A well-exposed Miocene carbonate reef outcrop is here analyzed with respect to its physical and stratigraphic properties and the impact of fracture networks on reservoir properties. Results from this study is expected to serve as an analogue to better characterize the eastern Mediterranean subsurface carbonate reservoirs. A total of 113 high-resolution images were collected using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and utilized for ‘structure from motion’ (SfM) digital photogrammetry. Nadiral orthomosaic models were loaded in GIS to geo-trace visible fractures and characterize fracture attributes such as orientation, fracture length, intensity and density. Fieldwork analyses distinguished the following main facies in the outcrop: main reef, inter-reef, and fore-reef. Additional fracture attributes were measured from the field (e.g., aperture) and 10 rock samples were gathered to undergo routine laboratory-based core analysis, suggesting maximum porosity of 15% but negligible permeability at sample scale. Results from both SfM photogrammetry and fieldwork analyses indicate a dominant fracture set striking NW-SE, parallel to the main inferred fault orientations. The highest fracture density (≤0.52 m/m2) is achieved for fore-reef facies. Our analyses suggest that outstanding permeability is mainly focused along large open fracture sets and meteoric dissolution-enhanced fracture sets in the field, with likely anisotropic flow properties.
CHARACTERIZATION OF FRACTURED CARBONATE RESERVOIRS: PRELIMINARY DATA FROM MIOCENE REEF OUTCROPS OF CYPRUS
Scisciani, V.
;
2021-01-01
Abstract
A well-exposed Miocene carbonate reef outcrop is here analyzed with respect to its physical and stratigraphic properties and the impact of fracture networks on reservoir properties. Results from this study is expected to serve as an analogue to better characterize the eastern Mediterranean subsurface carbonate reservoirs. A total of 113 high-resolution images were collected using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and utilized for ‘structure from motion’ (SfM) digital photogrammetry. Nadiral orthomosaic models were loaded in GIS to geo-trace visible fractures and characterize fracture attributes such as orientation, fracture length, intensity and density. Fieldwork analyses distinguished the following main facies in the outcrop: main reef, inter-reef, and fore-reef. Additional fracture attributes were measured from the field (e.g., aperture) and 10 rock samples were gathered to undergo routine laboratory-based core analysis, suggesting maximum porosity of 15% but negligible permeability at sample scale. Results from both SfM photogrammetry and fieldwork analyses indicate a dominant fracture set striking NW-SE, parallel to the main inferred fault orientations. The highest fracture density (≤0.52 m/m2) is achieved for fore-reef facies. Our analyses suggest that outstanding permeability is mainly focused along large open fracture sets and meteoric dissolution-enhanced fracture sets in the field, with likely anisotropic flow properties.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
