DFN workflow
1) Dataset for discrete fracture network (DFN). See Figure 1.
A. A structural model and Geocellular model.
B. Sedimentological facies model may be useful in order to filter some non-fractured facies
(ex shale).
C. Interpreted FMI (Image Logs)
a) Depth MD.
b) Dip.
c) Dip-Azimuth.
D. Seismic cube preferentially without filter (true amplitude).
E. Core data preferentially oriented: fracture type description (open/close), fracture
intensity, fracture aperture, porosity and type of cement.
F. Well test: Sigma, permeability, porosity calibrated with model data.
Figure 1. Data set for DFN
2) Data loading
One of the main well data for DFN is the FMI interpretation (wellbore image). Fracture dataset (MD, Dip
and Dip-Azimuth) could be loaded independently for each stratigraphic unit in order to perform fracture
intensity logs for each zone/stratigraphic unit. See Figure 2.
Figure 2. Dataset for each stratigraphic interval and Petrel import format
3) Data quality check
Generation of well sections showing raw logs, petrophysic properties, core data, PLT’s and fractures
“tadpoles” (Dip/dip-azimuth displays).
A. Checking the data correlation in depth.
B. Rose Diagrams could be created for each zones/stratigraphic unit. See Figure 3.
C. Basics statistics analysis of dip and dip azimuth, investigate the possible correlation
between fracture intensity and lithology.
D. Fracture intensity curves generated for each stratigraphic unit.
Figure 3. Data quality check for each stratigraphic interval
4) Fracture analysis - Methodology
It is strongly recommended to know the tectonic history and structural trends of the field in order to
define the main fault orientations in relation with the main stresses (σ1, σ2 and σ3) and thus the main
fractures orientations (See Figure 4) in order to build a simple conceptual model. When having the data
loaded in Petrel (under “point well data” in “Global well logs”) the Fracture sets (groups of fractures
showing the same orientation) can be defined and then the corresponding intensity log curves can be
generated (for each fracture set and for each stratigraphic unit). Fracture intensity logs are used to
create a fracture intensity model for the DFN. Fracture sets can be defined using a stereonet window to
display the fractures in polar projection. Fracture sets attributes (orientation) are created in Petrel for
each stratigraphic unit.
Figure 4. Strain ellipsoid and main stresses axes
A. Fractures attributes
An attribute has to be created in order to manually select some group (or clusters) of fractures
points in the stereonet window.
a) Display the fractures in a Schmidt diagram: Wells/Global well logs/Point well data + Toggle “on”
to display the fracture data in the stereonet window. (See Figure 5).
b) Create the fracture attributes: Point well data/Right click/ /Select “Insert New Attribute” (See
Figure 5).
c) Select “Discrete” type and change the name of the attribute. (See Figure 5).
Figure 5. Fracture sets attributes
B. Fracture sets selection
a) Create a fracture set in “Point well data/attribute/menu/create filter”. A file in will be
created in “Well filter” (See Figure 6).
b) Toggle on the button “Select using freehand draw” and draw the area corresponding to
the group of point showing the similar dip and dip azimuth in the stereonet. (See Figure 6). If
the fracture set is composed of 2 groups of points (or Sub-Sets) showing different dip-
azimuth (but with same direction or strike), both groups will have to be selected
independently and then merged using the Petrel calculator.
c) Go to well filter, select the fracture set, “Right click/ assign a new value to the filtered
point”. Fracture Sets will be created under Filter Folder/. (See Figure 6).
Figure 6. Fracture sets selection
d) The 2 groups (or Sub-Sets) of a same Fracture Set could be merged using the Petrel calculator
(See Figure 7). This could be done using formulas within each unit:
To give a value to the Sub-Set 1: “SubSet1 =If( Set1 =1, 1, U )”,
To give a value to the Sub-Set 2 and to merge the Sub-Sets: “Merged_Sets =If( Set2 =1, 2,
SubSet1)”.
e) It is necessary to deselect the previous Fracture Set that has been merged before creating a
new set using the calculator.
Figure 7. Create/merge the fracture sets
C. Fractures Intensity logs
d) Right click in the “Point Well Data”/menu/insert global intensity log. In the first window select
“Intensity log” for the log type; in “Output” select the right attribute corresponding to the
intensity log that needs to be created.
e) The new Fracture intensity log is located in “Global well log”, below “Point well data” in a new
folder called “Intensity logs from: Point well data”
Figure 8. Generating the fracture intensity logs
