Fractal Characterization of Multimodal, Multiscale Images of Shale Rock Fracture Networks

Vega, Bolivia; Kovscek, Anthony R.

doi:10.3390/en15031012

Fractal Characterization of Multimodal, Multiscale Images of Shale Rock Fracture Networks

Journal Article · Sat Jan 29 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Energies

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031012· OSTI ID:1843044

^[1]; ^[2]

Stanford Univ., CA (United States); Stanford University
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

An array of multimodal and multiscale images of fractured shale rock samples and analogs was collected with the aim of improving the numerical representation of fracture networks. 2D and 3D reconstructions of fractures and matrices span from 10^–6 to 100 m. The origin of the fracture networks ranged from natural to thermal maturation to hydraulically induced maturation. Images were segmented to improve fracture identification. Then, the fractal dimension and length distribution of the fracture networks were calculated for each image dataset. The resulting network connectivity and scaling associations are discussed at length on the basis of scale, sample and order of magnitude. Fracture network origin plays an important role in the resulting fracture systems and their scaling. Rock analogs are also evaluated using these descriptive tools and are found to be faithful depictions of maturation-induced fracture networks.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0019165

OSTI ID:: 1843044

Journal Information:: Energies, Journal Name: Energies Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 15; ISSN 1996-1073

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (38)

Investigation of Stress Field and Fracture Development During Shale Maturation Using Analog Rock Systems Vega, B.; Yang, J.; Tchelepi, H. Transport in Porous Media, Vol. 131, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-019-01355-2	journal	November 2019
Shale Gas Formations and Their Potential for Carbon Storage: Opportunities and Outlook Khosrokhavar, Roozbeh; Griffiths, Steve; Wolf, Karl-Heinz Environmental Processes, Vol. 1, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-014-0036-4	journal	September 2014
Fractal patterns of fractures in granites Velde, B.; Dubois, J.; Moore, D. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(91)90234-9	journal	May 1991
Fractal analysis of fracturing in two African regions, from satellite imagery to ground scale Vignes-Adler, Michèle; Le Page, Alain; Adler, Pierre M. Tectonophysics, Vol. 196, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(91)90290-9	journal	September 1991
Evidence of fractal fracture Chelidze, T.; Gueguen, Y. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 27, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(90)94332-N	journal	June 1990
Potential for enhanced gas recovery and CO2 storage in the Marcellus Shale in the Eastern United States Godec, Michael; Koperna, George; Petrusak, Robin International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 118 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2013.05.007	journal	October 2013
Fractal analysis of permeability of dual-porosity media embedded with random fractures Miao, Tongjun; Yang, Shanshan; Long, Zhangcai International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 88 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2015.05.004	journal	September 2015
Geologic storage of hydrogen: Scaling up to meet city transportation demands Lord, Anna S.; Kobos, Peter H.; Borns, David J. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, Issue 28 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.07.121	journal	September 2014
Storage of hydrogen, natural gas, and carbon dioxide – Geological and legal conditions Tarkowski, Radosław; Uliasz-Misiak, Barbara; Tarkowski, Piotr International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 46, Issue 38 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.03.131	journal	June 2021
CO2 sequestration coupled with enhanced gas recovery in shale gas reservoirs Mohagheghian, Erfan; Hassanzadeh, Hassan; Chen, Zhangxin Journal of CO2 Utilization, Vol. 34 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2019.08.016	journal	December 2019
Fractal disposition, porosity characterization and relationships to thermal maturity for the Lower Permian Raniganj basin shales, India Hazra, Bodhisatwa; Wood, David A.; Kumar, Sumit Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, Vol. 59 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2018.09.014	journal	November 2018
Natural sealed fractures in mudrocks: A case study tied to burial history from the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin, Texas, USA Gasparrini, Marta; Sassi, William; Gale, Julia F. W. Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 55 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.12.006	journal	August 2014
A systematic study of internal gas generation in shale source rocks using analog experiments Vega, Bolivia; Kovscek, Anthony R. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol. 173 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.10.006	journal	February 2019
Estimating the Carbon Sequestration Capacity of Shale Formations Using Methane Production Rates Tao, Zhiyuan; Clarens, Andres Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1021/es401221j	journal	September 2013
Scaling of fracture systems in geological media Bonnet, E.; Bour, O.; Odling, N. E. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 39, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1029/1999RG000074	journal	August 2001
Connectivity properties of two-dimensional fracture networks with stochastic fractal correlation: CONNECTIVITY OF 2D FRACTAL FRACTURE NETWORKS Darcel, C.; Bour, O.; Davy, P. Water Resources Research, Vol. 39, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1029/2002WR001628	journal	October 2003
Self-similar distribution and properties of macroscopic fractures at depth in crystalline rock in the Cajon Pass Scientific Drill Hole Barton, Colleen A.; Zoback, Mark D. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 97, Issue B4 https://doi.org/10.1029/91JB01674	journal	January 1992
Fractal geometry characterization of geothermal reservoir fracture networks Watanabe, K.; Takahashi, H. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 100, Issue B1 https://doi.org/10.1029/94JB02167	journal	January 1995
How Long Is the Coast of Britain? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractional Dimension Mandelbrot, B. Science, Vol. 156, Issue 3775 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.156.3775.636	journal	May 1967
Power-Law Distributions in Empirical Data Clauset, Aaron; Shalizi, Cosma Rohilla; Newman, M. E. J. SIAM Review, Vol. 51, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1137/070710111	journal	November 2009
A new Method for Calculating Fractal Dimensions of Porous Media Based on pore size Distribution Xia, Yuxuan; Cai, Jianchao; Wei, Wei Fractals, Vol. 26, Issue 01 https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X18500068	journal	February 2018
Natural fractures in some US shales and their importance for gas production Gale, Julia F. W.; Holder, Jon Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1144/0071131	journal	January 2010
Flow in multiscale fractal fracture networks Davy, P.; Bour, O.; De Dreuzy, J. -R. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol. 261, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2006.261.01.03	journal	January 2006
In-Depth Experimental Investigation of Shale Physical and Transport Properties Aljamaan, H.; Alnoaimi, K.; Kovscek, A. R. Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Denver, Colorado, 12-14 August 2013 https://doi.org/10.1190/urtec2013-114	conference	September 2013
Nanoscale Visualization of Gas Shale Pore and Textural Features Vega, Bolivia; Andrews, Joy C.; Liu, Yijin Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Denver, Colorado, 12-14 August 2013 https://doi.org/10.1190/urtec2013-163	conference	September 2013
Natural Fractures in shale: A review and new observations Gale, Julia F. W.; Laubach, Stephen E.; Olson, Jon E. AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 98, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1306/08121413151	journal	November 2014
Natural fractures in the Barnett Shale and their importance for hydraulic fracture treatments Gale, Julia F. W.; Reed, Robert M.; Holder, Jon AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 91, Issue 4, p. 603-622 https://doi.org/10.1306/11010606061	journal	April 2007
Characterization and Measurement of Multi-scale Gas Transport in Shale Core Samples Alnoaimi, Khalid R.; Duchateau, Christophe; Kovscek, Anthony Proceedings of the 2nd Unconventional Resources Technology Conference https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2014-1920820	conference	January 2014
Hydraulic Fractures in Core From Stimulated Reservoirs: Core Fracture Description of HFTS Slant Core, Midland Basin, West Texas Gale, Julia F. W.; Elliott, Sara J.; Laubach, Stephen E. Proceedings of the 6th Unconventional Resources Technology Conference https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2018-2902624	conference	January 2018
Fractal Characterization of Multimodal, Multiscale Images of Shale Rock Fracture Networks Vega, Bolivia; Kovscek, Anthony Digital Rocks Portal https://doi.org/10.17612/15rs-9j28	dataset	January 2022
Submicron-Pore Characterization of Shale Gas Plays Elgmati, Malek Mohamed; Zhang, Hao; Bai, Baojun North American Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition https://doi.org/10.2118/144050-MS	conference	April 2013
Multiscale Gas Transport in Shales With Local Kerogen Heterogeneities Akkutlu, I. Yucel; Fathi, Ebrahim SPE Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 04 https://doi.org/10.2118/146422-PA	journal	December 2012
Multiscale Imaging of Gas Storage in Shales Aljamaan, Hamza; Ross, Cynthia M.; Kovscek, Anthony R. SPE Journal, Vol. 22, Issue 06 https://doi.org/10.2118/185054-PA	journal	August 2017
Permeability and Porosity Evolution of Organic-Rich Shales from the Green River Formation as a Result of Maturation Kim, Tae Wook; Ross, Cynthia M.; Guan, Kelly M. SPE Journal, Vol. 25, Issue 03 https://doi.org/10.2118/195366-PA	journal	February 2020
Imaging-Based Characterization of Calcite-Filled Fractures and Porosity in Shales Vega, Bolivia; Ross, Cynthia M.; Kovscek, Anthony R. SPE Journal, Vol. 20, Issue 04 https://doi.org/10.2118/2014-1922521-PA	journal	August 2015
Micro-Structural Studies of Gas Shales Sondergeld, Carl; Ambrose, Raymond; Rai, Chandra Proceedings of SPE Unconventional Gas Conference https://doi.org/10.2523/131771-MS	conference	February 2010
Multi-Scale Microfluidics for Transport in Shale Fabric Ling, Bowen; Khan, Hasan J.; Druhan, Jennifer L. Energies, Vol. 14, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.3390/en14010021	journal	December 2020
Multiscale Characterization of Fracture Patterns: A Case Study of the Noble Hills Range (Death Valley, CA, USA), Application to Geothermal Reservoirs Chabani, Arezki; Trullenque, Ghislain; Ledésert, Béatrice A. Geosciences, Vol. 11, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11070280	journal	July 2021

Similar Records

Fractal scaling and fluid flow in fracture networks in rock

Conference · Mon Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1996 · OSTI ID:425412

Fractal scaling and fluid flow in fracture networks in rock

Conference · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1995 · AAPG Bulletin · OSTI ID:6571901

Investigation of Stress Field and Fracture Development During Shale Maturation Using Analog Rock Systems

Journal Article · Tue Nov 05 19:00:00 EST 2019 · Transport in Porous Media · OSTI ID:1759007

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
connectivity
fractal
fracture network
image analysis
rock analogs
scaling
shale rock

Fractal Characterization of Multimodal, Multiscale Images of Shale Rock Fracture Networks

Citation Formats

References (38)

Similar Records

Related Subjects