--> Abstract: Multi-Scale Natural Fracture Development and Its Effect on Reservoir Modeling, by R. A. Nelson; #91004 (1991)

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Multi-Scale Natural Fracture Development and Its Effect on Reservoir Modeling

NELSON, RONALD A., Amoco Production Company, Houston, TX

Outcrop investigations supported by core and wellbore observations indicate that many natural fracture systems display a large range in size or scale of the fractures present. These fractures are often distributed in sets of distinct size-spacing-width relationships with the total range in scale of development dependent on the origin of the fracture system.

Reservoir modeling involving such a fracture system must account for overlaying of several fracture sets of varying scale that have very different effects on short-term flow rate and long-term recovery factors in the reservoir. Outcrop examples of nested fracture sizes will be shown as well as block diagrams depicting how these systems might be modeled for reservoir predictions.

One method that holds promise for quantifying the spectrum of multi-scaled fracture systems from small-scale core or outcrop observations is fractal relationships involving fracture size, width, and spacing. Assuming these parameters are fractal over some range in their distribution, representative fracture set parameters can be defined for several sizes of fractures and input into numerical reservoir models to characterize fluid flow response of the total fracture system.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91004 © 1991 AAPG Annual Convention Dallas, Texas, April 7-10, 1991 (2009)