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Greeting All

I am so frustrated. I am doing my MSc but with dissertation. I would like to do Fault Seal Analysis.
So far I have done literature review but I dont have an outlined workflow of how to approach this. I have tried researching but what I have observed is that the articles only outline the methodology for a specific place.

I would like to do a fault analysis I have just about all the data. Please can anyone please just outline a workflow for me so that I would know how to move forward

Thank you
Khanyo

Interesting topic!

I think you would need a software package for that. I know Petrel can do Shale Gauge Ratio if that is what you're after. With that you can figure out the Fault transmissibility and it's potential to withstand bouyancy forced from the oil or gas.

I believe SGR is a measure of the Shale fraction (in thickness, so a N/G can also work) devided by the displacement at each point on the fault. The displacement and Vshale values vary everywhere along the fault, so to calculate it yourself will require some advanced computing skills or you will need to program some software. Try to get your hands on Petrel (and the RDR Structural analysis module). Also worth looking into Alan diagrams as they help you to asses displacement and juxtaposition too.

Hope this helps.

Hi Khanyo

Great to hear that you are interested in learning about fault seal analysis. Our company has been developing algorithms, software and workflows for doing fault seal analysis in exploration and development.

The workflows we have developed have been used in a large number of basins around the world. We
would be more than happy to provide you a copy of our software FaultRisk and ideas on the workflows to help you do your MSc. Drop me a line and I can set you up with a login on our site http://www.faultseal.com there you can get a copy of FaultRisk.

Broadly we check the structural integrity of the fault using a displacement profile tool in FaultRisk to help define wether it is geologically valid. If the fault model is geologically impossible then the fault seal calculation will be wrong.

Next FaultRIsk uses a Monte Carlo simulation to model the Alan Maps of fault surfaces and associated uncertainty of juxtaposition and SGR. In exploration and in some elements of development we use the software to calculate constraints on fault block fluid contacts.

If you have a set of known fluid contacts in a neighbouring field on fault block these can be used to calibrate the software. If you are in a true frontier area a range of published algorithms have been published.

During your MSc it would be very good to look at doing a calibration exercise as it would stretch the bounds of science.

As well as working on the trapped volume you could also look to use FaultRisk to calculate transmissibility for use in reservoir simulations, this though could be a larger project.

Best wishes Titus