Integrated Fractured Reservoir Characterization and Connectivity Study in the Cantarell Field

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a multidisciplinary and integrated approach that can be used for understanding the connectivity and conductivity in fractured reservoirs. A case study from a carbonate reservoir in the Cantarell field in Mexico will be used to illustrate this approach. The fracture model is constructed by using seismic volumetric curvature attribute. The characterization of 3D fracture model is made with borehole images and fracture seismic classification analysis, which help to identify the two main scales and three sets of fractures in the reservoir. Fracture networks made by long size fracture corridors are assumed to be imposed on the small size diffuse fracture density fields. The 3D fracture model by integrating reservoir engineering data, including mud losses during drilling, flow meter data, transient well test analysis and water production data, resulted in the calibration of effective hydraulic conductivity for each fracture type. Based on the 3D fracture model, the hierarchical modeling concept is taken into account in effective permeability tensor computation. Matrix and fracture parameters including fracture density, length, aperture and orientation are calibrated and used to generate 3D fracture- permeability models for the reservoirs. An effective permeability model on a directional fracture-set base is developed to quantify the reservoir conductivity. In this paper, case studies are used to illustrate applications of these technologies and their efficiency in interpreting unexpected field production features such as early breakthroughs and better understanding the controls on the oil recovery.