Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics
Predicting the effects of small-scale faults and fractures on reservoir behaviour requires a definition of their spatial distribution, orientation and mode. Elastic dislocation (ED) theory can predict the distribution of displacement, strain and stress in the rock volume surrounding major faults,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Book Chapter |
| Published: |
Geological Society of London
2007
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34355 |
| _version_ | 1848754200283971584 |
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| author | Dee, S. Yielding, G. Freeman, B. Healy, David Kusznir, N. Grant, N. Ellis, P. |
| author_facet | Dee, S. Yielding, G. Freeman, B. Healy, David Kusznir, N. Grant, N. Ellis, P. |
| author_sort | Dee, S. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Predicting the effects of small-scale faults and fractures on reservoir behaviour requires a definition of their spatial distribution, orientation and mode. Elastic dislocation (ED) theory can predict the distribution of displacement, strain and stress in the rock volume surrounding major faults, from mapping of fault geometry and slip distribution in 3D seismic-reflection datasets. The intensity of small-scale faulting can be related to the predicted local strain, or the degree to which the shear stresses exceeded the rock failure envelope. We illustrate the methodology with three case studies: (i) a relatively-simple thrust anticline from Venezuela, where hydrocarbons are trapped in Pliocene sandstones within the faulted hanging wall anticline; (ii) the Gullfaks Field and of the North Sea; and (iii) the Miskar Field, offshore Tunisia, where large seismically mapped normal faults are forward-modelled to predict small-scale fault characteristics for comparison with detailed interpretation and seismic attribute analysis. Key requirements for the development of a robust predictive model of the small-scale fault and fracture network are a geometrically consistent framework model, judicious choice of mechanical properties, and a reasonable estimate of regional background strain. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:36:38Z |
| format | Book Chapter |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-34355 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:36:38Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publisher | Geological Society of London |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-343552017-02-28T01:38:22Z Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics Dee, S. Yielding, G. Freeman, B. Healy, David Kusznir, N. Grant, N. Ellis, P. Predicting the effects of small-scale faults and fractures on reservoir behaviour requires a definition of their spatial distribution, orientation and mode. Elastic dislocation (ED) theory can predict the distribution of displacement, strain and stress in the rock volume surrounding major faults, from mapping of fault geometry and slip distribution in 3D seismic-reflection datasets. The intensity of small-scale faulting can be related to the predicted local strain, or the degree to which the shear stresses exceeded the rock failure envelope. We illustrate the methodology with three case studies: (i) a relatively-simple thrust anticline from Venezuela, where hydrocarbons are trapped in Pliocene sandstones within the faulted hanging wall anticline; (ii) the Gullfaks Field and of the North Sea; and (iii) the Miskar Field, offshore Tunisia, where large seismically mapped normal faults are forward-modelled to predict small-scale fault characteristics for comparison with detailed interpretation and seismic attribute analysis. Key requirements for the development of a robust predictive model of the small-scale fault and fracture network are a geometrically consistent framework model, judicious choice of mechanical properties, and a reasonable estimate of regional background strain. 2007 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34355 Geological Society of London restricted |
| spellingShingle | Dee, S. Yielding, G. Freeman, B. Healy, David Kusznir, N. Grant, N. Ellis, P. Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics |
| title | Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics |
| title_full | Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics |
| title_fullStr | Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics |
| title_short | Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics |
| title_sort | elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34355 |