Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Natural fracture characterization and in situ stress orientation analysis using Fullbore Formation Micro Imager (FMI): a case study on the X oil field, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 14 February 2023

This article has been updated

Abstract

In carbonate reservoirs, fracture evaluation is essential because of the significant effect that fractures have on reservoir permeability. Evaluation of reservoir fracture characteristics is necessary to maximize oil production. Fullbore Formation Micro Imager (FMI) is believed to be the most effective method for achieving this objective. The goal of this study is to employ FMI from the well M-120 over the interval 1561.5–2392 m, which includes the Shiranish, Kometan, Dokan, Upper Qamchuqa, Nahr Umr, Shoaiba, Najmah, and Alan Formations in the northern Kirkuk field, SW Erbil. The FMI data were processed and assessed. Different types of natural structures, including fractures (conductive, dis-conductive, resistive) and bedding planes, were found through this assessment. Different fracture sets with various orientations to the anticline axis were provided through data analysis. The structural dip was determined with the aid of all identified bed contacts. The mean dip magnitude is 6.10°, and the dip azimuth is 54.1° toward the NE. The structural dip analysis also identified four unique structural zones. At a depth of 1727 m, the highest structural dip is seen, which might be related to a fault. The total number of fractures encountered falls into three categories: dis-conductive, conductive, and resistive fractures. The majority of normal fractures are dis-conductive fractures. However, some cases also interpret conductive and resistive fractures on FMI images. Furthermore, data analysis demonstrates that the secondary porosity was formed at 1794.5–1798 m in the Dokan Formation and 1840.5–1843.5 m in the Upper Qamchuqa Formation. In the processed interval, drilling-induced fractures and borehole breakouts appeared. Breakouts develop in the NW–SE direction, while induced fractures develop in the NE-SW direction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

References

  • Aadnøy BS, Bell JS (1998) Classification of drilling-induced fractures and their 349 relationship to in-situ stress directions. Log Anal 39:27–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Akbar M, Vissapragada B, Alghamdi AH, Allen D, Herron M, Carnegie A, Dutta D, Olesen JR, Chourasiya RD, Logan D, Stief D, Netherwood R, Russell SD, Saxena K (2000) A snapshot of carbonate reservoir evaluation. Oilf Rev Winter 2000(20001):20–41

  • Ameen MS (2014) Fracture and in-situ stress patterns and impact on performance in the khuf structural prospects, eastern offshore Saudi Arabia. Mar Pet Geol 50(50):166–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton C (1998) Development of in situ stress measurement techniques for deep drillholes. A Diss. Submitt. Dep. Geophys. Comm. graduate students Stanford Univ. partial fulfillment Req. PhD degree 1–192. Available at: https://pangea.stanford.edu/research/srb/docs/theses/SRB_35_AUG88_Barton.pdf

  • Bellen RC, Dunnington HV, Wetzel R, Morton D (1959) Lexique Stratigraphique International Asie, Iraq, vol 3C, 10a, p 333

  • Blanc EJP, Allen MB, Inger S, Hassani H (2003) Structural styles in the Zagros Simple Folded Zone, Iran. J Geol Soc London 160:401–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bou-Hamdan K (2020) Key design considerations for maximizing the recovery rate of unconventional reservoirs. The Way Ahead. SPE. Available at: https://jpt.spe.org/twa/key-design-considerations-maximizing-recovery-rate-unconventional-reservoirs

  • Bou-Hamdan KF (2022a) Applications of nanomaterials in the oil and gas industry. In Handbook of Research on Green Synthesis and Applications of Nanomaterials. IGI Global, pp. 173–198

  • Bou-Hamdan KF (2022b) A 3D Semianalytical model for simulating the proppant stresses and embedment in fractured reservoir rocks. J Porous Media 25(6):21–35. https://doi.org/10.1615/JPorMedia.2022041752

  • Bou-Hamdan KF, Abbas AH (2022) Utilizing ultrasonic waves in the investigation of contact stresses, areas, and embedment of spheres in manufactured materials replicating proppants and brittle rocks. Arab J Sci Eng 47:11635–11650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-06409-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brekke H, MacEachern JA, Roenitz T, Dashtgard SE (2017) The use of microresistivity image logs for facies interpretations: an example in point-bar deposits of the McMurray Formation, Alberta Canada. AAPG Bull 101(5):655–682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown J, Davis B, Gawankar K, Kumar A, Li B, Camron KM, Larnonga R, Schlicht P (2015) Imaging: getting the picture downhole Schlumberger. Oilfelds Rev 27:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunnington HV (2005) Generation, migration, accumulation, and dissipation of oil in Northern Iraq. GeoArabia 10(2):39–84. https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia100239

  • English JM, Lunn GA, Ferreira L, Yaku G (2015) Geologic evolution of the Iraqi Zagros, and its influence on the distribution of hydrocarbons in the Kurdistan Region. Am Asso Petrol Geol Bull 99(2):231–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Haimson BC, Herrick CG (1986) Borehole breakouts - a new tool for estimating in situ stress? In: Proceedings of the first international symposium on rock stress and rock stress measurement. Centek Publications, Lulea, pp 271–281

  • Jassim SZ, Goff JC (2006) Geology of Iraq, 1st edn. Published by Dolin, Prague and Moravian Museum, Brno, Printed in the Czech Republic

  • Jonaghani HH, Manshad AK, Ali JA, Shalafi M, Nia BH, Iglauer S, Keshavarz A, Akbari M (2019) Fracture analysis and in situ stress estimation of a gas condensate field in Persian Gulf using FMI and DSI image logs. SN Appl Sci 1(11):1481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1466-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lai J, Wang G, Wang Z, Chen J, Pang X, Wang S, Zhou Z, He Z, Qin Z, Fan X (2018) A review on pore structure characterization in tight sandstones. Earth Sci Rev 177:436–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson EJ, Meyer JJ, Hillis RR, Mildren SD (2005) Transverse drilling-induced tensile fractures in the West Tuna area, Gippsland Basin, 422 Australia: implications for the in situ stress regime. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 42:361–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newberry BM, Grace LM, Stief DO (1996) Analysis of carbonate dual porosity systems from borehole electrical images. Presented at Permian Basin Oil and Gas Recovery Conference - Midland, Texas, 27–29 March. SPE-35158-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/35158-MS

  • Niculescu BM, Andrei G, Pilecki Z, Dubiński J, Kalab Z, Dec J (2019) Structural and sedimentological analysis of the Pliocene–Late Miocene deposits from the Romanian Black Sea offshore based on borehole electrical imaging. E3S Web of Conf 133(2), https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201913301001

  • Nie X, Zou C, Pan L, Huang Z, Liu D (2013) Fracture analysis and determination of in-situ stress direction from resistivity and acoustic image logs and core data in the Wenchuan Earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling Borehole-2 (50–1370 m). Tectonophysics 593:161–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajabi M, Sherkati S, Bohloli B, Tingay M (2010) Subsurface fracture analysis and determination of in situ stress direction using FMI logs: an example from the Santonian carbonates (Ilam Formation) in the Abadan Plain, Iran. Tectonophysics 492:192–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalafi M, Moradi S, Ghassem-Alaskari MK, Kazemi MS (2016) Drilling fluid loss control via implementing the FMI and DSI logs to protect environment. Model Earth Syst Environ 2(4):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt DR, Currie C, Zhang L (2012) Crustal stress determination from boreholes and rock cores: Fundamental principles. Tectonophysics 580:1–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tingay MRP, Hillis RR, Morley CK, King RC, Swarbrick E, Damit AR (2009) Present-day stress and neotectonics of Brunei: implications for petroleum exploration and production. AAPG Bull 93(1):75–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernik L, Zoback MD (1992) Estimation of the maximum horizontal principal stress magnitude from stress-induced wellbore breakouts in the Cajon Pass scientific research borehole. J Geophys Res 97:5109–5120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xodus Group (2013) Khurmala - petrophysical evaluation. Report No. D-50018-S00-REPT-002. Nederland

  • Zoback MD (2007) Reservoir geomechanics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Kar Company for allowing us to use their data during the course of this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, KOY45, Koya, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

    Barham S. Mahmood & Farhad A. Khoshnaw

  2. Schools of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BX, UK

    Mardin O. Abdalqadir & Sina Rezaei Gomari

Authors
  1. Barham S. Mahmood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Farhad A. Khoshnaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mardin O. Abdalqadir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sina Rezaei Gomari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barham S. Mahmood.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: François Roure

Highlights

• Identified presence of fractures, faults, and vuggy porosities from FMI image interpretation.

• Characterized fractures as conductive fractures, dis-conductive fractures, or resistive fractures based on how they appear on the FMI image log.

• Computed fracture attributes including fracture density, fracture porosity, and fracture aperture for both conductive and dis-conductive fractures.

• Investigate drilling-induced fractures and borehole breakout features to determine the current in situ stress direction in the study field.

The original online version of this article was revised: The title of this paper should be updated to “Natural fracture characterization and in situ stress orientation analysis using Fullbore Formation Micro Imager (FMI): a case study on the X oil field, Kurdistan Region, Iraq”.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mahmood, B.S., Khoshnaw, F.A., Abdalqadir, M.O. et al. Natural fracture characterization and in situ stress orientation analysis using Fullbore Formation Micro Imager (FMI): a case study on the X oil field, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Arab J Geosci 16, 113 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11178-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11178-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation