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Estimation of fracture flow parameters through numerical analysis of hydromechanical pressure pulses
Author(s) -
Cappa Frédéric,
Guglielmi Yves,
Rutqvist Jonny,
Tsang ChinFu,
Thoraval Alain
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2008wr007015
Subject(s) - geology , borehole , mechanics , fracture (geology) , geotechnical engineering , hydraulic fracturing , hydraulic conductivity , fluid dynamics , displacement (psychology) , permeability (electromagnetism) , materials science , soil science , psychology , physics , genetics , membrane , biology , psychotherapist , soil water
The flow parameters of a natural fracture were estimated by modeling in situ pressure pulses. The pulses were generated in two horizontal boreholes spaced 1 m apart vertically and intersecting a near‐vertical highly permeable fracture located within a shallow‐fractured carbonate reservoir. Fracture hydromechanical response was monitored using specialized fiber‐optic borehole equipment that could simultaneously measure fluid pressure and fracture displacements. Measurements indicated a significant time lag between the pressure peak at the injection point and the one at the second measuring point, located 1 m away. The pressure pulse dilated and contracted the fracture. Field data were analyzed through hydraulic and coupled hydromechanical simulations using different governing flow laws. In matching the time lag between the pressure peaks at the two measuring points, our hydraulic models indicated that (1) flow was channeled in the fracture, (2) the hydraulic conductivity tensor was highly anisotropic, and (3) the radius of pulse influence was asymmetric in that the pulse traveled faster vertically than horizontally. Moreover, our parametric study demonstrated that the fluid pressure diffusion through the fracture was quite sensitive to the spacing and orientation of channels, hydraulic aperture, storativity, and hydraulic conductivity. Comparison between hydraulic and hydromechanical models showed that the deformation significantly affected fracture permeability and storativity and, consequently, the fluid pressure propagation, suggesting that the simultaneous measurements of pressure and mechanical displacement signals could substantially improve the interpretation of pulse tests during reservoir characterization.