It is now common practice to incorporate small scale faults and fractures into cellular reservoir models and reservoir simulations in order to assess their impact on fluid flow. Much of this input 'data' results from stochastic models and their discrete fracture networks (DFN) realizations are based on a minimal number of reliable sample points.

Vital information about these small scale faults can be extracted from standard seismic interpretations using fractal techniques and used in reservoir studies and well planning. Together with our research partners, the Fault Analysis Group, University of Dublin, we have been at the forefront of the research and commercial application of methods that make predictions about faults too small to be resolved by seismic data.

Software

Our range of in-house software for fault seal analysis include:

• TrapTester for complete 3D structural & stratigraphic infill modelling, hydrocarbon column height prediction, quantification of fault reactivation risk
• FaultED (module in TrapTester) for computing fracture density, orientation and failure mode

How we can help you

Fault Statistics: Derive statistical information on the faults from seismic interpretation, structure maps, image logs and core data. Integrate core and image log datasets with seismic interpretation to help constrain complex fault geometries.

Fault Properties: Characterise the capillary and permeability properties of fracture-zone material (such as cataclastic gouge or clay smear) for local calibration points for fault seal analysis.

Fault and Fracture Prediction: Apply elastic dislocation (ED) theory to predict fracture density, strains, orientations and failure modes associated with the mapped structural interpretation.

For further details about our Fracture Analysis consulting services, please contact our consultancy team