Numerical investigation of dynamic and static properties of reservoir rocks
Mohsen Abdolghafurian A B , Bahman Joodi A , Stefan Iglauer A and Mohammad Sarmadivaleh AA Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: mohsen.abdolghafurian@postgrad.curtin.edu.au
The APPEA Journal 58(2) 769-772 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ17072
Accepted: 19 March 2018 Published: 28 May 2018
Abstract
A 3D geomechanical model describes the elastic and mechanical properties of rock as well as underground stresses. The static elastic parameters of rock are required to build a model. However, the elastic properties resulting from wireline logs, dynamic experiments and seismic inversion are dynamic and must be converted. Implementing an accurate conversion is an essential part of any 3D geomechanical model. The static and dynamic moduli can be obtained by numerical and experimental methods. Laboratory experiments are known to provide more realistic outcomes, but this method has its constraints such as availability of samples, time constraints and limitation of experimental resources. Other approaches such as numerical modelling can be used supplementarily to compute the mechanical behaviour and elastic parameters of sandstone.
This paper provides a literature review on past numerical modelling efforts to examine dynamic and static parameters of rocks. This is followed by an explanation of grain and core scale model and research methodology. A discrete element model-based numerical simulation is then carried out using Itasca’s particle flow code in 3D. The digital plug scale specimen was calibrated to replicate the experimental findings and was then used to establish a broad sensitivity analysis on the important parameters. The simulation results were in good agreement with experiments on sandstone specimens. The present study forms a foundation for building a more reliable 3D geomechanical model and consequently better field development, reducing risks and lowering costs.
Keywords: discrete element method, geomechanical model, numerical modelling, particle flow code, static parameter.
Mohsen Abdolghafurian is a PhD student at the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University, Western Australia. He is interested in the research area of seismic geomechanics. He was awarded a 2017 RTP Stipend Scholarship by the Australian Government. This was as a result of his outstanding proposed research program to develop a reliable algorithm to link the dynamic and static elastic parameters of reservoir rocks through experimental and numerical studies. |
Bahman Joodi is a PhD student at the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University, Western Australia. His current research focuses on the geomechanical application of the discrete element method. He holds a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from Curtin University of Technology. He is a senior petroleum engineer, with more than 10 years of experience. |
Stefan Iglauer is an associate professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University. His research interests are in CO2 geo-storage, wettability and multiphase flow through porous rock with a focus on atomic to pore-scale processes. He has published more than 100 technical publications and holds a PhD in material science from Oxford Brookes University (UK) and an MSc in chemistry from the University of Paderborn (Germany). |
Mohammad Sarmadivaleh is a lecturer at the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University and leads the Petroleum Geo-mechanics Group (CPGG). He received his PhD from Curtin University in numerical and experimental studies on hydraulic fracturing in 2012. His research interests include hydraulic fracturing, sanding, geo-mechanical reservoir modelling and CO2 sequestration studies. He currently supervises 20 higher degrees by research students and participates in academic and industrial research projects. |
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