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Integration of mini-frac stress results with core data to identify ductile behavior of overpressured sandstone reservoir in deep-water offshore Krishna-Godavari basin, India

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Abstract

Insitu reservoir stress measurements are essential from geomechanics perspective to efficiently develop an oil and gas field. Wireline conveyed mini-frac tests gives accurate measurements of minimum horizontal stress. Wireline conveyed mini-frac test was performed in the clastic cretaceous syn-rift high pressure (9000 psi) gas bearing sandstone reservoir of an offshore deep-water well (water depth—1108 m) in Krishna-Godavari basin of East Coast off India in order to determine the insitu reservoir stresses. All the mini-frac tests attempted within the syn-rift reservoir were unsuccessful to achieve the formation breakdown pressure even with the applied pressures significantly higher than the vertical stress. This paper discusses the post-job investigation of all these unsuccessful mini-frac tests within the reservoir. Distinct large plastic deformation behaviors were identified in all these test. This investigation in conjunction with rock mechanics data derived from core samples suggest that strong relationship exist between pore fluid pressure and rock mechanical properties. High pore fluid pressure within the reservoir has made sandstone rocks mechanically weak and ductile in nature. The distinct large plastic deformation behaviors are the manifestation of this reservoir ductility. Awareness and evaluation of rock ductility in high overpressured reservoir condition is necessary during planning stages of mini-frac stress testing job. Additionally, paper shows that the rock mechanical properties plays significant role on rock deformation mode within reservoir with pressure depletion during production phase. Paper demonstrates the effective use of rock mechanical properties to predict the brittle–ductile (B–D) transition value in Q–P space (differential stress vs. mean effective stress), which will help in forecasting the reservoir deformation mode during field production stage. Furthermore, the paper highlights the importance of performing critical laboratory tests to aid significant value in field development program from geomechanics perspective.

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Abbreviations

B–D transition:

Brittle–ductile transition

GPa:

Gigapascal

KG:

Krishna-Godavari

LOP:

Leak-off pressure

MEM:

Mechanical earth model

MPa:

Megapascal

MST:

Multi stage tri-axial test

PR:

Poisson’s ratio

PPG:

Pounds per gallon

PSI:

Pounds per square inch

PVC:

Pore volume compressibility

Q–P:

Differential stress versus mean effective stress

SST:

Single stage tri-axial test

UCS:

Uniaxial compressive strength test

VES:

Vertical effective stress

YM:

Young’s modulus

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Acknowledgements

We thank and appreciate the critical inputs received from the reviewer that helped us to improve the contents of the paper. We would like to thanks Reliance Industries Ltd., (E, P) Petroleum Business for giving us the permission to publish this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exploration, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India

    Jayanta Dutta, Nitin Bhardwaj & Ashutosh Kumar

Authors
  1. Jayanta Dutta
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  2. Nitin Bhardwaj
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  3. Ashutosh Kumar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jayanta Dutta.

SI metric conversion factors

SI metric conversion factors

1 g/cm3 = 9.81 MPa/km

1 ppg = 0.051948 psi/ft

1 g/cm3 = 0.00981 MPa/m

1 ppg = 0.12 g/cm3

1 g/cm3 = 1 SG

1 ppg = 0.12 SG

1 MPa/km = 0.102 SG = 0.102 g/cm3

1 ppg = 1.177 MPa/km

1 MPa/km = 1 kPa/m

1 ppg = 1.177 kPa/m

1 g/cm3 = 8.345 ppg

1 psi/ft = 19.25 ppg

1 g/cm3 = 0.4335 psi/ft

1 psi/ft = 2.31 g/cm3

1 SG = 8.345 ppg

1 psi/ft = 22.66 MPa/km

1 SG = 0.4335 psi/ft

1 psi/ft = 2.31 SG

1 MPa = 10^6 Pa

1 GPa = 10^3 MPa

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Dutta, J., Bhardwaj, N. & Kumar, A. Integration of mini-frac stress results with core data to identify ductile behavior of overpressured sandstone reservoir in deep-water offshore Krishna-Godavari basin, India. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 4, 11–28 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-017-0071-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-017-0071-5

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