Characterising along- and across-fault fluid flow properties for assessing flow rates and overburden fluid migration along faults - A case study from the North Sea
T. Bjørnarå, E. Skurtveit, E. Michie, Scott A. Smith
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引用次数: 1
Abstract
The article highlights the importance of understanding the permeability of fault zones as fluid migration pathways, with an example from the Vette Fault Zone in the North Sea. The study characterizes the hydraulic properties of the fault zone by mixing host rock lithologies into the fault zone and deriving the fault width from empirical relationships. A parametric study with 1125 model realizations was conducted to understand the sensitivity related to uncertainties in overburden lithologies and fault width correlations. The study found that the fault zone significantly alters the flow-field compared to a model that only considers lithological juxtaposition. The most significant hydraulic communication in the Vette Fault Zone is downwards from the storage reservoir where sand is mixed into the fault zone. The models highlight the potential for downward hydraulic communication along the fault for brine and CO
2
capillary sealing towards the overburden.
Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Fault and top seals collection available at:
www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/fault-and-top-seals-2022
期刊介绍:
Petroleum Geoscience is the international journal of geoenergy and applied earth science, and is co-owned by the Geological Society of London and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE).
Petroleum Geoscience transcends disciplinary boundaries and publishes a balanced mix of articles covering exploration, exploitation, appraisal, development and enhancement of sub-surface hydrocarbon resources and carbon repositories. The integration of disciplines in an applied context, whether for fluid production, carbon storage or related geoenergy applications, is a particular strength of the journal. Articles on enhancing exploration efficiency, lowering technological and environmental risk, and improving hydrocarbon recovery communicate the latest developments in sub-surface geoscience to a wide readership.
Petroleum Geoscience provides a multidisciplinary forum for those engaged in the science and technology of the rock-related sub-surface disciplines. The journal reaches some 8000 individual subscribers, and a further 1100 institutional subscriptions provide global access to readers including geologists, geophysicists, petroleum and reservoir engineers, petrophysicists and geochemists in both academia and industry. The journal aims to share knowledge of reservoir geoscience and to reflect the international nature of its development.