Predicting the regional distribution of fracture networks using the distinct element numerical method

AAPG Bulletin

Volumn 93, Issue 11, 2009, Pages 1571-1583

  Camac, Bronwyn A ^a   Hunt, Suzanne P ^b  

^a Beach Petroleum Ltd   (Australia)

^b Santos Ltd   (Australia)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

FLOW OF FLUIDS; FORECASTING; FRACTURE; PETROPHYSICS; ROCKS;

DISTINCT ELEMENT METHODS; DISTINCT ELEMENTS; FAR-FIELD STRESS; FRACTURE NETWORK; PETROPHYSICAL LOGS; REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION; ROCK PROPERTIES; SOUTH AUSTRALIA;

NUMERICAL METHODS;

DISTINCT ELEMENT METHOD; FAULT GEOMETRY; FAULT PLANE; FLUID FLOW; FRACTURE NETWORK; FRACTURE PROPAGATION; ROCK PROPERTY; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; STRESS ANALYSIS; TECTONICS;

EID: 73449087647     PISSN: 01491423     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1306/07230909040     Document Type: Article

References (31)

1. Barton, C. A., and M. D. Zoback, 1994, Stress perturbations associated with active faults penetrated by boreholes: Possible evidence for near-complete stress drop and a new technique for stress magnitude measurement: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 99, no. B5, p. 9373-9390, doi:10.1029/93JB03359.
2. Boult, P. J., B. A. Camac, and A. W. Davids, 2002,3D fault modeling and assessment of top seal structural permeability-Penola Trough, onshore Otway Basin: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Journal, v. 42, p. 151-166.
3. Camac, B. A., S. P. Hunt, and P. J. Boult, 2004, Sensitivity analysis for fault and top seal integrity at relays and intersections using a 3D distinct element code: Case study examples given from the Bonaparte Basin, Timor Sea and the Otway Basin, South Australia: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Journal, p. 481-496.
4. Camac, B. A., S. P. Hunt, and P. J. Boult, 2009, Predicting brittle cap-seal failure of petroleum traps: An application of 2-D and 3-D distinct element method: Petroleum Geoscience, v. 15, p. 75-89, doi:10.1144/1354-079309- 796.
5. Castillo, D. A., and D. Moos, 2000, Reservoir geomechanics applied to drilling and completions programmes in challenging formations: Northwest shelf, Timor Sea, North Sea and Colombia: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Journal, v. 40, p. 509-521.
6. Castillo, D. A., D. J. Bishop, I. Donaldson, D. Kuek, M. De Ruig, M. Trupp, and M. W. Shuster, 2000, Trap integrity in the Lami- naria High-Nancar Trough region, Timor Sea: Prediction of fault seal failure using well-constrained stress tensors and fault surfaces interpreted from 3-D seismic: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Journal, v. 40, p. 151- 173.
7. Cundall, P. A., 1971, A computer model for simulating progressive large scale movements in block rock systems, in Proceedings of the Symposium of the International Society of Rock Mechanics, Nancy, France, v. 1, paper II-8.
8. Cundall, P. A., and R. D. Hart, 1985, Development of generalised 2-D and 3-D distinct element programs for modeling jointed rock: Itasca Consulting Group, Miscellaneous Paper SL-85-1, US Army Corps of Engineers.
9. Cunha, A. P., 1990, Scale effects in rock mechanics, in A. Pinto de Cunha, ed., Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Scale Effects in Rock Masses, Loen, June 7-8: Rotterdam, A.A. Balkema, p. 3-31.
10. Dee, S. J., G. Yielding, B. Freeman, and P. Bretan, 2007a, A comparison between deterministic and stochastic fault seal techniques: Geological Society (London) Special Publications 292, p. 259- 270.
11. Dee, S. J., G. Yielding, B. Freeman, D. Healy, H. J. Kusznir, N. Grant, and P. Ellis, 2007b, Elastic dislocation modeling for prediction of small scale fault and fracture network characteristics, in L. Lonergan, R. J. H. Jolly, K. Rawnsley, and D. J. Sanderson, eds., Fractured reservoirs: Geological Society (London) Special Publications 270, p. 130-155.
12. Edelbro, C, 2003, Rock mass strength-A review: Technical Report for the University of Technology, Lulea, Department of Civil Engineering, Division of Rock Mechanics, p. 4.
13. Hart, R., P. A. Cundall, and J. Lemos, 1988, Formulation of a three- dimensional element model: Part II. Mechanical calculations for motion and interaction of a system composed of many polyhedral blocks: International Journal of Rock Mechanics Mining Science and Geomechanics Abstracts, v. 25, no. 3, p. 117-125.
14. Hillis, R. R., and S. D. Reynolds, 2000, Australian stress map: Journal of the Geological Society, v. 157, no. 5, p. 915-921.
15. Homberg, C, J. C. Hu, J. Angelier, F. Bergerat, and O. Lacombe, 1997, Characterization of stress perturbations near major fault zones: Insights from 2-D distinct-element numerical modeling and field studies (Jura Mountains): Journal of Structural Geology, v. 19, no. 5, p. 703-718, doi:10.1016/S0191- 8141(96) 00104-6.
16. Hunt, S. P., B. A. Camac, and P. J. Boult, 2004, A parametric analysis and applications of the discrete element method for stress modeling, in G. Farguhar, ed., Proceedings of the 9th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Auckland, v. 1, no. 2, p. 626-632.
17. Jones, R. M., P. Boult, R. R. Hillis, S. D. Mildren, and J. Kaldi, 2000, Integrated hydrocarbon seal evaluation in the Penola Trough, Otway Basin: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Journal, p. 194-211.
18. Kattenhorn, S. A., A. Aydin, and D. D. Pollard, 2000, Joints at high angles to normal fault strike: An explanation using 3-D numerical models of fault perturbed stress fields: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 22, p. 1-23, doi: 10.1016/S0191 -8141 (99)00130-3.
19. King, G. C. P., R. S. Stein, and J. Lin, 1994, Static stress changes and the triggering of earthquakes: Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v. 84, no. 3, p. 935-953.
20. Lama, R. D., and V. S. Vutukuri, 1978, Handbook on mechanical properties of rocks: Clausthal, Germany, Trans Tech Publication, p. 439.
21. Lyon, P. J., P. J. Boult, R. R. Hillis, and S. D. Mildren, 2005, Sealing by shale gouge and subsequent seal breach by reactivation: A case study of the Zema Prospect, Otway Basin, in P. Boult and J. Kaldi, eds., Evaluating fault and cap rock seals: AAPG Hedberg Series 1, p. 2.
22. Lyon, P. J., P. J. Boult, R. R. Hillis, and K. Bierbrauer, 2007, Basement controls on fault development in the Penola Trough, Otway Basin, and implications for fault-bounded hydrocarbon traps: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 54, p. 675-689.
23. Maerten, L., P. Gillespie, and D. P. Pollard, 2002, Effects of local stress perturbations on secondary fault development: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 24, p. 145-153, doi:10.1016/S0191- 8141(01)00054-2.
24. Mildren, S. D., P. J. Boult, and B. A. Camac, 2002, Risking brittle failure of cap rocks in the Otway Basin, Australia: AAPG Hedberg Conference, Barossa Valley, Poster Session, December 1-5, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Abstracts, p. 108-115.
25. Morton, J. G. G., E. M. Alexander, A. J. Hill, and M. R. White, 1995, Lithostratigraphy and environments of deposition, chapter 5, in J. G. G. Morton and J. R. Drexel, eds., Petroleum geology of South Australia, v. 1: Otway Basin, 1st ed., p. 2.
26. Mudu, O., and D. D. Pollard, 2008, On the patterns of wing cracks along an outcrop scale flaw: A numerical modeling approach using complementary: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 113, p. B06403, doi:10.1029/2007JB005284.
27. Pascal, C, 2002, Interaction of faults and perturbation of slip: influence of anisotropic stress states in the presence of fault friction and comparison between Wallace-Bott and 3-D distinct element models: Tectonophysics, v. 356, p. 307-322, doi:10.1016 /S0040-1951(02)00413-4.
28. Starfield, A. M., and P. A. Cundall, 1988, Toward a methodology for rock mechanics modeling: International Journal of Rock Mechanics Mining Science and Geomechanics Abstracts, v. 25, no. 3, p. 99-106, doi:10.1016/0148-9062(88)92292- 9.
29. Tamagawa, T., and D. D. Pollard, 2008, Fracture permeability created by perturbed stress fields around active faults in a fractured basement reservoir: AAPG Bulletin, v. 92, no. 6, p. 743-764, doi: 10.1306/02050807013. (Pubitemid 351959194)
30. Wiprut, D., and M. D. Zoback, 2000, Fault reactivation and fluid flow along a previously dormant normal fault in the northern North Sea: Geology, v. 28, no. 7, p. 595-598, doi:10.1130/0091- 7613(2000)28<595:FRAFFA>.
31. Wiprut, D., and M. D. Zoback, 2002, Fault reactivation, leakage potential, and hydrocarbon column heights in the northern North Sea, in A. G. Koesder and R. Hunsdale, ed., Hydrocarbon seal quantification: Norwegian Petroleum Society Special Publication 11, p. 17-35.