Hydrocarbon Flow-up Intersecting Faults: Leakage/Production and Bypass Considerations

Abstract

This article considers flow of hydrocarbons up a master fault that bifurcates and allows the hydrocarbons to enter or bypass reservoirs on either side of the bifurcated fault. In addition, leakage (or production) from each reservoir is allowed with a finite time span for the leakage. The rates of leakage from the two reservoirs are also allowed to be different so that the reservoirs either may fill, with concomitant bypass of excess hydrocarbons, or may be drained so rapidly by the leakage that they fill only partially. The timing of the leakage in respect of the timing of hydrocarbon fill is also included so that one can see how the differences in onset and end times of the leakage in relation to end time of the hydrocarbon supply influence the final fill of each reservoir. Uncertainties associated with each of the parameters entering the assessments are also allowed for, so that one can determine which of the uncertain parameters is causing the greatest uncertainty in estimates of the reservoir fill and bypass.