Fault seal analysis: reducing our dependence on empiricism

Harper, T.R.; Lundin, Erik

doi:10.1016/s0928-8937(97)80013-6

Cited by 16 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The P c th changes depending not only on rock types but also on hydraulic characteristics of individual rocks. The relation between the permeability, k (mdarcy: millidarcy ≈ 10 −15 m 2 ), as the representative parameter of such a hydraulic characteristic and the P c th measured in an air‐mercury system has indicated that P c th decreases drastically with increased k and that logarithms of both parameters are generally linearly correlated [e.g., Thomas et al ., ; Schowalter , ; Harper and Lundin , ; Schlömer and Krooss , ; Sperrevik et al ., ]. However, it is noteworthy that large variation in P c th exists, even at equal k .…”

Section: Theory Of Threshold Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relation between the permeability, k (mdarcy: millidarcy ≈ 10 À15 m 2 ), as the representative parameter of such a hydraulic characteristic and the P c th measured in an air-mercury system has indicated that P c th decreases drastically with increased k and that logarithms of both parameters are generally linearly correlated [e.g., Thomas et al, 1968;Schowalter, 1979;Harper and Lundin, 1997;Schlömer and Krooss, 1997;Sperrevik et al, 2002]. However, it is noteworthy that large variation in P c th exists, even at equal k. In addition to experimental difficulties for samples having nanodarcy permeability, sample complexity derived from various other factors might be related to such variation.…”

Section: Theory Of Threshold Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental study of sealing performance: Effects of particle size and particle‐packing state on threshold pressure of sintered compacts

et al. 2014

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Threshold pressure P c th (kPa), a parameter controlling rock's sealing performance in cases of CO 2 geological sequestration, was studied in a supercritical CO 2 -water system under conditions of 1000 m depth (10 MPa and 40°C). With respect to correlation between P c th and another important parameter of permeability, k (mdarcy), the closest-packing structure of spherical particles is defined theoretically as a line having slope of À0.5 on a double logarithmic plot. This study found this line by measuring P c th of a capillary plate with known throat diameter as P c th = 188.8 k -0.5 . This function is directly applicable to different depth and salinity conditions, although it requires minor correction at some temperature conditions. As a first step in determining the range of variation of rocks' P c th and k from internal particle structures, we used sintered compacts of uniform spherical silica particles with diameters of 0.1-10 μm. Results show that measured values of sintered compacts were scattered around the closest-packing line, with the difference of packing state depending on different sintered additives and sintering temperatures. The change of packing state, occurring independently of resultant changes of porosity, varied sensitively according to P c th . Therefore, P c th is inferred to depend strongly on the local structure within rocks. The Knudsen number estimated for supercritical CO 2 at 1000 m depth indicated that CO 2 transmuted into a noncontinuum at k < 0.1 μdarcy in the closest-packing structure. Future studies should consider whether the concept of P c th is applicable in this situation.

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Section: Theory Of Threshold Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theory Of Threshold Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental study of sealing performance: Effects of particle size and particle‐packing state on threshold pressure of sintered compacts

et al. 2014

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“…The disaggregation bands do not involve significant grain fracturing, probably because of the finer grain size and the resulting lower grain-contact stresses (Schultz & Siddharthan 2005;Fossen et al 2007). There is no reason to believe that the reorganization of grains itself would cause significant strain hardening (Harper & Lundin 1997), although the formation of grain bridge structures may result in temporal stress fluctuations (Mandl et al 1977). However, the cataclastic grain size reduction, porosity reduction and the change from rounded to angular grain shapes seen in the cataclastic deformation bands in the eolian sandstones ( Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internal geometry of fault damage zones in interbedded siliciclastic sediments

Johansen

Fossen

2008

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The geometry, orientation and distribution of deformation bands and fractures in eolian sandstones, siltstones and shales of the San Rafael Desert and Moab Fault area have been investigated. The results show that deformation bands, which are cataclastic in eolian sandstones and disaggregation structures in siltstones, are unevenly distributed throughout the damage zone in the form of individual bands, deformation band zones and deformation band clusters. The density of bands increases with increasing grain size. In thin (,3 m) eolian sandstones deformation band frequency is significantly lower than in thicker eolian sandstones, whereas above this thickness the frequency seems not to be related to layer thickness. Furthermore, large faults do not develop higher concentrations of deformation bands. Somewhat simplified, this suggests that damage zone growth occurs by expansion into its hanging wall and footwall. Still, the highest concentrations of deformation bands occur close to the main fault, which is of importance when considering their effect on fluid flow. Their general fault-parallel conjugate arrangements favour intra-damage zone flow parallel to rather than perpendicular to the fault.

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“…One-and two -dimensional fault-seal modelling methods have proved valuable tools in the prediction of the seal potential of subsurface faults (Gibson, 1994;Harris, 2002;. However, the application of these techniques in one or two dimensions contains inherent inaccuracies and the e¡ects of these can be reduced by a 3D analysis.The geometry of a fault that is curved along strike may not be represented correctly in the fault surface section (Badley et al, 1997;Harper & Lundin, 1997) and, if a curved fault is resolved onto a £at plane, stratigraphical cut-o¡ areas on the section will not be preserved. Furthermore, the representation of a single fault as a fault surface section does not allow analysis of the interaction of multiple faults on the sealing of fault-bounded compartments, the e¡ects of the 3D fault-block geometry, or analysis of the relative juxtapositions of lithologies at other temporal points in the structural evolution of the fault.…”

Section: D Approach To Fault Seal Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A three‐dimensional approach to fault seal analysis: fault‐block juxtaposition & argillaceous smear modelling

2005

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Three‐dimensional (3D) numerical modelling of fault displacement enables the building of geological models to represent the complex 3D geometry and geological properties of faulted sedimentary basins. Using these models, cross‐fault juxtaposition relationships are predicted in 3D space and through time, based on the geometries of strata that are cut by faults. Forward modelling of fault development allows a 3D prediction of fault‐zone argillaceous smear using a 3D application of the Shale Gouge Ratio. Numerical models of the Artemis Field, Southern North Sea, UK and the Moab Fault, Utah, USA are used to demonstrate the developed techniques and compare them to traditional one‐ and two‐dimensional solutions. These examples demonstrate that a 3D analysis leads to significant improvements in the prediction of fault seal, the analysis of the interaction of the sealing properties of multiple faults, and the interpretation of fault seal within the context of sedimentary basin geometry.

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Fault seal analysis: reducing our dependence on empiricism

Cited by 16 publications

References 14 publications

Experimental study of sealing performance: Effects of particle size and particle‐packing state on threshold pressure of sintered compacts

Experimental study of sealing performance: Effects of particle size and particle‐packing state on threshold pressure of sintered compacts

Internal geometry of fault damage zones in interbedded siliciclastic sediments

A three‐dimensional approach to fault seal analysis: fault‐block juxtaposition & argillaceous smear modelling

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