FRACTURED
RESERVOIR
Introduction
►A fractured reservoir is a dual porosity system
consisting of –
Primary inter granular matrix interlaced by a
network of channels comprising the fracture
network.
► In fractured system, four discontinuous units
of variable permeability are superimposed on
matrix
(a)The fracture network
(b)Channels opened in these fractures
(c)Cavities
(d)The network of stylolites*
*series of relatively small, alternating, interlocked, tooth
like columns of stone
2 :Channels
3:Cavities
4 : Stylolites 1:Fracture Network
Physical Aspect
Localized/artificial
or mechanically
induced fractures
do not constitute
fractured reservoir
Fractures must be
distributed / oriented
in intersecting planes
and extend through
out the reservoir for
reservoir to exhibit
unconventional
performance
Selective Parameters
It represents the distance between the
two walls of a fracture and in general
indicates average value 10 – 30 microns
1.
Fracture Opening
FREQUENCY VERSUS SIZE OF FRACTURE
OPENING
2. Fracture Orientation
Fracture strike and direction (azimuth) can
be obtained by correlating measurements
made on cores relative to formation dip.
3. Porosity and Permeability
The porosity of the matrix is not changed
because the rock is fractured and fractures
contribute only a small fraction of bulk rock
porosity. However, the permeability of the
fracture is very high compared with matrix
permeability. Typical ranges of K and Φ are:
K Φ
Matrix 1mD 8 to 35%
Fracture 1 D to 1000,D 0.01 to 1%
Matrix porosity and permeability of
Conventional & Fractured reservoir
20 – 30% 4 – 8%
1md – 1000md .01md – 1md
4. Fracture Geometry
Fractures are characterized by
Opening
Filling
Length
Dip
Orientation
Inter fracture distance
Net work is represented by
Blocks
Sheet
Composite
Blocks
Sheet
Composite
Properties (Range)*
(a) Block dimensions: few cm to few meters
(b) Opening features: few microns to few
millimeters.
(c) Fracture permeability: millidarcy to Darcy
(d) Matrix permeability: Often low
( millidacy or less)
(e) Fracture porosity : 0.01 t0 1.00%
(total volume)
(f) Vug Porosity: 1.00%
(g) Matrix Porosity : variable
The essential information includes the permeability kf
and porosity Φ of fracture system.
Flow behavior
MECHANISM OF OIL AND GAS
PRODUCTION FROM FRACTURED 1
RESERVOIR IS BASED ON THE EXTENT
OF FRACTURES IN THE SYSTEM AND
THEIR ORIENTATION
An extensive fracture system ensures
considerable contact area with
2 matrix system facilitating the
hydrocarbon displacement which is
attributed to the permeability
variations.
Very high production exists in the presence of
fracture.
The relationship between flow rate and differential
pressure is not linear.
The stages of flow is given as:
(a) Initially, the fracture provide most of the
production.
(b) This is followed by transition period when
blocks begin to supply the fractures.
(c) The system then reaches equilibrium, with
blocks supplying the fluid to the fracture,
through which the fluid reach the well
This gives a first line with a slope h Kf ,and then a
connecting curve and the second line with the same
slope.
PRODUCTION TEST
Well bore storage/skin effect is indicated by curve -1
1 2
3
BAYNET CURVE
MATRIX TO FRACTURE TO WELL
ONE - PHASE FLOW
The expansion is due to total
compressibility and is similar to
the formation without fractures.
TWO - PHASE FLOW
A. EXPANSION
B. EXUDATION
A. EXPANSION
• Oil/Water:
Identical for expansion, but with water
rising very fast, through the fractures to
well very rapidly, hence detrimental aspect
for production
• Gas/Oil :
Since the essential compressibility is that of
gas, as such there is not much difference
from non fractured formation, apart from
the rapid formation of secondary gas cap.
B. EXUDATION
Combined action of capillarity
forces (static imbibitions) and
gravitational forces cause the
expulsion of the hydrocarbon
form block to fractures. This is
EXUDATION.
(a)Water wet rock: The water tend to
penetrate spontaneously into the block
by imbibitions and also by gravity
Both process are cumulative.
(b)Oil wet rock : The capillary forces
oppose entry of water into the block.
Exudation is only possible only if the
gravitational forces prevail, that is
when the block size is large .
TWO - PHASE FLOW B. EXUDATION
oil
water
OPRATIONAL VARIABLES
1. Producing GOR
Producing GOR are substantially low in
fractured reservoir, this may be attributed to the
process of gravity segregation resulting in
formation of secondary gas cap formation and
movement of gas towards producing well is
considerably retarded.
2.Pressure decline
Pressure decline is substantially lower rate
during the depletion of fractured reservoir as a
result of in situ pressure maintenance by the
liberated gas.
OPRATIONAL VARIABLES
3. Fluid interface transition zone
Fluid interface transition zone:
The absence of transitional zone GAS/OIL
or OIL /WATER in fractured reservoir as
such there is little or no communication
from fracture to matrix and recovery
becomes the function of fracture
network. The system requires less energy
to move same volume of hydrocarbon.
OPRATIONAL VARIABLES
4. Water Cut
◙ Water cut in fractured reservoir depends
on production rate while in conventional
reservoir it depends on conditions
causing the breakthrough.
◙ In both the cases coning and
displacement processes are effective.
◙ In fractured reservoir the water cut
increases suddenly from 0 to 100%
.However in conventional reservoirs
water cut increases slowly
4. Water Cut
Comparison of pressure draw down
( at equal rates)
Comparison of pressure draw down
(at equal rates)
The productivity index in a low
permeability conventional reservoir
is around 5 STB/D/ psi, while in
fractured reservoir of similar matrix
permeability the productivity index is
usually over 10 STB/D/psi and often
reaches 100 or higher.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Quantity of oil leaving the block as a function of
time is defined/known as TRANSFER RATE( TR )
and is represented as the ratio of recovery to the
maximum recovery at time t. It varies from 0 to 1
1.
TRANSFER
RAT E
TR =
KEY FEATURES
• A horizontal drain hole positioned
2. perpendicular to a sub vertical fracture
network, intersects a large number of
APPLICATION
fractures and can achieve very high
productivity gains.
