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Investigation of geomechanical characteristics in one of the Iranian oilfields by using vertical seismic profile (VSP) data to predict hydraulic fracturing intervals

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Abstract

Geomechanics is a science that studies rock behavior under stress conditions. The major purpose of this study is to use seismic geophysics (Elastic wave) to examine the geomechanical properties of the Fahliyan reservoir zone in one of Iran's oilfields. The amount of compression and shear wave velocity were determined by processing vertical seismic profile (VSP) data to obtain geomechanical parameters from the P-wave and S-wave velocities. First of all, elastic moduli have been calculated. These factors were then empirically translated from dynamic into static modules. The K-Mean clustering approach was employed in this research to cluster geomechanical characteristics and determine geomechanical units. The key criteria for investigating wellbore stability and predicting the safe mud weight window are pore pressure, minimum horizontal stress, maximum horizontal stress, and induced stress from drilling operations. The quantity of uniaxial resistance is another critical parameter calculated by the porosity of the petrophysical logs and empirical equations comparing elasticity modulus and uniaxial stress resistance classification with bit size and caliper log. The drilling safe mud window was defined by applying a minimum and maximum pore pressure. Extensive fractures may occur if drilling fluid pressure predominates over the maximum horizontal stress. The amounts of induced tensions and shear fractures, as well as their locations, were used to identify suitable sections for hydraulic fracturing along the Fahliyan reservoir zone. This method can determine the possible zones for hydraulic fracture with analysis and comparison of VDL and UCS. The current research will benefit the petroleum industry by minimizing the problem of drilling.

Article highlights

  • Geomechanical parameters were obtained from P-wave and S-wave velocities.

  • The K-Mean clustering approach was employed in this research to cluster geomechanical characteristics and determine geomechanical units.

  • Possible zones for hydraulic fracture were determined with analysis and comparison of VDL and UCS.

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Abbreviations

VSP:

Vertical seismic profile

UCS:

Uniaxial compressive strength

VDL:

Velocity deviation log

E:

Young's modulus

σ:

Stress

K:

Bulk modulus

β:

Materials compressibility coefficient

Vs :

Shear wave velocity (m/s)

Vp :

Compressional Wave Velocity (m/s)

ρ:

Density (g/cm3)

G:

Shear modulus (GPA)

ν:

Poison's ratio

Ed:

Dynamic Young modulus

νd :

Dynamic Poison’s ratio

νs :

Static Poison’s ratio

ρb :

Bulk density

ρf:

Formation fluids density

Φ:

Porosity

εx :

Linear integers on the X

εy :

Linear Integers on the Y

α:

Biot constant

δHmin(Shmin):

Minimum horizontal stress

δHmax(SHmax):

Maximium horizontal stress

δv(Sv):

Overburden Stress

\(\delta \) zz :

Tangential induction stress

\(\delta \) rr :

Axial induction stress

\({\delta }_{\theta \theta }\) :

Tangential induction stress

ΔP:

Difference pressure

DITF:

Drilling induced tensional failures

Δx:

Distance between two geophones

ΔT:

First-time arrivals difference

V:

Average interval velocity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Well Logging Department, National Iranian Drilling Company, Ahwaz, Iran

    Ehsan Larki & Abbas Ayatizadeh Tanha

  2. Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Hossein Saeedi Dehaghani

  3. Department of Petroleum Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Abbas Ayatizadeh Tanha

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  1. Ehsan Larki
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  2. Amir Hossein Saeedi Dehaghani
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  3. Abbas Ayatizadeh Tanha
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Correspondence to Amir Hossein Saeedi Dehaghani.

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All authors have participated in (a) conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of the data; (b) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and (c) approval of the final version. This manuscript has not been submitted to, nor is under review at, another journal or other publishing venue. The authors have no affiliation with any organization with a direct or indirect financial interest in the subject matter discussed in the manuscript. The following authors have affiliations with organizations with direct or indirect financial interest in the subject matter discussed in the manuscript.

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Larki, E., Dehaghani, A.H.S. & Tanha, A.A. Investigation of geomechanical characteristics in one of the Iranian oilfields by using vertical seismic profile (VSP) data to predict hydraulic fracturing intervals. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 8, 67 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-022-00365-7

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