Sampling procedure for small-scale heterogeneities (crossbedding) for reservoir modelling

Using Multiple-Point Geostatistics for Tracer Test Modeling in a Clay-Drape Environment with Spatially Variable Conductivity and Sorption Coefficient

“…Clay drapes with a lower hydraulic conductivity or a larger thickness result in later peak tracer concentration timing and lower maximum concentrations. This confirms the finding of several earlier studies (Ringrose et al 1993;Willis and White 2000;Morton et al 2002;Mikes 2006;Stright 2006;Huysmans and Dassargues 2009;Li and Caers 2011;Huysmans and Dassargues 2012) that clay drapes that are only a few centimeters thick can significantly influence subsurface flow and solute transport. This study also aimed to investigate the role of sorption in the presence of clay drapes.…”

“…Clay drapes are thin continuous or discontinuous layers of low-permeability material that are often observed in different types of sedimentary deposits (Reineck and Singh 1973). They are usually only a few centimeters thick (Houthuys 1990;Stright 2006) but several studies indicate that they may significantly influence the spatial distribution of permeability and, consequently, subsurface flow (Ringrose et al 1993;Willis and White 2000;Morton et al 2002;Mikes 2006;Stright 2006;Li and Caers 2011;Huysmans and Dassargues 2012). The effect of these clay drapes on solute transport has been studied by a modeling approach (Huysmans and Dassargues 2009), but large-scale field tests for exploring the effect of clay-drape distribution and parameters on solute transport have not yet been performed.…”

Modeling the effect of clay drapes on pumping test response in a cross-bedded aquifer using multiple-point geostatistics

“…Their thicknesses are often only a few centimetres (Houthuys 1990;Stright 2006). Despite their limited thicknesses, several studies indicate that they may influence subsurface fluid flow and solute transport at different scales (Ringrose et al 1993; Willis and White 2000;Morton et al 2002;Mikes 2006;Stright 2006;Li and Caers 2011;Huysmans and Dassargues 2009). It seems that structural heterogeneity (such as clay drapes) at fine scale might yield anisotropy at large scale, whereas -random" heterogeneity may yield an isotropic behavior at large scale.…”

Relating small-scale sedimentary structures and permeability in a cross-bedded aquifer

“…In petroleum reservoir modelling however, several authors acknowledge that fine-scale sedimentary heterogeneity plays an important role in oil recovery and that incorporating this small-scale sedimentary heterogeneity is required for reliable prediction of oil production (e.g., Mikes, 2006;Morton et al, 2002;Willis and White, 2000). Since this small-scale sedimentary heterogeneity plays such an important role in reservoir modelling, it is likely that this may also be important in hydrogeology, especially in transport modelling.…”