Geomechanical assessment of the Lower Turonian AR-F limestone Member, Abu Gharadig Field, Egypt: Implications for unconventional resource development
This study evaluates the unconventional reservoir geomechanical characteristics of the Lower Turonian Abu Roash-F (AR-F) carbonates from the Abu Gharadig field, onshore Egypt, which has not been attempted before. The interval dominantly consists of planktic foraminifera and micrite matrix. The AR-F...
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Published in | Frontiers in earth science (Lausanne) Vol. 10 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Frontiers Media
08.12.2022
Frontiers Media S.A |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | This study evaluates the unconventional reservoir geomechanical characteristics of the Lower Turonian Abu Roash-F (AR-F) carbonates from the Abu Gharadig field, onshore Egypt, which has not been attempted before. The interval dominantly consists of planktic foraminifera and micrite matrix. The AR-F marine carbonate is organic-rich (0.59–3.57 wt% total organic carbon), thermally mature (435–441°C T
max
) and falls within the oil generation window. The studied interval is very tight with up to 2.6% porosity and 0.0016–0.0033 mD permeability with the wireline log-based brittleness index ranging between 0.39–0.72 which indicates a less brittle to brittle nature. AR-F exhibits a hydrostatic pore pressure gradient with minimum horizontal stress (S
hmin
) varying between 0.66–0.76 PSI/ft. Safe wellbore trajectory analysis was performed for deviated and horizontal wells to infer the mud pressure gradients required to avoid wellbore instabilities. Based on the inferred in-stress magnitudes and considering an NNE regional maximum horizontal stress orientation, none of the fractures are found to be critically stressed at present day. To produce from the AR-F, hydraulic fracturing is necessary, and we infer a minimum pore pressure increment threshold of 1390 PSI by fluid injection to reactivate the vertical fractures parallel to regional minimum horizontal stress azimuth. |
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Bibliography: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
ISSN: | 2296-6463 2296-6463 |
DOI: | 10.3389/feart.2022.1041453 |