THE OTWAY BASIN: EARLY CRETACEOUS RIFTING TO NEOGENE INVERSION

Abstract

Borehole breakouts and hydraulic fractures in­ferred from dipmeter and formation microscanner logs indicate that the minimum horizontal stress (σh) is oriented 035°N in the South Australian sector of the Otway Basin. Density and sonic check-shot log data indicate that vertical stress (σv) increases from approximately 20 MPa at a depth of one km to 44 MPa at two km and 68 MPa at three km. Assum­ing a normal fault condition (i.e. σy > σH > σh), the magnitude of σh is 75 per cent of the magnitude of the maximum horizontal stress (σH), and the magni­tude of σH is close to that of av. Sonic velocity compaction trends for shales suggest that pore pressure is generally near hydrostatic in the Otway Basin.

Knowledge of the contemporary stress field has a number of implications for hydrocarbon produc­tion and exploration in the basin. Wellbore quality in vertical wells may be improved (breakouts sup­pressed) by increasing the mud weight to a level below that which induces hydraulic fracture, or other drilling problems related to excessive mud weight. Horizontal wells drilled in the σh direction (035°N/215°N) should be more stable than those drilled in the σH direction, and indeed than vertical wells. In any EOR operations where water flooding promotes hydraulic fracturing, injectors should be aligned in the aH (125°N/305°N) direction, and off­set from producers in the orthogonal σh direction. Any deviated/horizontal wells targeting the frac­tured basement play should be oriented in the σh (035°N/215°N) direction to maximise intersection with this open, natural fracture trend. Hydrocar­bon recovery in wells deviated towards 035°N/215°N may also be enhanced by inducing multiple hydrau­lic fractures along the wellbore.

Considering exploration-related issues, faults following the dominant structural trend, sub-paral­lel to σH orientation, are the most prone to be non-sealing during any episodic build-up of pore pres­sure. Pre-existing vertical faults striking 080-095°N and 155-170°N are the most prone to at least a component of strike-slip reactivation within the contemporary stress field.