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Dissolution vugs in fractured carbonates: A complication? Or perhaps a key for simplifying reservoir characterization
Author(s) -
Kurtzman Daniel,
Jennings James W.,
Lucia F. Jerry
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl031229
Subject(s) - geology , outcrop , carbonate , permeability (electromagnetism) , carbonate rock , dissolution , reservoir modeling , petrology , mineralogy , aquifer , geomorphology , geochemistry , petroleum engineering , sedimentary rock , geotechnical engineering , groundwater , materials science , chemistry , membrane , metallurgy , biology , genetics
Carbonate aquifers and carbonate oil reservoirs contain significant volumes of fresh‐water storage and hydrocarbon reserves globally, yet their characterization is extremely complicated. Flow simulations were preformed through a permeability field, including matrix, fracture, and fault permeability distributed in a pattern that mimics observations on an exposure of the Cretaceous Edwards Group in Texas. Matches between location and size of vugs on the outcrop and location of areas having high fluxes on the outcrop slice of the simulation grid suggest that vugs observations can help in characterization of matrix‐bed permeability and fracture connectivity. Outcrop surveys of vugs revealed a significant correlation between the relative vug area of a bed and its permeability (R 2 = 0.99, P < 1E‐5). Vug dimensions and whether the vug is intersected by a fracture were found to be good predictors for distinguishing connected from isolated vugs. These findings open new possibilities for improving reservoir characterization using remotely sensed lidar/photo images.