Key Points

In good matrix reservoirs, natural fractures are

often neglected during primary recovery; we just
make it fit.
These fractures become very important in
secondary recovery when we impose a view of
natural flow directions.
Various techniques such as line-drive across
fracture anisotropy can be effective.
Correlations of fracture azimuth(s) and
subsurface stress direction(s) are critical.

Nelson (2001)
 Flood Considerations
Fluid density differences
Relative permeability
Inhomogeneity
Drive mechanism
Anisotropy
Saturation(s)

Natural Fractures Effect Most

Considerations
Nelson (2001)
 Reservoir Permeability Anisotropy
is the Result Of:
Matrix facies architecture
Burial diagenesis
Natural fracture orientations and their
intensities
Fracture plane morphology
Initial reservoir pressure
Magnitude and orientation of subsurface
stress components
Nelson (2001)
Secondary Recovery (Flood)
Patterns Must Incorporate
and Anticipate Reservoir
Anisotropy To Be Effective

Nelson (2001)
 Flood Front in a Homogeneous & Isotropic Matrix
Reservoir

Line of
Producers

Line of
Injectors

Nelson (2001)
Flood Pattern With Parallel Natural Fractures

Line of
Producers

Line of
Injectors

Nelson (2001)
 Short Circuit
Line of Injectors

Line of Injectors

Sweep of Producer/Injector Pairs Parallel to Fractures/Faults

Nelson (2001)
Fractures Cause Poor Sweep in Flood

Line of
Producers

Line of
Injectors

Nelson (2001)
 s
Horizontal

od al
er

ct l
je a
Pr rtic

s
uc

In r ti c
Horizontal Producer

or
Ve

Ve
Injector

Fractures

Sweep of Injectors/Producers Across Fractures/Faults

Nelson (2001)
Line Drive Flood Pattern Sweeping Across Fractures &
Faults

Nelson (2001)
Alpine Field
North Slope, Alaska

Gingrich and others (2000)

 Seismic Attribute Porosity Prediction, Alpine Field, Alaska

Faults in black, horizontal producer/injector development wells Gingrich and others (2000)
 Injection Data (BCF)
Northern
Pattern
N
N

0.9

Western Eastern
Pattern Pattern
3.2

3.7

Vertical Well
Up to 2nd Survey Horizontal Producer
4.2 Horizontal CO2 Injector
Southern
1 km
Pattern
Davis & Benson (2004)
Time-lapse (2002-2000)
RMS Amplitude % Difference
N (2002-2000)

2 ms window Davis & Benson

(2004)
Anisotropy 2000

Davis & Benson

(2004)
Anisotropy 2002

Davis & Benson

(2004)
 Injected Fluid Movement Vectors

Northern
Pattern
N
N 25 MM m3

Western Eastern
Pattern Pattern
104 MM m3 90 MM m3

12
8
17
10

14 Vertical Well
Horizontal Producer
Horizontal CO2 Injector
Southern 12 CO2 Response (months)
Pattern
118 MM m3 Davis
1 km & Benson
(2004)
 Consider It a Fractured Reservoir If,
Before Drilling
Significant fractures exist in similar outcrops.
The reservoir rock is brittle and deformed.
Other fields in the area in this reservoir have production
characteristics of fractured reservoirs.
Numerical structural deformation models using mechanical
properties of the formation of interest and relevant structural
geometry and deformation paths predict significant brittle strain
in the trap.
Calibrated restoration strains from kinematic forward modeling
predict significant brittle strain in the trap.

Nelson (2001)
Consider It a Fractured Reservoir If,
Before Drilling (cont.)
Various forms of seismic attributes based on amplitude
anomalies display azmuthal response within the trap

Shear wave birefringence techniques show a strong

azmuthal anisotropy within the trap.

Seismic dim zones correlate with structural curvature in the

structure or map parallel to regional fracture trends in the area.

Interval velocities for the potential fractured reservoir vary

significantly throughout the trap or structure.

Nelson (2001)
 Consider It a Fractured Reservoir If,
After Initial Drilling
1. There are significant number of natural fractures (>1/ft) in core or
on well-processed imaging logs?

2. Outcrops of the relevant formation(s) on structures of similar

origin contain abundant natural fractures?

3. Well test Khs a factor of 2 or more greater that those observed

from core analysis?

Nelson (2001)
 Consider It a Fractured Reservoir
If,
After Initial Drilling (cont.)
1 Restricted zones in the formation exhibit penetration rates
higher than expected and this occurs in more than 1 well.

2 When drilling certain hard formations, the drill string exhibits

an unusual amount or character of vibration.

3 We experience sporadic and rapid mud losses within the

formation and they correlate across the field/trap.

4 Zones of mud loss become periodic within the formation.

5 The well experiences unusual pressure kicks, especially in tight

portions of the formation.

6 Production logs (spinner, temperature, acoustic) display

restricted zones of high fluid entry in a step function manner.

Nelson (2001)
 Consider It a Fractured Reservoir If,
After Primary Production
1 There a very good correlation between maximum rate and cumulative
production within the field.

2 Pressure transient tests display a dual porosity behavior.

3 History matching requires greater than anticipated flow rates or

drainage areas.

4 Well tests indicate the presence of fluid flow barriers or point

sources away from the wellbore, and can these be mapped using
multiple wells.

5 Multiple well tests or flood pilots indicate strong preferential flow

directions or high permeability azimuths.

Nelson (2001)
Consider It a Fractured Reservoir If,
After Primary Production (cont.)

Field-wide cumulative production and IP

distributions are inhomogeneous and
match patterns of classical fractured
reservoir types

Nelson (2001)