Open fracture prediction and detection at the Bluebell-Altamont field, Uinta Basin, Utah

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996 · AAPG Bulletin

OSTI ID:6592008

Harthill, N; Bates, C R ^[1]

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1. Blackhawk Geosciences, Golden, CO (United States)

Production in the Bluebell-Altamont field is controlled by fracture permeability, and to date, intersecting open fractures has been a hit-or-miss process. By integrating knowledge of basin formation, structural history, and specific geophysical characteristics, we will show that the fractures in the producing region of the Uinta Basin occur systematically, and that the open fractures can be defined using reflection seismic AVO anomalies. The Uinta basin is markedly asymmetrical, reaching its deepest point of -20,000 feet bsl. The interpreted mechanism of basin formation is left-lateral strike-slip faulting in the basement along the Duschesne and South Flank fault systems, created by the indentation of the Colorado Plateau into the North American craton during the Laramide orogeny. Fracture directions in the sedimentary reservoir rocks predicted using this concept are N15[degrees]-50[degrees]W, which agree with core and joint analyses. Blackhawk Geosciences shot two orthogonal 3C reflection seismic lines, and a 9C VSP at the Bluebell-Altamont field under DOE Contract No. DE-RP21-91MC28135; the 9C VSP defined N35[degrees]W as the open fracture direction. Amplitudes at far offsets on the N70[degrees]E line were significantly greater than amplitudes on the N30[degrees]W line, which shows that the N70[degrees]E crosses open fractures at approximately right angles, while the N30[degrees]W line is approximately parallel to the open fractures. These AVO anomalies are consistent with the results of the 9C VSP, surface shear wave seismic anomalies, and geologic structural analysis.

• OSTI ID: 6592008
• Report Number(s): CONF-960527-; CODEN: AABUD2
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 5; Conference: Annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Inc. and the Society for Sedimentary Geology: global exploration and geotechnology, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-22 May 1996; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
RESERVOIR ROCK
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
UINTA BASIN
OIL FIELDS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
UTAH
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
USA
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration