Fracture and in-situ stress characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs

This publication introduces the newly developed, integrated discipline of fracture and in-situ stress characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs, through 16 well-illustrated case studies. These cover a wide range of tools, from borehole Scale (logs and cores) to reservoir scale (3-D and 4-D seismic). It also covers surface studies (outcrop and remote sensing). In addition, it addresses the impact of fractures and in-situ stresses on fluid flows and their simulation. This volume deals with a subject that is gaining increasing interest with the advancement of technologies and shifting boundaries of marginal fields into more challenging ground. Fractures and their response to current-day in-situ stresses have become a crucial part of reservoir characterization in deep tight reservoirs. In addition, maturing reservoirs, which were considered as ‘conventional’ at discovery, are displaying symptoms characteristic of fractures and/or geomechanical contribution. This has lead to the need to delineate the fractures and the stresses in these reservoirs and revise reservoir management accordingly. The book will be of interest to a broad range of readers from both academic and industrial institutes, who are researching and dealing with hydrocarbon reservoir characterization, simulation and management.