Integrated fracture analysis for improved oil recovery in the reefal limestones of Soğucak formation, Northwest Thrace Basin, Türkiye

Abstract

Natural fractures play a crucial role in both exploration and development phases in oil and gas industry, as their network and orientation significantly affect flow and recovery strategies. This study highlights the importance of identifying opening-mode fracture systems within a mature Deveçatağı oil field that has been actively producing for nearly half a century. In order to investigate the most effective rock physics parameter to locate oil saturated zones in the field, this study applies detailed rock physics analysis and 2D forward modeling to pinpoint the principal factors affecting production in the Deveçatağı oil field, addressing the challenge posed by the limited shear wave wireline data acquired from only one well within this highly heterogeneous area. Analysis show that acoustic impedance is a crucial elastic property for detecting oil-saturated zones especially in areas with natural fractures. This study successfully integrates drilling-induced fracture (DIF) data, ant tracking maps, and seismic inversion outputs to understand on the issues leading to dry wells and advances in developing more effective exploration and recovery methods in fractured reservoirs. After almost 50 years of operational activities, well stimulation processes, and natural fractures that are present in this field, understanding oil drainage mechanisms in such environments is complex, emphasizing the need for comprehensive analysis to optimize production strategies.