The effect of intra-reservoir shales on effective stress sensitivity

Yesser HajNasser, Colin MacBeth

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

    Abstract

    In most clastic reservoirs experiencing pressure depletion, the sands in the reservoir naturally compact. As a consequence, the much lower permeability reservoir shales may experience extension. This extension is counteracted to some degree by pressure equilibration of the shale. The effective seismic response of the reservoir interval may thus be a mix of both hardening and softening reservoir components, depending on the balance of these phenomena. This effect is predicted to alter the overall stress sensitivity of the seismic
    properties from that anticipated for a homogeneous, fully connected reservoir interval. However, the final resultant response depends on the time period over which this effect is observed. Numerical computation using simplified geological models indicates shales of 1m to 10m thickness should be taken into account
    when quantitatively assessing the 4D seismic signature from frequently shot time-lapse surveys with a periodicity of 3 to 12 months, whilst 5 to 10m thick shales could impact conventional 4D seismic surveys shot over 5 to 10 years. These conclusions are strongly affected by the mechanical and transport properties
    of the intra-reservoir shales, their thickness and distribution, and are hence also a function of the depositional environment.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages1-5
    Number of pages5
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2010
    EventEAGE Shale Workshop 2010: Shale - Resource and Challenge - Nice, France
    Duration: 26 Apr 201028 Apr 2010

    Conference

    ConferenceEAGE Shale Workshop 2010: Shale - Resource and Challenge
    Country/TerritoryFrance
    CityNice
    Period26/04/1028/04/10

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