Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 1022-1030.doi: 10.11743/ogg20190507

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics and main controlling factors of natural fractures in the Lower-to-Middle Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in Tahe area,Northern Tarim Basin

Hao Junmin1, Wang Xiaoyao2, Sun Jianfang3, Sun Xiaotong3, Shi Jinxiong2, Cao Dongsheng2, Zeng Lianbo2   

  1. 1. Geophysical Prospecting Institute of Shengli Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Dongying, Shandong 257022, China;
    2. China University of Petroleum(Beijing), Beijing 102249, China;
    3. Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2018-07-11 Revised:2019-06-27 Online:2019-10-28 Published:2019-08-17

Abstract: The characteristics of and major factors controlling the natural fracture development in the Middle-to-Lower Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in Tahe area are studied through observations of outcrops,cores and casting thin sections,as well as logging data analysis.The natural fractures in the study area come in three types:tectonic fractures,diagenetic fractures and composite fractures.Specifically,the tectonic fractures are mainly shearing fractures,followed by tensional fractures;the diagenetic fractures are mainly bedding-parallel fractures,followed by diagenetic stylolites;the composite fractures mainly include structural-diagenetic fractures,structural-epigenetic fractures and karst fractures.The tectonic shearing fractures are dominant in the study area,developed in four groups trending NE-SW,NW-SE,nearly EW and nearly NS,respectively.However,they differ remarkably in different horizons in terms of development degree,and occur preferentially along the NE-SW direction in these horizons.High-angle fractures are dominant with a dip angle of over 70°.The longitudinal propagation length of the fractures is controlled by the rock mechanical stratigraphy,within which the fractures are developed,and on the interface of which the fractures terminate.Fracture density shows obvious heterogeneity both vertically and horizontally,mainly controlled by geological factors including sedimentation,tectonics and karstification.Along with the increase of plastic mineral contents and rock layer thickness,the fracture density gradually decreases.Faults and folds play a vital role in fracture development,leading to evident variation in fracture density at various structural locations.The fracture density tends to gradually decrease along with the increasing of distance to fault plane and fold axial plane.Besides,karstification affects the degree of fracture development in the upper strata of karst cavens,where there are mainly three types of fracture systems,i.e.nearly vertical fractures,obliquely-crossing fractures and nearly horizontal fractures.

Key words: heterogeneity, fracture density, fracture type, fracture strike, natural fracture, Middle-to-Lower Ordovician, carbonate reservoir, Tahe area

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