Geohistory and Fault Rock Calibration: an Example from the Barents Sea, Norway

Abstract

Summary Fault Seal Analysis (FSA) is a key tool to determine the cross-fault flow in field development projects and to quantify the risk on hydrocarbon column heights for exploration. This work describes a fully integrated FSA for a highly compartmentalized hydrocarbon development field in the Barents Sea. The aim of the study was to evaluate and quantify the capillary sealing behavior of faults within the field. For all faults, specific properties (Shale Gouge Ratio, HC column height, permeability/transmissibility) were calculated, which help to understand and predict fault seal capacities supported by each fault face (cell juxtaposed to fault). Furthermore, value ranges for the thresholds controlling cross-fault fluid flow were computed based on identified fault rock types. Key challenge of any FSA is a robust fault rock calibration workflow. Understanding the geohistory and using robust data for depth at time of faulting or maximum burial depth are crucial for the workflow. Our work tries to demonstrate the importance of using all available data in order to receive representative results with as low and realistic uncertainty ranges as possible.