Evaluating the Degree of Tectonic Fracture Development in the Fourth Member of the Leikoupo Formation in Pengzhou, Western Sichuan, China

Qiang Xie, Gao Li (), Xu Yang and Hongli Peng
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Qiang Xie: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploration, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Gao Li: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploration, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Xu Yang: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploration, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Hongli Peng: Petroleum Engineering Technology Research Institute, SINOPEC Southwest Oil & Gas Branch, Deyang 618000, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: The extent of fracture development is associated with the degree of enrichment of a natural gas reservoir and its productivity. Based on numerical simulation results of the paleotectonic stress field, a set of evaluation methods for determining the degree of development of reservoir tectonic fractures were established using rock rupture criteria. Taking the fourth member of the Leikoupo Formation in the Pengzhou area of western Sichuan as an example, a finite element (FE) method was employed to simulate the paleo-tectonic stress field during the period of fracture development, and the degree of tectonic fracture development was further evaluated using the above methods. The results indicated that effective fractures were created in the Himalayan period. In this time, mainly NE–NEE and nearly E–W strike tectonic fractures were developed in the target layer. The fractures were mainly low-angle and oblique fractures, while the high-angle fractures were less developed. According to the integrative fracture index ( F ), five typical fracture development areas were determined: the fault zone, and the northern, eastern, southeastern, and central regions of the study area. The reliability of the fracture prediction results was verified using fracture distribution statistics and gas production test results.

Keywords: tectonic fracture; fracture development degree; evaluation method; Leikoupo Formation; Himalayan period (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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