Method for quadrimodal fault prediction using strain tensor cyclides
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorSeth Busetti
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Abstract
A method of predicting three-dimensional fracture geometry in a subterranean region of interest is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a strain tensor for the subterranean region of interest, calculating a set of principal strain components from the strain tensor, and determining a strain cyclide from the set of principal strain components. The method further includes calculating a set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors from the strain cyclide and determining an in-plane shear strain magnitude and a shear strain orientation from the set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors.
Claims17
A method of determining three-dimensional fracture geometry in a subterranean region of interest, comprising:
- obtaining a strain tensor for the subterranean region of interest;
- calculating a set of principal strain components from the strain tensor;
- determining a strain cyclide from the set of principal strain components;
- calculating a set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors from the strain cyclide;
- determining an in-plane shear strain magnitude and a shear strain orientation associated with a quadrimodal fault from the set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors;
- and
- determining a hydrocarbon reservoir development plan based, at least in part, on the in-plane shear strain magnitude and the shear strain orientation,
- wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir development plan comprises a wellbore trajectory planned to penetrate a hydrocarbon reservoir within the subterranean region of interest.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions comprising functionality for:
- obtaining a strain tensor for a subterranean region of interest;
- calculating a set of principal strain components from the strain tensor;
- determining a strain cyclide from the set of principal strain components;
- calculating a set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors from the strain cyclide;
- determining an in-plane shear strain magnitude and a shear strain orientation associated with a quadrimodal fault from the set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors;
- and
- determining a hydrocarbon reservoir development plan based, at least in part, on the in-plane shear strain magnitude and the shear strain orientation,
- wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir development plan comprises a wellbore trajectory planned to penetrate a hydrocarbon reservoir within the subterranean region of interest.
A system for predicting three-dimensional fracture geometry in a subterranean region of interest, comprising:
- a wellbore tool configured to measure a strain tensor of the subterranean region of interest;
- and
- a computer system configured to:
- receive the strain tensor from the wellbore tool;
- calculate a set of principal strain components from the strain tensor;
- determine a strain cyclide from the set of principal strain components;
- calculate a set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors from the strain cyclide;
- determine an in-plane shear strain magnitude and a shear strain orientation associated with a quadrimodal fault from the set of quadrimodal fault normal vectors;
- and
- determine a hydrocarbon reservoir development plan based, at least in part, on the in-plane shear strain magnitude and the shear strain orientation,
- wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir development plan comprises a wellbore trajectory planned to penetrate a hydrocarbon reservoir within the subterranean region of interest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.