SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of Fractures in the Reservoir Rocks of the Karanj Oil Field in Southwest Iran

  • Published:
Solid Fuel Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dezful Fractures exert a critical influence on global fluid flow dynamics in carbonate reservoirs. Our study concentrated on fractures in two wells in the Karanj oil/gas field in the southern Embayment of the Zagros Basin, utilizing FMI image logs across the Gachsaran and Asmari Formations. A notable finding was the highest bedding frequency identified in Zone 1-1 of the Asmari Formation. In this rock section, 44 open fractures were identified – 7 medium, 22 minor, and 15 hairline fractures – with dips mainly between 63 to 85 degrees. Notably, the absence of borehole breakout due to low horizontal stress was observed. Instead, induced fractures consistently followed a prevailing N75E/S75W trend, aligning with regional stress patterns. Bed dips ranged from 21 to 57 degrees, averaging at 12 degrees towards S38W, with strikes at N52W/S52E. Zone 1-1 of the Asmari Formation exhibited the highest bedding frequency. Expanding our analysis to the entire Karanj field’s reservoir rock, a total of 703 open fractures were identified, showing dips from 21 to 80 degrees. A significant observation was a potential fault at 1536.5 m, characterized by a strike of N45E-S45W and a dip of 75 degrees in the S45E direction. At depths of 2276.85 and 2279.5 m, fault evidence was also noted in the image logs. This research significantly contributes to our understanding of fracture patterns in carbonate reservoirs, providing valuable insights into fluid flow dynamics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (France)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 10.
Fig. 11.
Fig. 12.
Fig. 13.
Fig. 14.
Fig. 15.
Fig. 16.
Fig. 17.

DATA AVAILABILITY

The corresponding authors can provide data upon reasonable requests for academic purposes.

REFERENCES

  1. Balaky, S.M., Al-Dabagh, M.M., Asaad, I.Sh., Tamar-Agha, M., Ali, M.S., and Radwan, A.E., Sedimentological and petrophysical heterogeneities controls on reservoir characterization of the Upper Triassic shallow marine carbonate Kurra Chine Formation, Northern Iraq: Integration of outcrop and subsurface data, Mar. Pet. Geol., 2023, vol. 149, p. 106085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.106085

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Prochnow, S.J., Raterman, N.S., Swenberg, M., Reddy, L., Smith, I., Romanyuk, M., and Fernandez, T., A subsurface machine learning approach at hydrocarbon production recovery & resource estimates for unconventional reservoir systems: Making subsurface predictions from multimensional data analysis, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 2022, vol. 215, p. 110598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2022.110598

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Glad, A.C., Afrough, A., Amour, F., Ferreira, C.A.S., Price, N., Clausen, O.R., and Nick, H.M., Anatomy of fractures: Quantifying fracture geometry utilizing X-ray computed tomography in a chalk-marl reservoir; the Lower Cretaceous Valdemar Field (Danish Central Graben), J. Struct. Geol., 2023, vol. 174, p. 104936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2023.104936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Malki, M.L., Saberi, M.R., Kolawole, O., Rasouli, V., Sennaoui, B., and Ozotta, O., Underlying mechanisms and controlling factors of carbonate reservoir characterization from rock physics perspective: A comprehensive review, Geoenergy Sci. Eng., 2023, vol. 226, p. 211793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2023.211793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gaurina-Međimurec, N., Pašić, B., Mijić, P., and Medved, I., Drilling fluid and cement slurry design for naturally fractured reservoirs, Appl. Sci., 2021, vol. 11, no. 2, p. 767. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11020767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu, G., Zeng, L., Li, H., Ostadhassan, M., and Rabiei, M., Natural fractures in metamorphic basement reservoirs in the Liaohe Basin, China, Mar. Pet. Geol., 2020, vol. 119, p. 104479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Li, X., Yang, Z., Li, S., Huang, W., Zhan, J., and Lin, W., Reservoir characteristics and effective development technology in typical low-permeability to ultralow-permeability reservoirs of China National Petroleum Corporation, Energy Explor. Exploitation, 2021, vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 1713–1726. https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987211005212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Khoshbakht, F., Azizzadeh, M., Memarian, H., Nourozi, G.H., and Moallemi, S.A., Comparison of electrical image log with core in a fractured carbonate reservoir, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 2012, vols. 86–87, pp. 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2012.03.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Eyinla, D., Henderson, S.K., Emadi, H., Raj Thiyagarajan, S., and Arora, A., Optimization of hydraulic fracture monitoring approach: A perspective on integrated fiber optics and sonic tools, Geoenergy Sci. Eng., 2023, vol. 231, p. 212441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2023.212441

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Farghal, N.S., Fault and fracture identification and characterization in 3D seismic data from unconventional reservoirs, PhD Dissertation, Stanford, Calif.: Stanford Univ., 2018.

  11. Desai, B., Shale reservoir characterisation, micro crack studies and multi stage fracturing: A case study form cambay basin, PhD Dissertation, Gandhinagar, India: Pandit Deendayal Energy Univ., 2016.

  12. Shafiabadi, M., Kamkar-Rouhani, A., and Sajadi, S.M., Identification of the fractures of carbonate reservoirs and determination of their dips from FMI image logs using Hough transform algorithm, Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies Nouvelles, 2021, vol. 76, p. 37. https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst/2021019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ameen, M.S., Buhidma, I.M., and Rahim, Z., The function of fractures and in-situ stresses in the Khuff reservoir performance, onshore fields, Saudi Arabia, AAPG Bull., 2010, vol. 94, no. 1, pp. 27–60. https://doi.org/10.1306/06160909012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Assous, S., Elkington, P., Clark, S., and Whetton, J., Automated detection of planar geologic features in borehole images, Geophysics, 2014, vol. 79, no. 1, pp. D11–D19. https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2013-0189.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Taiebi, F., Akbarizadeh, G., and Farshidi, E., Detection of reservoir fractures in imaging logs using directional filtering, 2017 5th Iranian Joint Congress on Fuzzy and Intelligent Systems (CFIS), Qazvin, Iran, 2017, IEEE, 2017, pp. 150–154. https://doi.org/10.1109/cfis.2017.8003674

  16. Alavi, M., Regional stratigraphy of the Zagros fold-thrust belt of Iran and its proforeland evolution, Am. J. Sci., 2004, vol. 304, no. 1, pp. 1–20. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.304.1.1

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mehrabi, H., Rahimpour-Bonab, H., Enayati-Bidgoli, A.H., and Navidtalab, A., Depositional environment and sequence stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Ilam Formation in central and southern parts of the Dezful Embayment, SW Iran, Carbonates Evaporites, 2014, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 263–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-013-0168-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E., and Heward, W.L., Applied Behavior Analysis, Harlow, England: Pearson, 2007, 3rd ed.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bordenave, M.L., Petroleum systems and distribution of the oil and gas fields in the Iranian Part of the Tethyan region, Memoir 106: Petroleum Systems of the Tethyan Region, AAPG, 2014, pp. 505–540. https://doi.org/10.1306/13431865m1063614

    Book  Google Scholar 

  20. Fard, I.A., Braathen, A., Mokhtari, M., and Alavi, S.A., Interaction of the Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt and the Arabian-type, deep-seated folds in the Abadan Plain and the Dezful Embayment,SW Iran, Pet. Geosci., 2006, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 347–362. https://doi.org/10.1144/1354-079305-706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Zeinalzadeh, A., Influence of folding on hydrocarbon generation: an example from the dezful embayment, J. Pet. Sci. Technol., 2020, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 30–38. https://doi.org/10.22078/jpst.2020.4256.1692

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Folkestad, A., Veselovsky, Z., and Roberts, P., Utilising borehole image logs to interpret delta to estuarine system: A case study of the subsurface Lower Jurassic Cook Formation in the Norwegian northern North Sea, Mar. Pet. Geol., 2012, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 255–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2011.07.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Maliva, R.G., Clayton, E.A., and Missimer, T.M., Application of advanced borehole geophysical logging to managed aquifer recharge investigations, Hydrogeology J., 2009, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 1547–1556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0437-z

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lai, J., Wang, G., Wang, Z., Chen, J., Pang, X., Wang, S., Zhou, Z., He, Z., Qin, Z., and Fan, X., A review on pore structure characterization in tight sandstones, Earth-Sci. Rev., 2018, vol. 177, pp. 436–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.12.003

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Rider, M.H., The Geological Interpretation of Well Logs, New York: Wiley, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Fars Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fars, Iran

    Seyedeh Soghra Dehbanzadeh

  2. Department of Geology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

    Seyedeh Soghra Dehbanzadeh, Abdul Majid Asadi, Kouros Yazdjerdi, Vahid Ahmadi & Mehdi Azadmanesh

Authors
  1. Seyedeh Soghra Dehbanzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdul Majid Asadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kouros Yazdjerdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vahid Ahmadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mehdi Azadmanesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization, SSD, AMA, KY, VA, and MA; writing-original draft, M SSD, AMA, KY, VA, and MA; methodology, SSD, AMA, KY, VA, and MA; resources, SSD, AMA, KY, VA and MA; visualization, SSD, AMA, KY, VA, and MA; writing-review and editing, SSD, AMA, KY, VA, and MA; funding acquisition, SSD, AMA, KY, VA, and MA. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Seyedeh Soghra Dehbanzadeh or Abdul Majid Asadi.

Ethics declarations

The authors of this work declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note.

Allerton Press remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dehbanzadeh, S.S., Asadi, A.M., Yazdjerdi, K. et al. Analysis of Fractures in the Reservoir Rocks of the Karanj Oil Field in Southwest Iran. Solid Fuel Chem. 57, 519–537 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0361521923080025

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0361521923080025

Keywords:

Search

Navigation