Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

The Study of relation between fault and fracture systems based on subsurface data and analogue modeling: one of the Eastern Persian Gulf hydrocarbon fields

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
E. Kosari 1
A. Bahroudi 2
M. Talebian 3
A. Chehrazi 4
1 M.Sc., Research Institute for Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Exploration Department, School of Mining Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Research Institute for Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran
4 Ph.D., Geophysics and Exploration Plans Department, Iranian Offshore Oil Company, Tehran, Iran
10.22071/gsj.2017.53939
Abstract
One of the essential studies in exploration, exploitation and development of hydrocarbon fields is to evaluate the fault and fracture systems and the role that they can play in reservoir quality and geometry. If the hydrocarbon reservoir is a fractured carbonate reservoir, assessing the mentioned properties is of great importance. Assessment of the structures should be done simultaneously because of their close relations, and the their probable genesis connection should be revealed. In this research, subsurface data including 2D seismic profiles, underground contour maps and FMI log and eventually analogue modeling have been used for evaluation of probable scenarios explaining formation of faults and fractures. The studied area is located at the front of Zagros deformation belt and the Zagros stresses have apparently not affected it. Two sets of faults of different geometry and role have been detected; the first reverse set (N-S trending) was apparently controller of the reservoir geometry in the structure; the second normal set (NW-SE trending) are most likely causative of the main fractures in the field. It is likely that positive inversion tectonic of the basin led to the development of this field in form of a pop-up structure. Based on the interpretations, the internal normal faults have been formed probably by the rise of Hormuz salt or by local stretching due to left-lateral component of the boundary reverse faults. Using interpretation of drilling-induced fractures and break-outs derived from FMI, trends of the Shmax and Shmin are determined. Also it was revealed that the natural fractures and the main set 2 of faults are sub-parallel with the fractures induced by drilling. Therefore, the compatibility between trends of the natural fractures, breakouts and local normal faults can suggest a tectonic origin for the natural fractures.
Keywords
Analogue Modeling
Fault
fracture
Image well logging
Persian Gulf
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Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences
Volume 27, Issue 105
Autumn 2017
Pages 157-166