An integrated approach to discretized 3D modeling of geomechanical properties for unconventional mature field appraisal in the western Canadian sedimentary basin

Abstract

In mature field appraisal and development, discretized geomechanical property models play a vital role in providing information on in situ stress regime as a guide for placement of directional wells. Laboratory methods of measuring these properties, in most cases, take only small samples from consolidated rocks. These isolated samples may not be representative of the entire elastic regime existing in the reservoir owing to sample size. In general, geomechanical studies are performed on a well-by-well basis and then these measurements are used as calibration points to convert 3D seismic data (if available) to geomechanical models. However, elastic properties measured this way are restricted to the well location and interpolation across the reservoir may not be always appropriate. To overcome these challenges, this paper describes an integrated approach for deriving 3D geomechanical models of the reservoir by combining results of 3D geocellular models and basin models. The basin model reconstructs the geologic history (i.e., burial history) of the reservoir by back-stripping it to the original depositional thickness. Through this reconstruction, the mechanical compaction, pore pressures, effective stress, and porosity versus depth relationships are established. Next, these mechanical properties are discretized into 3D geocellular grid using empirical formulas via lithofacies model even if no 3D seismic data are available for the reservoir. The discretization of elastic properties into 3D grids results in a better understanding of the prevailing stress regimes and helping in design of hydraulic fracturing operations with minimal risks and costs. This approach provides an innovative way of determining effective horizontal stress for the entire reservoir through 3D distribution of elastic properties.

A critical review on coupled geomechanics and fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs

“…In fractured geomechanical modelling, the finite element methods are widely employed by nodal enrichment for the discontinuous displacement modes (Ren et al, 2018). Although finite difference methods are often applied to special cases of one-dimensional problems, such as the simplified geometries of crystal layers, finite element methods are more applicable to a multidimensional differential equation with complicated geometries (Saikia et al, 2018). To capture displacement discontinuity jumps in the fractured porous rocks, finite element methods are enhanced with some local degree of freedom, the outcome of which is referred to as the embedded finite element method (EFEM).…”