Fracture networks in shale-hosted igneous intrusions: Processes, distribution and implications for igneous petroleum systems

Rabbel, Ole; Palma, Octavio; Mair, Karen; Galland, Olivier; Spacapan, Juan Bautista; Senger, Kim

doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104403

Cited by 28 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…Here, we focus on presenting field evidence for hydrothermal flow of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids both around and within the sills, which then motivates the numerical study. Note that a more comprehensive description of the field study is presented by Rabbel et al (2021).…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the subsurface sill complexes, thrust tectonics brought to surface exceptional outcrop analogues in the surrounding mountain ranges including the Sierra Azul, Sierra Cara Cura, and Cuesta del Chihuido (Figure 1). Several studies describe these localities, which offer easy access to sills emplaced in the Vaca Muerta and Agrio formations (Spacapan et al, 2017;Rabbel et al, 2018;Rabbel et al, 2021). Especially the km-scale outcrops at El Manzano (Figure 1b) and Sierra Cara Cura constitute direct analogues to the subsurface sill complexes of the RGV igneous petroleum system (Palma et al, 2019;Rabbel et al, 2021).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies describe these localities, which offer easy access to sills emplaced in the Vaca Muerta and Agrio formations (Spacapan et al, 2017;Rabbel et al, 2018;Rabbel et al, 2021). Especially the km-scale outcrops at El Manzano (Figure 1b) and Sierra Cara Cura constitute direct analogues to the subsurface sill complexes of the RGV igneous petroleum system (Palma et al, 2019;Rabbel et al, 2021).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sills often host fracture networks including different fracture types. These form shortly after solidification of the magma and may include columnar cooling joints or fractures related to hydraulic fracturing during hydrothermalism (Senger et al 2015, Witte et al 2012, Rabbel et al, 2021. Multiple studies have provided evidence that such fracture networks may be open and can contain water (Chevallier et al, 2004) or hydrocarbons and act as fluid pathways or even fractured reservoirs (Mark et al, 2018;Schofield et al, 2020;Spacapan et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of permeability evolution in igneous sills on hydrothermal flow and hydrocarbon transport in volcanic sedimentary basins

Rabbel

Galerne

Hasenclever

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Abstract. Sill intrusions emplaced in organic-rich sedimentary rocks trigger the generation and migration of hydrocarbons in volcanic sedimentary basins. Based on seismic and geological observations, numerical modeling studies of hydrothermal flow around sills have shown that thermogenic methane is channeled towards the intrusion tip, where it rises to the surface in a hydrothermal vent. However, these models typically assume impermeable sills and ignore potential effects of permeability evolution in cooling sills, e.g., due to fracturing. To address this issue, we combine a geological field study of a volcanic basin (Neuquén Basin, Argentina) with hybrid FEM/FVM numerical modeling of hydrothermal flow around a sill, including hydrocarbon generation and transport. Our field observations show that graphitized bitumen veins and cooling joints filled with solid bitumen or fluidized shale are common within the studied sills. Raman spectroscopy indicates graphitization at temperatures between 350–500 °C, evidencing fluid flow within the intrusions shortly after solidification. This finding motivates our modeling study, which investigates flow patterns around intrusions that become porous and permeable upon solidification. The results show three distinct flow phases affecting the transport of hydrocarbons generated in the contact aureole: (1) Contact-parallel flow toward the sill tip before solidification, (2) upon complete solidification, sudden vertical “flushing” of overpressured hydrocarbon-rich fluids from the lower contact aureole through the hot sill, and (3) slow rise of hydrocarbon-rich fluids above the sill center, and backward-downward flow near the sill tip. We conclude that permeability creation within cooling sills may be an important factor for hydrothermal flow and hydrocarbon transport in volcanic basins, as it considerably alters the fluid pressure configuration and flow patterns by dissipating overpressure below the sills. This could, for instance, lead to a reduced potential for hydrothermal venting.

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Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of permeability evolution in igneous sills on hydrothermal flow and hydrocarbon transport in volcanic sedimentary basins

Rabbel

Galerne

Hasenclever

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

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“…With the advancement of petroleum exploration technology and the continuous discovery of igneous rock oil and gas reservoirs, igneous rock oil and gas reservoirs have attracted the attention of scholars as a new field of oil and gas exploration and development. − Like sedimentary rock oil and gas reservoirs, igneous rock oil and gas reservoirs are widely distributed in more than 300 basins or blocks in more than 20 countries on 5 continents. They have been found in many countries including Russia, China, the United States, and Japan .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on the Effect of Fracturing Fluid on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Igneous Rock

et al. 2022

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Igneous rock oil and gas reservoirs have great development potential. Hydraulic fracturing is an important means for the development of these reservoirs. In the process of fracturing and increasing production, fracturing fluid is prone to a hydration reaction with clay minerals in igneous rock, and then, the structure and mechanical properties of the igneous rock are changed, affecting increased production. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a systematic water–rock reaction experiment method to understand the influence of fracturing fluid on the structure and mechanical properties of igneous rocks and to optimize the fracturing fluid system of igneous rock reservoirs. In this experiment, four solutions were used: slickwater, guar fracturing fluid, 2% KCl aqueous solution, and 4% KCl aqueous solution. Acoustic testing, porosity and permeability testing, XRD analysis, micro-CT scanning, and displacement experiments were performed. The influence of different fracturing fluids on the structure and mechanical properties of igneous rocks was studied. Igneous rock samples with a permeability of 0.05–0.1 mD and average porosity of 7–14% were used. The results show that all four liquid systems will reduce the permeability, Young’s modulus, and brittleness index and increase the porosity and Poisson’s ratio of the rock after fracturing. Among them, the permeability damage rate is as high as 37.37%, which may be related to the plugging of pores with solid residues in the gel breaking liquid; CT results show that there are microcracks in the rock, which increase over time, up to 13.54%. The brittleness index decreases. Among the fluids, the influence of slickwater on the rock brittleness index is the smallest, no more than 5%. Guar gum had the greatest effect on the Gel breaking liquid, up to 58%. One of the reasons for the increase in porosity is that adding a clay stabilizer composed of inorganic salts and organic cationic polymers to the slickwater fracturing fluid can effectively reduce the damage caused by the fracturing fluid to the rock during the fracturing process and can reduce the maximum by 50%. This paper can clarify the damage law of fracturing fluid systems to igneous rock reservoirs and provide the theoretical basis for the hydraulic fracturing of igneous rock reservoirs.

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Fracture evaluation of the plutonic basement in the Upper Magdalena Basin: Implications for the development of naturally fractured reservoirs in the Northern Andes

Rodríguez‐Cuevas,

Cardona,

Monsalve

et al. 2024

Geological Journal

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Plutonic rocks typically have negligible matrix porosity and permeability. However, fractures and mineral alterations create storage space and flow pathways that turn plutonic rocks into fluid reservoirs. Despite significant hydrocarbon discoveries, naturally fractured reservoirs in plutonic rocks have been poorly studied. In most Colombian basins, the crystalline basement has undergone multiple deformational events and is thrust over the Cretaceous to Cenozoic source and reservoir rocks of the conventional petroleum system. This structural configuration is ideal for the migration of oil into a fractured basement. A multiscale fracture analysis, including field, petrographical and petrophysical techniques was conducted on the Permian and Jurassic plutonic basement of Upper Magdalena Basin in order to understand the controls on brittle deformation, the development of fracture networks and their potential to form hydrocarbon reservoirs. The results indicate that protolith textures and structures, including magmatic and mylonitic foliation, favours fracturing. Dykes exhibit higher fracture density (7–48 fractures/m), porosity (mean = 0.4%) and permeability (mean = 125,818.75 mD) than the host rock (2–25 fractures/m; 0.23%; 12,066.09 mD). Intersection zones from regional faults, are characterized by the highest fracture and lineament intensity. Our results suggest that dyke swarms and interacting damage zones can significantly enhance the reservoir quality of plutonic rocks by providing storage in fractures and fluid pathways to the host rock.

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Fracture networks in shale-hosted igneous intrusions: Processes, distribution and implications for igneous petroleum systems

Cited by 28 publications

References 50 publications

Impact of permeability evolution in igneous sills on hydrothermal flow and hydrocarbon transport in volcanic sedimentary basins

Impact of permeability evolution in igneous sills on hydrothermal flow and hydrocarbon transport in volcanic sedimentary basins

Study on the Effect of Fracturing Fluid on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Igneous Rock

Fracture evaluation of the plutonic basement in the Upper Magdalena Basin: Implications for the development of naturally fractured reservoirs in the Northern Andes

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