Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sayers, C. M. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Introduction to this special section

Fractures

Houston, USA

Naturally occurring fractures in hydrocarbon reservoirs may increase the porosity and permeability of the reservoir, and knowledge of the orientation and density of fractures is required to optimize production. In reservoirs having low matrix permeability, areas of high-fracture density may represent "sweet spots" of high permeability, and it is desirable to be able to target such locations for infill drilling. Because fractures show preferred orientations, this may result in significant permeability anisotropy in the reservoir, and it is important for optimum drainage that the separation of producers should be more closely spaced along the direction of minimum permeability than along the direction of maximum permeability. Numerically generated discrete fracture networks are being used increasingly to simulate flow through fractured reservoirs and need to be constrained using quantitative geophysical, geologic, and reservoir engineering data. The hydraulic conductivity of fractures varies strongly with aperture, and the permeability of a naturally fractured reservoir may decline rapidly with decreasing reservoir pressure resulting from production because of the associated increase in effective stress acting on the rock frame. The stress sensitivity of naturally fractured reservoirs is, therefore, also of great interest.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. E. Olson, S. E. Laubach, and R. H. Lander Natural fracture characterization in tight gas sandstones: Integrating mechanics and diagenesis AAPG Bulletin, November 1, 2009; 93(11): 1535 - 1549. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]