Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Discrete Element Modeling of Stress and Strain Evolution Within and Outside a Depleting Reservoir

  • Chapter
Rock Damage and Fluid Transport, Part I

Part of the book series: Pageoph Topical Volumes ((PTV))

  • 1477 Accesses

Abstract

Stress changes within and around a depleting petroleum reservoir can lead to reservoir compaction and surface subsidence, affect drilling and productivity of oil wells, and influence seismic waves used for monitoring of reservoir performance. Currently modeling efforts are split into more or less coupled geomechanical (normally linearly elastic), fluid flow, and geophysical simulations. There is evidence (from e.g. induced seismicity) that faults may be triggered or generated as a result of reservoir depletion. The numerical technique that most adequately incorporates fracture formation is the DEM (Discrete Element Method). This paper demonstrates the feasibility of the DEM (here PFC; Particle Flow Code) to handle this problem. Using an element size of 20 m, 2-D and 3-D simulations have been performed of stress and strain evolution within and around a depleting reservoir. Within limits of elasticity, the simulations largely reproduce analytical predictions; the accuracy is however limited by the element size. When the elastic limit is exceeded, faulting is predicted, particularly near the edge of the reservoir. Simulations have also been performed to study the activation of a pre-existing fault near a depleting reservoir.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Addis, M.A. (1997), The stress-depletion response of reservoirs, SPE 38720, 11 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brignoli, M., Pellegrino, A., Santarelli, F.J., Musso, G. and Barla, G. (1997), Continuous and discontinuous deformations above compacting reservoirs; consequences upon the lateral extension of the subsidence bowl, Int. J. Rock Mech. and Min. Sci. 34(3–4).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cundall, P.A. and Strack, O.D.L. (1979), A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies, GĂ©otechnique 29(1), 47–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambolati, G., Teatini, P., and Tomasi, L. (1999) Stress-strain analysis in productive gas/oil reservoirs, Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 23, 1495–1519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambolati, G., Ferronato, M., Teatini, P., Deidda, R., and Lecca, G. (2001), Finite element analysis of land subsidence above depleted reservoirs with pore pressure gradient and total stress formulations, Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 25, 307–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez, M. and Lewis, R.W. (1998), The role of geomechanics in reservoir simulation, SPE/ISRM 47392. In Proc. EUROCK’98, vol. II, pp. 439–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geertsma, J. (1973), A basic theory of subsidence due to reservoir compaction: The homogeneous case, Trans. Royal Dutch Soc. Geol. and Mining Eng. 22, 43–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazzard, J.F. and Young, R.P. (2000), Simulating acoustic emissions in bonded-particle models of rock, Int. J. Rock Mech. and Min. Sci. 37, 867–872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hettema, M.H.H., Schutjens, P.M.T.M., Verboom, B.J.M., and Gussinklo, H.J. (1998), Productioninduced compaction of sandstone reservoirs: The strong influence of field stress, SPE50630, 8 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt, R.M., Flornes, O., Li, L., and Fjær, E. (2004), Consequences of depletion-induced stress changes on reservoir compaction and recovery, In Proc. Gulf-Rock (eds. Arma/ Narms) 04-589, ARMA/NARMS, 10 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt, R.M., Kjølaas, J., Larsen, I., Li, L., Pillitteri, A.G., and Sønstebø, E.F. (2005) Comparison between controlled laboratory experiments and discrete particle simulations of rock mechanical behaviour, Int. J. Rock Mech. and Min. Sci. 42, 985–995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jing, L. and Hudson, J.A. (2002), Numerical methods in rock mechanics, Int. J. Rock Mech. and Min. Sci. 39, 409–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenter, C.J., Blanton, T.L., Schreppers, G.M.A., Baaijens, M.N. and Ramos, G.G. (1998), Compaction study for Shearwater Field, SPE/ISRM 47280. In Proc. EUROCK’98; Vol. II, pp. 63–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenter, C.J., Beukel, A. v. d., Hatchell, P., Maron, K. and Molenaar, M. (2004), Evaluation of reservoir characteristics from timeshifts in the overburden, In Proc. Gulf-Rock (eds. Arma/ Narms) 04-627, ARMA/NARMS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosloff, D., Scott, R.F., and Scranton, J. (1980), Finite element simulation of Wilmington oil field subsidence: 1. Linear modelling, Tectonophysics 65, 339–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutsabeloulis, N.C. and Hope, S.A. (1998) “Coupled” stress / fluid / thermal multi-phase reservoir simulation studies incorporating rock mechanics, SPE/ISRM 47393. In Proc. EUROCK’98 Vol. II, pp. 449–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R.W., Makurat, A. and Pao, K.S. (2003), Fully coupled modeling of subsidence and reservoir compaction of North Sea oil fields, Hydrogeology J. 11, 142–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, L. and Holt, R.M. (2002), Particle scale reservoir mechanics, Oil and Gas Science and Technology-Revue de l’Institut Français du PĂ©trole 57, 525–538.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, L. and Holt, R.M., A study on the calculation of particle volumetric deformation in a fluid coupled PFC model, In Numerical Modeling in Micromechanics via Particle Methods — 2004 (eds. Shimizu, Hart and Cundall) (A. A. Balkema 2004) pp. 273–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Longuemare, P., Mainguy, M., Lemonnier, P., Onaisi, A., and GĂ©rard, C. (2002), Geomechanics in reservoir simulation: Overview of coupling methods and field case study, Oil and Gas Science and Technology-Revue de l’Institut Français du PĂ©trole 57, 471–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahi, A. (2003), Stress path of depleting reservoirs, MSc Thesis, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology).

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, S.C. and Urbancic, T. (2001), The role of passive microseismic monitoring in the instrumented oil field, The Leading Edge, 636–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morita, N., Whitfill, D.L., Nygaard, O., and Bale, A. (1989), A quick method to determine subsidence, reservoir compaction, and in-situ stress induced by reservoir depletion, JPT Jan. 89, pp. 71–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulders, F.M.M. (2003), Modelling of stress development and fault slip in and around a producing gas reservoir, Ph.D. Thesis, TU Delft, Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oded, K., Ze’ev, R., and Gidon, B. (2003), Faults and their associated host rock deformation: Part I. Structure of small faults in a quartz-syenite body, southern Israel, J. Struct. Geol. 25, 1675–1689.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osorio, J.G., Chen, H-Y., Teufel, L.W. and Schaffer, S. (1998), A two-domain, 3-D, fully coupled fluid-flow / geomechanical simulation model for reservoirs with stress-sensitive mechanical and fluid-flow properties, SPE/ISRM 47397. In Proc. EUROCK’98, Vol. II, pp. 455–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pande, G.N., Beer, G. and Williams, J.R., Numerical Methods in Rock Mechanics (Wiley 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  • Papamichos, E., Vardoulakis, I., and Heil, L.K. (2001), Overburden modeling above a compacting reservoir using a trap door apparatus, Phys. Chem. Earth (A) 26, 69–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potyondy, D.O. and Cundall, P.A. (2004), A bonded particle model for rock, Int. J. Rock Mech. and Min. Sci. 41, 1329–1364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudnicki, J.W. (1999), Alteration of regional stress by reservoirs and other inhomogeneities: Stabilizing or destabilizing? Proc. Int. Congress on Rock Mechanics (eds. G. Vouille and P. Berest), ISRM, Vol. 3; pp. 1629–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segall, P. and Fitzgerald, S.D. (1998), A note on induced stress changes in hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs, Tectonophysics 289, 117–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Settari, A. and Mourits, F.M. (1994) Coupling of geomechanics and reservoir simulation models, Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics, 2151–2158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu, Y., Fluid coupling in PFC2-Dand PFC3-D. In Numerical Modeling in Micromechanics via Particle Methods — 2004 (eds. Shimizu, Hart and Cundall) (A. A. Balkema 2004), pp. 281–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teufel, L.W., Rhett, D.W., and Farrell, H.E. (1991), Effect of reservoir depletion and pore pressure drawdown on in situ stress and deformation in the Ekofisk field. In Rock Mechanics as a Multidisciplinary Science (ed. J.C. Roegiers) (A.A. Balkema 1991), pp. 63–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zienkiewicz, O.C., The Finite Element Method in Engineering Geoscience (4th edition). (McGraw-Hill 1991).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Haitham T. I. Alassi & Rune M. Holt

  2. SINTEF Petroleum Research, Trondheim, Norway

    Liming Li & Rune M. Holt

Authors
  1. Haitham T. I. Alassi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liming Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rune M. Holt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg D425, D-14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Georg Dresen , Arno Zang  & Ove Stephansson ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Birkhaüser Verlag, Basel

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Alassi, H.T.I., Li, L., Holt, R.M. (2006). Discrete Element Modeling of Stress and Strain Evolution Within and Outside a Depleting Reservoir. In: Dresen, G., Zang, A., Stephansson, O. (eds) Rock Damage and Fluid Transport, Part I. Pageoph Topical Volumes. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-7643-7712-7_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation