Methods and systems for simulation-enhanced fracture detections in sedimentary basins

• US 20020013687A1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Ortoleva
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Ortoleva
• Inventors: Ortoleva, Peter J.
• Application Number:
  US09/818,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013687A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0064 Carbon dioxide sequestration storing fluids in porous layers B65G5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/282 Application of seismic models, synthetic seismograms
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/661 Model from sedimentation process modeling, e.g. from first principles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

A three-dimensional, geologic basin simulator for predicting natural resource location and characteristics is disclosed. The simulator integrates seismic inversion techniques with other data to predict fracture location and characteristics. The invention'"'"'s 3-D finite element basin reaction, transport, mechanical simulator includes a rock rheology that integrates continuous deformation (poroelastic/viscoplastic) with fracture, fault, gouge, and pressure solution. Mechanical processes are used to coevolve deformation with multi-phase flow, petroleum generation, mineral reactions, and heat transfer to predict the location and producibility of fracture sweetspots. The simulator uses these physico-chemical predictions to integrate well log, surface, and core data with the otherwise incomplete seismic data. The simulator delineates the effects of regional tectonics, petroleum-derived overpressure, and salt tectonics and constructs maps of high-grading zones of fracture producibility.

Claims

1. A method for producing a three-dimensional map of fracture locations and characteristics in a geological basin, the method comprising:

collecting data pertaining to characteristics of the geologic basin;

simulating rock rheology by integrating continuous deformation with fracture, fault, gouge, and pressure solutions;

simulating mechanical processes to coevolve deformation with multi-phase flow, petroleum generation, mineral reactions, and heat transfer to predict the location and producibility of fracture sweetspots;

adjusting the predictions to reduce their deviation from the collected data; and

integrating the resulting predictions with the collected data to construct maps of high-grading zones of fracture producibility.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting data includes collecting data in the set:

well log data, surface data, core data, seismic data.

3. A computer-readable medium having instructions for performing the method of claim 1.