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Fracture identification and its application of ultra-low permeability carbonate reservoir in Fauqi North oilfield, Iraq

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Abstract

Fractures are the main flow channel and storage space of ultra-low permeability carbonate reservoirs. They have a profound impact on the distribution of productive reservoir zones (sweet spot), as well as the principles governing the accumulation of oil and gas. Additionally, fractures play a pivotal role in determining the strategy for oilfield development and the configuration of well patterns. Traditionally, the analysis of fractures in oilfields has been confined to one type of data source which is limited to study the natural fracture via the static data of core, seismic, well log, and fracture modeling or the dynamic data of mud loss, well test, and well production in the previous studies. This article goes beyond these limitations by comprehensively examining fracture responses. It integrates static data sources with dynamic data sources. This integration is achieved through the application of a highly effective cross-domain technology and a qualitative and quantitative study workflow specifically designed for imaging fractured reservoirs. The result is the development of a fracture geological model capable of predicting fracture locations, orientations, and properties. The study focuses on the ultra-low permeability carbonate reservoir in the Mishrif formation within Iraq’s Fauqi North oilfield. Here, fracture identification within the carbonate reservoir is meticulously analyzed, combining static and dynamic data sources. The overall distribution of fractures in Mishrif MB21 carbonate reservoirs is dominated by the direction of NE~SW compressive stress, and mainly the fracture strike is along the direction of NW~SE, similar with anticline strike. Fractures develop in the long axis of anticline and west steep flank. Average fracture zone density in the fracture development blocks is about 1.587 fracture zones per 100 m. Average fracture density is 2.4 fractures per 1 m for each fracture zone. Fractures provide the main permeability contribution because of the matrix being ultra-low permeability; the average permeability for the fracture development block is 122 × 10-3 μm2. Good application results of the fracture identification study are obtained in the optimization of oilfield horizontal well pattern deployment and enhancement single horizontal well productivity in the development of Fauqi North oilfield. Ultimately, the study’s methodology and tech workflow have proven to be highly effective in providing a detailed description of fractures within ultra-low permeability carbonate reservoirs. This approach can be readily applied to similar reservoirs, with the potential to enhance overall oilfield development efficiency and increase recovery rates.

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Funding

The article is funded by Major Technological Projects of CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Company) during the 14th Five-Year Plan: Key Technologies for Efficient Development of Thick Complex Carbonate Reservoirs (KJGG2022-0905).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Company Limited of CNOOC, Bei**g, 100028, China

    Li Zhiming, Dai Weihua, Zhang Yikai & Ma Liwu

  2. China Oilfield Service Limited Company, Langfang, 065201, Hebei, China

    Li **aoqiang

  3. United Energy Group (China), Bei**g, 100015, China

    Zhen Lingxia

Authors
  1. Li Zhiming
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  2. Li **aoqiang
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  3. Dai Weihua
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  4. Zhang Yikai
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  5. Zhen Lingxia
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  6. Ma Liwu
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Correspondence to Li Zhiming.

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Responsible Editor: Santanu Banerjee

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Zhiming, L., **aoqiang, L., Weihua, D. et al. Fracture identification and its application of ultra-low permeability carbonate reservoir in Fauqi North oilfield, Iraq. Arab J Geosci 16, 623 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11738-x

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