You are on page 1of 9

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

APLICATION OF PROFILES OF IMAGES TO THE MICROTECTONIC


STUDY OF AN OFFSHORE OIL FIELD IN THE FRANJA NORTE DE
CRUDOS PESADOS OF CUBA
Dania Brey del Rey and Yusneurys Perez Martinez
Centro de Investigaciones del Petrleo

ABSTRACT
Trapping occurs mainly in tectonic structures
represented by fold against inverse faults, the porosity
of the reservoir is controled by secondary processes
(fractures, vugs and micropores interconnected). This is
the result of the action of the stresses established by
compressive tectonic in the rocks during collision of the
Cuban Volcanic Arc and the Passive Margin of North
America (Valladares et al., 1997).

The studied oil field presents accumulations of


petroleum in clastic carbonate rocks of Tertiary age
deposited in a very unstable foreland basin. Due to the
action of strong compressive events the rocks were
intensively folded and fractured. Such a tectonic
regimen gave place to the formation of traps of folds
against inverse faults, typical for the whole Franja Norte
de Crudos Pesados of Cuba.

Using FMI and FMS electrical images of many


horizontal wells a detailed characterization of the
fractures and microfaults is realized.

From interpretation of the image profiles (FMI and


FMS) of many horizontal wells in an offshore area a
detailed microtectonic study was carried out.
Furthermore, to clarify the relationship stress - strain for
the area in question a detailed characterization of the
fracturing, folding, microfaulting and electrofacies and
lithofacies studies were made.

FRACTURE TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS


IN FMI IMAGES
FMI image data was acquired from the wells # 101,
105, 106 over their reservoir intervals. The lithology is
composed by limestone and argillaceous limestone
alternated with coarse breccias beds (limestone clasts).

In the first place, a data bank was collected with the


information of the FMI images of all wells for the later
realization of the statistical treatment that allowed the
determination of fracturing and the deformation
preferential directions.

Fracture features in the images were categorized into


four fracture types and one structural feature as follows
(Brey, et al., 2005).

It was possible to make:


1. Rose diagrams for each type of deformation,
2. Maps of density of fracture, and
3. The ellipsoid of stresses.

1.

All to deduce questions related with tectonic aspects of


major scale.
2.
The map of distribution of the conductive fractures
(opened and partially opened) in the wells was
correlated with the lithofacies distribution and the
structural maps for the knowledge of the influence of
the tectonics in the improvement of the reservoir
properties.

3.

4.
INTRODUCTION
The studied oil field is located on the northern half of
the Cuban Petroleum Province (Fig.-1), whish is
composed by Early Terciary carbonate rocks intensively
folded and fractured.

5.

Drilling-induced fracture: There are usually


seen as conductive feature (black) in the FMI
images due to conductive fluid filled in
fracture. The azimuth of this type of fractures
generally corresponds to the direction of the insitu maximum horizontal stress.
Conductive fracture: There are as black sine
curve feature in the FMI images. This type of
fractures is considered to be natural and can be
open and partiality open fractures.
Resistive fractures: This fracture type appears
to be white because they are filled by calcite.
They are not very frequent.
Fault: They are recognized as fractures of
several sizes that displace the layers and they
very often are associated with breccia zones
The most frequent faults are the inverse ones.
Deformation structure: Are represented as
continuous folds of diverse size.

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

coarse breccias, in general the dissolution porosity is


quite variable. The seal unit (Vega Alta Fm.) is
composed by fine and coarse grained breccias,
frequently with intercalations of carbonate rocks and
some horizons of beds of shale that don't exceed one
meter of thickness.

MICROTECTONIC ANALYSIS
Several wells were revised in the area, we shall to
describe the most representative:
Well # 105 (Fig.2b )
In this well was studied the interval 3202 - 2577 m and
two formations were recognized:

The bedding presents an ENE-WSW strike direction


dipping 20 to 50 to southeast.

Vega Alta Fm: seal unit, which is composed of


deposit breccias with variable quantities of
clayey matrix. Occasionally, it presents
interbeded of carbonated rocks that may
present porosity by dissolution.
Canas Fm: reservoir unit, which is composed
by clastic fragments included in a chalky
matrix of Tertiary age. Clastic fragments are
composed by carbonated rocks from the
Continental Paleomargin of North America of
Late Jurassic Early Cretaceous age. In
general, the reservoir presents abundant
porosity by dissolution that may or may not be
associated to fractures and thin intercalations
of clayey carbonates in thin beds and breccias.

Recognized fractures are partially open which have


been divided into two main families: a) with strike NE
SW, dipping with 30-80 toward NW and SE, b)
secondarily, fractures with strike NW-SE dipping 6090 toward SW.
Faults have several strikes and it was possible to define
two main systems: a) NE-SW dipping toward NW, b)
NW-SE dipping toward NE.
Well # 101 (Fig.2c)
The interval studied by FMI images was 2522-2909m.
The lithology was the same to the lithology described in
the previous wells. Beds, as in previous wells, are
folded, faulted and strongly fractured. Stratification
planes present WNW-ESE direction (strike), dipping
with angles between 10-40 toward the S. This well
intercepts the southern portion of the structure of the
zone.

The behavior of the layers fractures and partially opens


microfaults present changes in the direction of the dip in
the folds.
The strike direction of the strata is ENE-WSW with
angles from 60 to 90 and dipping mainly toward the
South. In partially open fractures we find three families:
a) with strike NE-SW and dipping 40-70 toward the
NW; b) with strike SE-NW and high angles dipping
toward the NE; c) with strike ESE-WNW that dipping
toward NNE. The open fractures present two families:
a) with strike NNE-SSW dipping 10 toward the E; b)
with strike E of low angles dipping toward the N. In
both cases we can say that the fractures cut the layers
and they are related with folding, so that their origin is
tectonic (Fig. 2 a, b and c).

The partially open fractures can be divided into two


families: a) with strike NE-SW dipping toward NW
with angles between 40-70, and b) a subordinate
family with direction NW SE dipping toward NW
with angles between 70 - 90.
Micro- faults are distinguished in this well too,
presenting a strike NE-SW dipping toward NW with
angles between 40 - 60.
STRUCTURAL INTERPRETATION

Microfaulting presents preferential strike NE SW and


NW SE, constituting a conjugated system of fractures
(Riedel pattern). Axial planes of folds present strike
ENE- WSW, dipping toward the N and S, indicating the
action of strong compressive stresses that originated
inverse faults increasing the fracturing, porosity and the
movement of the oil. (Fig.2b).

Starting from the structural interpretation of the well


105, you can reaffirm the existence of folds.
In the well 105 two folds appear in the same lithofacies
in the interval 2970 - 3200 m with axial planes in 3015
m and 3100 m, besides a microfolds system in the
intervals 2800 - 2812 m and 2927 - 2950 m (fig. 4).
In the Fig. 3 we can observe six microstructures along
the well, which are related with the seal units, reservoirs
and the fault zones:

The induced fractures are disposed horizontally with


strike NNE-SSW. This direction corresponds to that
presented by the maximum main stress in this well.
Well # 106 (Fig.2a)
The FMI log (interval 3106 to 2205 m) shows that the
reservoir carbonates are intercalated with clay and

Microstructure 1: Appears in the interval 2585-2615 m


related with the appearance of the first seal unit. It
presents an intense microfolding with the presence of

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

be separated by a strike-slip fault (3065m) also endorsed


by the structural map of the area.

several axial planes. In this area 103 bedding dips were


interpreted, all of those dip roughly toward the South
with angles average of 80 and an azimuth of 80.3
(NE).

Microstructure 6: It is formed by two well defined


folds: a syncline and anticline, each one with axial plane
dipping toward the north. It could be possible to define
in the FMI the typical bull-eye structures for both folds
(Fig. 3). It is typical to find in the center of both hinges
of the folds the gross brecciaed texture, which is
developed inside the third seal unit (3065 3200 m).

Microstructure 2: Related with an inverse fault that


separates the first seal unit from the reservoir. Its
characterized by an area with abundant rupture
breccias, partially open fractures and microfaults. All
those structures are framed in the interval 2722 - 2760
m. In that interval 45 bedding dips were measured,
dipping approximately toward the south with 73.
Below 2760 m up to 2830 m the layers are disposed in
cycles of downward sequence, dipping toward the
South with angles of 38 and azimuth of 140.85 (SE).

In general in the structural-views of the wells observe


development of asymmetric folds (inclined axial planes)
whose axial planes strike NW-SE with vergence
sometimes to NE and others to the SW. The inverse
faults are generally of high angle of dip (between 60
and 70) presenting strike NW - SE. The strike of the
induced fractures is NNE-SSW, with high angle of dip,
almost vertical. The figure indicates the possible
orientation of main efforts in the wells.

Microstructure 3: Interval 2760 - 2890 m. Its


represented by layers that form small cycles of
downward sequence with dips between 50 to 60
toward the south. It corresponds to a literally calm
sequence inside reservoir and seal unit bounded by
folds by the upper and lower portion of it. At the
depth of 2830 m we observe an unconformity that
represents the limit between the reservoir and the seal
unit.

Using the orientations average of all structures


determined in the wells and clustering them in an strain
- stress ellipse, it is possible observed the principal
maximum stress has direction NNE-SSW, that is agree
with other works carried out in onshore area. All these
structures have direct relationship with strike-slip faults
developed in the area. Those faults have been
demonstrated by other methods (geomorphology,
satellite image processing, etc) as much onshore as
offshore. Furthermore, the present microtectonic study
using FMI images also suggest it (Fig. 4).

Microstructure 4: It covers the 2890 2970 m


interval. It is intensely microfolded, and four axial
planes in opposition, abundant breccias and
microfaults were observed; what we mention above
above indicates us this interval can be considered as
a fault zone. This is more characteristic in the interval
2910 2940 m, where the fractures and the
microfaults are intensified. This microstructure is
inside the seal unit.

Another fact that affirms the previous statement is the


strikes of the planes of the folds, which are practically
parallel to the shoreline. Those folds are limited to the
north by inverse faults almost always dipping to the
SSW (S. Lpez, 2003). The presence of extension areas
provoked by the strike-slip faults allowed the movement
of the hydrocarbons and it is an important aspect for
future exploration works in the oil field. The main
accumulation of hydrocarbon areas are those with
abundant open and partially open fractures connecting
the vugs and breccia zones.

Microstructure 5: It is presented in the interval 2979


-3065 m, formed by an anticline with axial plane
dipping toward the north. Beds in the fold dip toward
SW with angles of 50-60. This micro-structure is
presented in the reservoir. Associated to the hinge of
the fold abundant fractures partially open with
density of 1-2f/m are developed. For these
characteristics we can say that this microstructure
conform the north flank of the fold, limited to the
north by an inverse fault.

These structures reaffirm us the extremely complicated


tectonic structure that present the reservoirs involved in
folds against inverse faults traps.

In spite of a continuity exists in both, dip angles and


strikes of the beds (determined by the image profile), we
cannot affirm that a single microstructure exists, because
there are two different intervals with regard of their
intrinsic characteristics. The upper part (2979-3063m)
corresponds to the reservoir unit and the inferior part
corresponds to the more northern seal unit (30633200m). For what we thought this microstructure has to

DISTRIBUTION OF THE FRACTURE


To study the distribution of the fractures a map was
made, taking as primary data the ones obtained as a
result of the interpretation of the FMI images.

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

Brey, D. L ,2003. Estudo do Fracturamento no


Reservatrio Carbontico de Puerto Escondido,
Cuba. Tesis para la obtencin del grado de
Master
en
Ciencias
Geolgicas,
UERJ/CENPES/CEINPET, 90 p.
Cortes, J.M, Rosello, E., Dalla, L., 2001. Avances en
microtectnica. Rosello, E., 1987.Sistemas
tectonicos Transcurrentes: una sntesis de sus
condiciones
mecnicas
y
aplicaciones
geoeconmicas. Asociacin Geolgica de
Argentina, Serie D, No 5: 19, (43), 22-43p.
Domnguez, C., Rosello, 2004. Catlogo de Imgenes
de curso de FMI impartido en el marco del
curso: Imgenes de Pozos y Geologa
Estructural Aplicada a la Exploracin y
Desarrollo de Hidrocarburos, Schlumberger.
Lpez S., Valladares S., Socorro R., Perez Y., Brey D.,
Fernandez J.,. Domnguez A.H., Juara M.,
Zambrana H., Amador H., Alvarez J. (2005).
Modelo Estructural y Trampas del Terciario en
la Franja Norte Cubana. Informe indito.
Archivo Tcnico CEINPET. 1-29p.
Sanguinetti, M., 2005. Taller de reservorio en rocas
carbonatadas. Schlumberger, Habana, Cuba.
Schlumberger, 1987. Principios/Aplicaciones de la
Interpretacin de Registros. Educational
Services.
Taha, M., 1997. Fractures and Fractured Reservoirs,
The Search for Oil ang Gas in Latin America
and Caribbean N.5, 8-25p.
Valladares, S et al.,1997. Reservorios Carbonatados
Pertenecientes a la UTE Placetas. Informe
indito. Archivo CEINPET, Habana. 112p.

We took all kind of fractures determined to intervals of


25 m along the wells. The density of fractures inside the
reservoir is relatively high being related with the type of
rocks and the vicinity to the fault zones. The densities
of the fractures in the seal unit are low for the abundant
quantity of clayey rocks (more plasticity) and the scarce
intercalations of carbonates where the fractures are
developed (Fig. 5).
Furthermore for the characterization of the fractures,
graphics of frequencies were made. In those graphs we
could observe that the biggest values of density of
fractures are in the range from 0.6 to 1.7. Its noted a
lateral distribution of the density of fractures, which is
expressed in all the wells, coinciding with the first fold
with values among 0.3 -0.7 fractures/meter. (Fig. 2 a, b
and c).
In the well 105 the values of density are of up to 1.4
coinciding with the second fold, while the well 101
presents densities of fractures in ranges of 0.3-0.5.
Thats why we inferred that the fractures decreases
toward the east. (Fig. 2 b).
In Fig. 5 the map of density of fractures and the
structural map are correlated. We can see the biggest
densities of fractures are related to the folds caused by
the action of the inverse faults. The biggest
concentration of fractures is in well 105.
CONCLUSIONS
The fracture porosity is the most frequent; they can be
open and partially open fractures. The high indexes of
fracture density detected by the interpretation of the
image profiles are related to the vicinity of the inverse
faults and folds.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS


Dania Brey del Rey. Geologist for Centro de
Investigaciones del Petrleo. Graduated in 1980 in Cuba
and as MSc in U. E. Rio de Janeiro in 2003. Long
experience as sedimentologist and oil reservoirs from
Cuba, specialized in FMI research. She has participated
in different investigation projeits. Also experience as
Professor in Cuban universities.

The fractures and microfaults are related with a


maximum stress with direction NNE-SSW. In the
structural view of the well we observe development of
asymmetric folds with vergence NE-SW with axial
planes of strike SE-NW limited to the north by inverse
faults with angle of dip of 70 that indicates the
extremely complex structure inside the trap. The
abundant open fractures and interconnected vugs are the
main ways of the migration of the hydrocarbon.

Yusneurys Prez Martnez is a Petroleum Geologist at


Cuban Oil Research Center. He is currently a Petroleum
Exploration Specialist in the Dept. of Exploration and
recently he has been involved in many geological and
structural studies of the Cuban oil fields using FMI and
FMS, Images, well logs, seismic and lithology data. His
interests include basin analysis, structural geology and
geostatistic.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank Cuban Oil Research
Center for permission to publish this paper.
REFERENCES

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

Fig.1 Location of the oil

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

a)

Well 106
Fracture density

Open
fracture
b)

Microfault

Well 105
Fracture

Microfault

Open and parcialy


fracture strike

Axial plane
strike

c)
Well 101
Fracture

Open and
parcialy
fracture strike

Fig 2 Rose diagram and fracture density grafics of 106, 105, 101 wells

Microfault
strike

Induced

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

Reserv

Seal

L
Fig.3 Structural section SW-NE at 105 well in 2580-3200m.

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

Strike of the open and


partially open fractures

Strike of the beds

Strike of the microfaults

Strike of the induced fractures

Inverse Fault
Normal fault

Fig.4. Strain stress ellipse, clustering all structures determined in the

wells.

SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, June 4 -7, 2006

Fig. 5. Map of the distribution of the fractures.

You might also like