Paul J. Lyon,2 Jeremy J. Meyer,1 David N. Dewhurst,3 Peter J. Boult4

1Australian Petroleum Cooperative Research Center, Australian School of Petroleum, University of Adelaide, Australia; Present address: JRS Petroleum Research, Adelaide, Australia
2Australian Petroleum Cooperative Research Center, Australian School of Petroleum, University of Adelaide, Australia
3Australian Petroleum Cooperative Research Center, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Petroleum, Australian Resources Research Center, Perth, Western Australia
4Australian School of Petroleum, University of Adelaide, Australia and also Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

ABSTRACT

Postcharge Previous HitfaultNext Hit reactivation may cause Previous HitfaultNext Hit seal breach. We present a new methodology for assessment of the risk of reactivation-related seal breach: Previous HitfaultNext Hit analysis seal technology (FAST). The methodology is based on the brittle failure theory and, unlike other geomechanical methods, recognizes that faults may show significant cohesive strength. The likelihood of Previous HitfaultNext Hit reactivation, which is expressed by the increase in pore pressure (DeltaP) necessary for Previous HitfaultNext Hit to reactivate, can be determined given the knowledge of the in-situ stress field, Previous HitfaultNext Hit rock failure envelope, pore pressure, and Previous HitfaultNext Hit geometry. The FAST methodology was applied to the Previous HitfaultNext Hit-bound Zema structure in the Otway Basin, South Australia. Analysis of juxtaposition and Previous HitfaultNext Hit deformation processes indicated that the Previous HitfaultNext Hit was likely to be sealing, but the structure was found to contain a residual hydrocarbon column. The FAST analysis indicates that segments of the Previous HitfaultNext Hit are optimally oriented for reactivation in the in-situ stress field. Microstructural evidence of open fractures in a Previous HitfaultNext Hit zone in the subsurface in an offset well and an SP (self-potential) anomaly associated with a subseismic Previous HitfaultTop cutting the regional seal in the Zema-1 well support the interpretation that seal breach is related to fracturing.

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