This course is a practical approach to defining reservoir fluid and pressure related natural fracture generation and fracture property alteration in conventional and unconventional reservoirs. Also covered will be the interaction of pre-existing natural fractures and hydraulic fracture injected fluids. Designed for geologists, geophysicists and reservoir engineers, attendees should have some experience or interest in reservoir characterization and of naturally fractured or unconventional reservoirs. The course will be instructed by Dr. Ronald Nelson, an industry professional who has an extensive background working with fractured reservoirs and structural geology. Part of the 2014 Fall Education Conference the course will be taking place Wednesday November 12th at the Norris Conference Center-CityCentre in Houston, Texas.

Course Details

Objectives

By the end of the course, participants should be able to do the following:

• Determine which observed surface and subsurface fractures are real and related to diagenesis due to fluids and pressures and not of structural or tectonic origin.
• Assign the mechanism of generation for these disperate fractures.
• Predict the 3D distribution of these fractures throughout the reservoir.
• Fit alteration of natural fractures into a paragenetic sequence.
• Anticipate possible diagenetic fluid and oil & gas migration pathways within reservoirs.
• Anticipate the positive or negative interaction of pre-existing fractures with hydraulic fracture stimulation fluids.
• Determine which diagenetic processes alter natural fractures and increase or decrease reservoir porosity and permeability.
• Determine how to include reservoir fluid related fracture properties into static fracture models for simulation.

Conference Content