--> Abstract: Novel Use of Volume Interpretation for Fracture Detection and Modeling: Examples from Fields in the Philippines and the Middle East, by Ben Stephenson, Phil Cassidy, and Georg Warrlich; #90039 (2005)

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Novel Use of Volume Interpretation for Fracture Detection and Modeling: Examples from Fields in the Philippines and the Middle East

Ben Stephenson1, Phil Cassidy2, and Georg Warrlich2
1 Shell Canada, Calgary, AB
2 Shell International, Rijswijk-ZH, Netherlands

A fundamental problem with the characterization of fractured reservoirs is that there is a scale of structure that is difficult to identify – that between well bore and seismic. A new workflow for structural characterization is presented here based on the application of Shell’s software for the highlighting of structural discontinuities from seismic, using the patent pending “Van Gogh” technology: the Stopper-Voxels, in conjunction with SVS: Shell’s software for fractured reservoirs.

Stopper-Voxels were generated over the Malampaya field in the Philippines, a Miocene age carbonate build-up. The larger bodies typically represent faults, which can be validated interactively against the seismic, however the smaller bodies may represent fractures, with no easily discernible offset. SVS was used for correlation of Stopper-Voxels with other data to discern their properties and dissociate true structural discontinuities from artificial discontinuities. Stopper-Voxel bodies have a variety of orientations across the field, whereas conductive fractures from borehole images have a consistent WNW-ESE orientation, sub-parallel to the in-situ stress. Therefore not all of the Stopper-Voxels are likely to be conductive to flow, despite a good correlation with mud-losses in some wells. Stopper-Voxels have been used to assess the connectivity of the water and gas legs via the oil rim, which would have implications for future gas development.

Stopper-Voxel technology has been applied on a number of large fields in the Middle East for fracture detection. Accurate and reliable fracture detection has obvious benefits for waterflood and EOR projects, which are becoming increasingly relevant for many Middle Eastern countries.

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