Petrophysical properties of deformation band fault zones in the Entrada Sandstone, Utah

Kyle Fredericks
Structural Geology and Geophysics University of Wisconsin-Madison Geosciences 279 Weeks Hall
[email protected]

The undertaken research will quantitatively address the effect of variable clay content on the characteristics of deformation-band fault zones in porous sandstones, and whether or not these characteristic features can be distinguished in the subsurface using ultrasonic and sonic techniques. Deformation band networks can inhibit fluid flow in permeable reservoir sandstones. Understanding the petrophysical qualities and developing geophysical methods to detect deformation bands is important to the petroleum industry, especially regarding reservoir characterization and modeling. This study will analyze the directionally dependent ultrasonic compressional and shear wave velocity of deformation bands and host rock at the core sample and meter scales. The meter scale will be used as a proxy for sonic logging data collection, which is typically at a similar scale of investigation, and will address how well we can upscale velocity data from cores to the sonic logging scale. In situ ultrasonic to sonic frequency velocity study of variably clay-rich beds and cores with deformation bands will provide insight into whether and how well variably dense deformation band networks can be detected in the subsurface in log and seismic data. The overarching goal of this project is to improve reservoir characterization for sandstones by testing whether the presence of deformation band networks in fault zones can be detected via sonic and seismic measurements.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90157©2012 AAPG Foundation 2012 Grants-in-Aid Projects