IAMG 2001--Cancún Technical Program--Session J

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Integrated Geomechanical Modeling for Prediction of Subsidence and Induced Seismicity Due to Hydrocarbon Extraction by Bogdan Orlic*, Jan Diederik Van Wees, and Rob Van Eijs, Netherlands Institute of Applied Geoscience TNO--National Geological Survey, The Netherlands Exploitation of subsurface natural resources, and subsurface storage of energy residues, may cause subsurface and surface deformation and damage to property. Deformation is generally difficult to assess and prove, although economical, environmental and societal interests are huge in terms of strain on granting concessions, (potential) damage claims etc. For accurate prediction of deformation we developed an integrated workflow for 3D geomechanical modelling. The workflow establishes the relationship between geological structural models, property models, fluid flow models and geomechanical models. It allows effective system feedback loops which are extremely important for integrated modelling, taking into account all processes which have an important impact in reservoir production. For exchange of geometries, properties, boundary conditions, flow simulation results and geomechanical results between the shared earth models, we developed an object-oriented C++ program library. Integrated approach to 3D geomechanical modelling was successfully applied to a field case. The study focussed on investigation of the interplay between the remote tectonic stress and the man-induced changes in stress due by reservoir production. The results of sensitivity analyses demonstrated relative effects of the remote stress on the development of deformation due to fluid extraction. Paper in PDF format Orlic, Van Wees, and Van Eijs, Acrobat PDF, 2.7 megs.