Fault Seal 1300-OPSUP-GES

Faults dissecting sedimentary rocks can be conduits or barriers to fluid migration and pressure communication. The main factors controlling fault seal ability are superposition and petrophysical properties of deformed rocks, architecture of fault zones, distribution and petrophysical properties of fault rocks, and stress state within fault zone. Thus fault seal prediction requires complex analysis of data from the micro- to macro scale.
Subjects:
1. Fault zone architecture: structural pattern of damage zone and fault core, fault rocks and their petrophysical properties:
- Analysis of fault geometry, fault parameters and fault rocks.
3. Fault seal mechanisms. Types of fault seal. Role of burial in fault sealing.
4. Fault seal analysis:
- Mapping of reservoir units on the fault surface based on Allan diagram to show juxtaposition of reservoirs and non reservoirs across fault. Predicting juxtaposition seals.
-Predicting of fault rock distribution within fault cores were reservoirs are in potential communication across fault.
- Estimates of seal capacity based on fault zone parameters, types of fault rocks and hydrocarbon accumulations.
5. Influence of fault reactivation on dip leakage.

The course includes individual or group work of students based on analysis and discussion of empirical data and simple calculations. Exercises are related to selected topics.

Type of course

obligatory courses

Prerequisites (description)

Before starting the course students should be able to recognize sedimentary rocks and tectonic structures, know the basics of petrophysics, know basic tectonic processes, perform and analyze geological cartographic data and analyze well log data.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course student:
- understands complex deformation processes that influence fault sealing,
- recognizes and classifies types of fault seal,
- produces model of reservoir within fault zone based on Allan diagram and makes basic calculations using Petrel software,
- analyzes and interprets empirical data from different sources and formulates conclusions,
- uses techniques and methods of fault seal analysis,
- works individually and in a group during data analysis and interpretation of results.

Assessment criteria

- activity during the course, individual and group work, results of tasks in individual thematic blocks and a presentation of a selected topic (50%),
- written test – open questions and simple calculation based on the course theory (50%).
The absence is allowed two times during the course. Corrective examination based on written test.

Practical placement

none

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Applied geology, full-time, second cycle degree

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1300-OPSUP-GES in USOSweb