Handling Fault Seals, Baffles, Barriers and Conduits

Cost Effective and Integrated Fault Seal Analysis

Characterizing the fluid flow properties of faults is often seen as a specialist subject, requiring dedicated software, and is often overlooked. However, most aspects of fault seal analysis draws upon the skills of an integrated geoscientist who can utilize all available data (e.g. seismic, well log, core, thin-section, outcrop, laboratory, PVT, and dynamic data) and assess uncertainty in both input data and interpretation.

There are relatively simple and well established workflows (i.e., juxtaposition analysis, shale gouge calculations, which may or may not work depending on reservoir architecture and geomechanical conditions) that a geoscientist should follow that help characterize fault seal potential, but how to address more detailed challenges related to the intrinsic properties of fault rocks (i.e. other than shale gouge), fault geometries (i.e. segmentation) and setting (i.e. non-clastic lithologies, geomechanical effects, neotectonics) is not well established.

This meeting will build upon previous meetings to consider the most-cost effective ways of carrying out an integrated fault seal analysis in today’s environment, in order to understand the uncertainties, risks and upsides associated with fault related fluid flow. All parts of the petroleum value chain from exploration and appraisal to – development and production will be considered.

This is a Geological Society Petroleum Group event, please visit their website to register.