A fracture network model and open fracture analysis of a tight sandstone gas reservoir in Dongpu Depression, Bohaiwan Basin, eastern China

Fracture systems can significantly influence productivity in tight sandstone reservoirs. Understanding the in situ fracture network is of importance in exploration and development of such reservoirs. This paper illustrates that stress-strain analysis, based on geological processes, is a credible prediction method for fracture networks and enables an estimation of which fractures are likely to contribute most to flow based on fracture orientation. This study shows the workflow for fracture modelling and its application in a sandstone reservoir using structural validation tools and interactive fracture simulations constrained with lithology, well log and core data. The fracture network model can help us understand not only what a fractured reservoir looks like but also how the existing fracture network behaves. An important consideration is that we need to understand and constrain the geological history to assess the fracture network properly.