3D spatial characterization of sand body for uranium reservoirs based on geostatistical resistivity inversion

Abstract

The concern over climate change and a transition away from fossil fuels has reinvigorated interest in using nuclear energy in producing electricity. Uranium is the principal fuel used in nuclear power plants, and mineral deposits containing this element are of strategic importance. The successful development of sandstone uranium deposits benefits from 3D geophysical characterization of sand bodies in uranium reservoirs. In view of this, we have evaluated a method based on 3D geostatistical resistivity inversion. First, we analyze the application of that method to the problem at hand and introduce a workflow for analyzing the data. Second, through petrophysical sensitivity analysis, we identify the logging parameters that can characterize sandstone in this context and geostatistical inversion to estimate those parameters. We then use 3D geostatistical resistivity inversion to map a sandstone uranium reservoir and find it to provide accurate results. Finally, the 3D data of inversion are applied to 3D spatial characterization of a sand body in the Sifangtai uranium reservoir inverting a field data set in the western of Songliao Basin in China. We believe this geostatistical inversion method to be useful in determining the location of drilling wells for exploration and development of sandstone uranium deposits.