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Modelling of fractured carbonate reservoirs - outline of a novel technique via a case study from the Molasse Basin, southern Bavaria, Germany

  • Fluid flow in low-permeable carbonate rocks depends on the density of fractures, their interconnectivity and on the formation of fault damage zones. The present-day stress field influences the aperture hence the transmissivity of fractures whereas paleostress fields are responsible for the formation of faults and fractures. In low-permeable reservoir rocks, fault zones belong to the major targets. Before drilling, an estimate for reservoir productivity of wells drilled into the damage zone of faults is therefore required. Due to limitations in available data, a characterization of such reservoirs usually relies on the use of numerical techniques. The requirements of these mathematical models encompass a full integration of the actual fault geometry, comprising the dimension of the fault damage zone and of the fault core, and the individual population with properties of fault zones in the hanging and foot wall and the host rock. The paper presents both the technical approach to develop such a model and the property definition ofFluid flow in low-permeable carbonate rocks depends on the density of fractures, their interconnectivity and on the formation of fault damage zones. The present-day stress field influences the aperture hence the transmissivity of fractures whereas paleostress fields are responsible for the formation of faults and fractures. In low-permeable reservoir rocks, fault zones belong to the major targets. Before drilling, an estimate for reservoir productivity of wells drilled into the damage zone of faults is therefore required. Due to limitations in available data, a characterization of such reservoirs usually relies on the use of numerical techniques. The requirements of these mathematical models encompass a full integration of the actual fault geometry, comprising the dimension of the fault damage zone and of the fault core, and the individual population with properties of fault zones in the hanging and foot wall and the host rock. The paper presents both the technical approach to develop such a model and the property definition of heterogeneous fault zones and host rock with respect to the current stress field. The case study describes a deep geothermal reservoir in the western central Molasse Basin in southern Bavaria, Germany. Results from numerical simulations indicate that the well productivity can be enhanced along compressional fault zones if the interconnectivity of fractures is lateral caused by crossing synthetic and antithetic fractures. The model allows a deeper understanding of production tests and reservoir properties of faulted rocks.show moreshow less

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Author details:Mauro CacaceORCiD, Guido BlöcherORCiDGND, Norihiro Watanabe, Inga Möck, Nele Börsing, Magdalena Scheck-WenderothORCiDGND, Olaf Kolditz, Ernst Hünges
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2402-3
ISSN:1866-6280
ISSN:1866-6299
Title of parent work (English):Environmental earth sciences
Publisher:Springer
Place of publishing:New York
Publication type:Article
Language:English
Year of first publication:2013
Publication year:2013
Release date:2017/03/26
Tag:3D mesh generator; Fault core and damage zone; Fractured carbonate geothermal reservoirs; In situ stress field; OpenGeosys; Well productivity
Volume:70
Issue:8
Number of pages:18
First page:3585
Last Page:3602
Funding institution:German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) [03G0671 A/B/C]
Organizational units:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Geowissenschaften
Peer review:Referiert
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