Fracture Characterization and Modeling in Dual Media Systems and its Impact on Reservoir Connectivity and Well Productivity

Abstract

A successful field development plan relies heavily on comprehending various subsurface complexities and their impact on the petroleum system. Hence, reservoir modeling plays an essential role in aggregating the complex systems and incorporating uncertainties. In the past decades, fracture characterization and modeling has advanced significantly in providing a high-resolution depiction of the subsurface. This paper focused on examining the impact of major fractures on reservoir connectivity and well productivity. Fracture modeling and parameterization were performed using a synthetic dual porosity, dual permeability (DPDP) simulation model that was based on SPE10 model. Various deterministic fracture realizations were generated by incorporating multiple scenarios of different features such as fractures, high-permeability and high-flow feature planes, and layer bound fractures. The positioning of major longitudinal and lateral fractures was examined to analyze their role on reservoir connectivity and well productivity. Special focus was devoted to evaluate the impact of limited vertical and horizontal fracture extensions compared to more conventional workflows where fractures are modeled as planes across the entire reservoir. Furthermore, additional operational conditions, such as variable water injection schemes and depletion strategies, were applied to assess their impact on the model's response. The evaluation provided in-depth analysis of various subsurface flow scenarios with DPDP systems. The characterization and modeling of complex subsurface features enhanced the understanding of spatial flow dynamics and their impact on reservoir performance. For example, layer-bound fractures result in different dynamic behavior compared to the ones crossing the entire reservoir. Additionally, high-flow features like high permeability streaks alter subsurface flow dynamics by accelerating fluid movement. Therefore, production analysis was performed for every scenario independently to benchmark the impact of various fracture parameters. The paper provides comprehensive evaluation of fracture parameterization on subsurface dynamics by utilizing a DPDP SPE10 model to determine the distinct fracture signatures of reservoir performance and their influence on the overall hydrocarbon recovery.