Mechanical stratigraphic controls on fracture patterns within carbonates and implications for groundwater flow

Cooke, Michele L.; Simo, J. C.; Underwood, Chad A.; Rijken, P.M.

doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2005.11.004

Cited by 119 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…A possible explanation for reconciling this field evidence relies on the mechanical role of layering in the chalk exposed in the Heidestrasse quarry (e.g. Di Naccio et al, 2005;Cooke et al, 2006;Laubach et al, 2009;Lezin et al, 2009;Morris et al, 2009). When not highlighted by chert layers, bedding consists of subtle discontinuities without marly or clay interlayers, which are not expected to produce effective changes in rock mechanical properties across them.…”

Section: Joint Spacingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sub-seismic scale fracture pattern and in situ permeability data in the chalk atop of the Krempe salt ridge at Lägerdorf, NW Germany: Inferences on synfolding stress field evolution and its impact on fracture connectivity

Storti¹,

Balsamo²,

Cappanera³

et al. 2011

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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Section: Joint Spacingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sub-seismic scale fracture pattern and in situ permeability data in the chalk atop of the Krempe salt ridge at Lägerdorf, NW Germany: Inferences on synfolding stress field evolution and its impact on fracture connectivity

Storti¹,

Balsamo²,

Cappanera³

et al. 2011

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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“…Mechanical stratigraphy is a major control on the development of fracture networks and their influence on fluid flow pathways (e.g. Hanks et al 1997;Underwood et al 2003;Cooke et al 2006;Zahm and Hennings 2009;Sonntag et al 2012;Couples 2013). Mechanical stratigraphy partitions stratified rocks into mechanical units based on physical rock properties including tensile strength and elastic moduli, with Young's modulus being particularly important (e.g.…”

Section: An Integrated Interdisciplinary Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pollard & Aydin 1988;Wu & Pollard 1995;Schöpfer et al 2011); contrasts in physical properties at layer interfaces, especial in Young's modulus (e.g. He & Hutchinson 1989;Cooke et al 2006;Lézin et al 2009); and the bonded strength of interfaces between mechanical layers (e.g. Cooke & Underwood 2001;Wang & Xu 2006;Larsen et al 2010).…”

Section: An Integrated Interdisciplinary Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in the study of naturally fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs: a broad integrated interdisciplinary applied topic

Spence

Couples

Bevan

et al. 2014

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Naturally fractured reservoirs, within which porosity, permeability pathways and/or impermeable barriers formed by the fracture network interact with those of the host rock matrix to influence fluid flow and storage, can occur in sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. These reservoirs constitute a substantial percentage of remaining hydrocarbon resources; they create exploration targets in otherwise impermeable rocks, including under-explored crystalline basement, and they can be used as geological stores for anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Their complex fluid flow behaviour during production has traditionally proved difficult to predict, causing a large degree of uncertainty in reservoir development. The applied study of naturally fractured reservoirs seeks to constrain this uncertainty and maximize production by developing new understanding, and is necessarily a broad, integrated, interdisciplinary topic. Some of the methods, challenges and advances in characterizing the interplay of rock matrix and fracture networks relevant to fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery are reviewed and discussed via the contributions in this volume.Global estimates of conventional hydrocarbon resources are typically subdivided based on lithological reservoir types for example, carbonate or siliciclastic (e.g. Roehl & Choquette 1985). However, many of these sedimentary rock reservoirs may contain fractures to a greater or lesser degree. The recent boom of unconventional reservoirs highlights once again the key role that natural fractures can play in helping production of fluids. It also requires an improved understanding of the geology and physics of natural fracture networks to meet public expectations regarding safety issues. Moreover, fracture networks can be present in otherwise impermeable crystalline basement rocks (e.g. Sanders et al. 2003;Murray & Montgomery 2012;Slightam 2012) and igneous intrusions (e.g. Gudmundsson & Løtveit 2012), also allowing these rocks to form potential fractured reservoirs. Historically, fractured crystalline basement rocks have been under-explored as potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. Naturally fractured reservoirs constitute a substantial percentage of remaining hydrocarbon resources. Naturally fractured reservoirsA reservoir fracture is a general term used to describe a 'naturally occurring macroscopic planar discontinuity in rock due to deformation, or physical diagenesis' (Nelson 2001). Reservoir fractures encompass both extensional ( joints) and shear (faults) structures. Fractures formed by brittle tectonic deformation are the most common focus for studies of naturally fractured reservoirs. However, reservoir fractures may also include structures that formed by desiccation (e.g. shrinkage cracks) and syneresis (e.g. chickenwire texture) in sediments, and structures that formed by thermal , as used here. Naturally fractured reservoirs are generally defined as such when the fracture network has a significant influence on fluid flow in the reservoir such that: (1) the fracture networ...

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“…The influence that brittle deformation plays on fluid flow is well known in petroleum exploration (Odling et al, 1999;Aydin, 2000;Simpson et al, 2001;Billi, 2005;Maggi et al, 2015), in the geothermal industry (Giordano et al, 2013), and in groundwater investigations Sharp, 1995, 1998;Neu man, 2005;Cooke et al, 2006). In rock reservoirs with low primary permea bility, the bulk mass permeability is dominantly controlled by the fracture system (Larsen and Gudmundsson, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In rock reservoirs with low primary permea bility, the bulk mass permeability is dominantly controlled by the fracture system (Larsen and Gudmundsson, 2010). Understanding and characterizing fractures in terms of orientation, connectivity, aperture, spacing, and length are crucial elements for planning any type of fluid exploitation, whether in regards to oil, gas, or potable water (Cooke et al, 2006;Agosta et al, 2010;Giordano et al, 2013;Cianfarra and Salvini, 2016a). Depending on the atti tude and intensity of the principal component of the imposed stress, hydraulic properties of the fracture system can change consistently, affecting the per meability of the media (Aydin, 2000;Baghbanan and Jing, 2008;Tondi et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lineament domain analysis to infer groundwater flow paths: Clues from the Pale di San Martino fractured aquifer, Eastern Italian Alps

2017

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An automatic lineament extraction was carried out on a processed digi tal elevation model of a highaltitude Alpine fractured reservoir, the Pale di San Martino area (Dolomites) located in the southern sector of the Eastern Italian Alps. The strike of the main lineament domain indicates the direction of the principal crustal stress. This direction was compared with earthquake focal mechanisms to confirm the orientation of the regional crustal stress. The two data sets provide similar results and show a NNWSSE maximum horizontal crustal stress orientation, compatible with the direction of the last Alpine compression reported by previous studies in the investigated region. The orientation of the maximum horizontal compressive stress was then used to explore the ability of specific fracture and fault sets to enhance ground water flow. Subvertical strikeslip faults and joints oriented NWSE to north south provide the greater contribution to the groundwater flow. The location of the main springs and evidence from a dye tracer test conducted in the area confirm this main drainage direction. This study demonstrates that automatic lineament analysis is an efficient and inexpensive method to identify the tra jectories of groundwater flow in fractured aquifers.

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Mechanical stratigraphic controls on fracture patterns within carbonates and implications for groundwater flow

Cited by 119 publications

References 24 publications

Sub-seismic scale fracture pattern and in situ permeability data in the chalk atop of the Krempe salt ridge at Lägerdorf, NW Germany: Inferences on synfolding stress field evolution and its impact on fracture connectivity

Sub-seismic scale fracture pattern and in situ permeability data in the chalk atop of the Krempe salt ridge at Lägerdorf, NW Germany: Inferences on synfolding stress field evolution and its impact on fracture connectivity

Advances in the study of naturally fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs: a broad integrated interdisciplinary applied topic

Lineament domain analysis to infer groundwater flow paths: Clues from the Pale di San Martino fractured aquifer, Eastern Italian Alps

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