Screening assessment of the impact of structural and sedimentary geological heterogeneities on the performance of an ultra-deep carbonate reservoir, north-central Tarim Basin, Northwest China
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Carbonate reservoirs host significant hydrocarbon, groundwater, geothermal and CO2- and H2-storage resources. However, their complex depositional, tectonic and diagenetic histories make it challenging to efficiently characterize and predict their flow behavior. Here, we use a novel, rapid and efficient screening methodology that integrates experimental design, the construction of three-dimensional (3D) reservoir models via sketch-based methods and single-phase flow diagnostics to investigate the impact of geological heterogeneity on flow patterns and displacement in an ultra-deep (>7 km) carbonate reservoir in the north-central Tarim Basin, northwest China. Eight heterogeneities are investigated: (1) strike-slip fault zone width; (2) complexity of flower structure configuration; (3) continuity of fault core lithology; fault zone rock properties related to (4) karstification and (5) late, post-karstification cementation; (6) the occurrence of fault-perpendicular fracture corridors; (7) connectivity of fracture corridors to fault zones and (8) variability in host rock porosity and permeability. Fault zone width has the most significant impact on reservoir properties, with wider fault zones increasing effective horizontal permeability along fault zone strike. Fracture corridor occurrence and connectivity to the fault zone are the principal heterogeneities controlling effective permeability perpendicular to fault zone strike. Fault zone rock properties reflecting karstification and late cementation also significantly impact effective permeability in all directions. Other heterogeneities have little effect on effective permeability and well performance. However, simulated wells in negative flower structures and the main fault zone have higher productivities on average than simulated wells in positive flower structures and the host rock, similar to published production data from the ultra-deep reservoir. This study demonstrates the value of the screening methodology for assessing the effects of uncertainty in the interpretation of geological heterogeneities in complex carbonate reservoirs, in order to narrow the focus of future, more comprehensive reservoir simulations. The screening methodology is directly transferable to low-carbon energy applications in settings with sparse data.
Date Issued
2025-01-01
Date Acceptance
2025-04-16
Citation
Journal of GeoEnergy, 2025, 2025 (1)
ISSN
2976-5501
Publisher
Wiley
Journal / Book Title
Journal of GeoEnergy
Volume
2025
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2025 Xinyu Dong et al. Journal of GeoEnergy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
10.1155/jge5/4610521
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
4610521
Date Publish Online
2025-05-07