--> Abstract: Using New 3-D Seismic Attributes to Identify Subtle Fracture Trends in Mid-Continent Mississippian Carbonate Reservoirs, by Susan E. Nissen, Timothy R. Carr, and Kurt J. Marfurt; #90039 (2005)

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Using New 3-D Seismic Attributes to Identify Subtle Fracture Trends in Mid-Continent Mississippian Carbonate Reservoirs

Susan E. Nissen1, Timothy R. Carr1, and Kurt J. Marfurt2
1 Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
2 University of Houston, Houston, TX

Mid-Continent Mississippian reservoirs are primarily naturally fractured, solution-enhanced, multi-layered shallow shelf carbonates with strong bottom water drives. Oil production in these reservoirs is strongly influenced by fracturing. The fractures can either be open, permitting water channeling from the underlying aquifer, or shale-filled, providing compartmentalization of the reservoir.

New 3-D seismic volumetric reflector curvature attributes have the potential to reveal subtle lineaments that may be related to fractures in these reservoirs. Volumetric curvature attributes are calculated directly from a seismic data volume, with no prior interpretation required, and have been shown to be useful in delineating faults, fractures, flexures, and folds.

Volumetric curvature attributes applied to a 3-D seismic survey over a Mississippian reservoir in Ness County, Kansas, reveal two main lineament directions within the Mississippian, with orientations of approximately N45E and N45W. The N45E-trending lineaments parallel a down-to-the-north normal fault at the northwestern corner of the seismic survey, and, on average, have greater length and continuity than the N45W-trending lineaments. Geologic and production data suggest that the N45E-trending lineaments may be related to shale-filled fractures forming reservoir compartments, while the N45W-trending lineaments may be related to open fractures that are conduits for water. Both sets of lineaments are related to karst-enhanced fracturing related to the Mississippian-Pennsylvanian regional unconformity.

Understanding the orientations of open and filled fractures in Mid-Continent Mississippian reservoirs is an important pre-requisite for effectively using techniques such as targeted infill drilling, horizontal drilling, and gel polymer treatments to enhance production from these mature reservoirs.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005