Identification of reservoir fractures on FMI image logs using Canny and Sobel edge detection algorithms

Mina Shafiabadi,Seyed Reza Ghavami Riabi,Abolghasem Kamkar-Rouhani,Behzad Tokhmechi,Amin Roshandel Kahoo

doi:10.2516/ogst/2020086

Mina Shafiabadi, Seyed Reza Ghavami Riabi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst/2020086

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Abstract

Because of the significant impact of fractures on production in hydrocarbon reservoirs, identification of these phenomena is a very important issue. Image logs are one of the best tools for revealing and studying fractures in reservoir and researcher can get lots of information about geological features in wells, by studying and analyzing these logs. In this research, two approaches have been used to determine the fractures in two wells A and B located in one of the oil fields in southwest of Iran. In the first approach, using Geolog software (version-7), after processing and correction of raw image log data, the number, position, dip, extension, layering, density and expansion of fractures have been identified. In the second approach, considering that the fractures in FMI images have edges, the Canny and Sobel filters as edge detection operators in image processing have been used to detect fractures in these images.

Highlights

Fractures are one of the important complications in reservoir heterogeneity related to fluid flow and are more characteristic of large carbonate oil fields (Rezaie, 2008)
The Canny and Sobel edge-detection algorithms are implemented in MATLAB environment to find the edges of fractures, and to identify the fractures on the FMI image logs
Image logs are among the powerful tools that are used in the study of hydrocarbon reservoirs to identify fractured zones in the walls of wells

Summary

Introduction

Fractures are one of the important complications in reservoir heterogeneity related to fluid flow and are more characteristic of large carbonate oil fields (Rezaie, 2008). When the fractures are open, they create pathways for the movement of hydrocarbons to the well, and may even convert low permeability tanks into high-yielding samples. When the fractures are closed or cemented, they act as a barrier against the movement of hydrocarbons towards the well. This dual behavior of fractures makes it necessary to identify them (Javid et al, 2012). Direct and indirect methods for identifying fractures include the use of seismic sections, petrophysical logs, well testing, flower blasting, and descriptions of cores and image logs (Tingay et al, 2008). Seismic sections have low resolution for detection of fractures but normally identify large-scale faults (Tokhmechi, 2009).

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