Fracture Modeling for Fault Damage Zone: Impact of Fracture Modeling on Fluid Flow

Abstract

Fault damage zones represents a important feature in the fault anatomy. It contains a natural fracture network with strictly geometry and characteristics (orientation, spatial intensity, length, spacing and connectivity). It is reported that in at least two hundred oil and gas fields, natural fractures control reservoir performance (Nelson, 1985). In this work we describe a detailed workflow to use fault damage zone concept in natural fracture modeling and its impact on fluid flow. This model allows optimization of production for maximum recovery and drainage of the reservoir by the control of natural fractures in fault damage zone.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90326 © 2018 AAPG Latin America & Caribbean Region, Optimizing Exploration and Development in Thrust Belts and Foreland Basins. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, June 6-8, 2018