Petrel Structural Modeling

Schlumberger Private
Petrel Structural Modeling

Best practices to tackle complex geometries
and engineering requirements
11th January 2007

Petrel Structural Modeling
Objectives
Review fault modeling best practices
Examine Petrel complex modeling possibilities
Discuss the issues and constraints around modeling radial
geological structures
Discuss optimization and enhanced complexity of the clients
model
Present a methodology to build more flow complexity without
affecting the cell geometry
2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Grid building in Petrel: The concept
1. Fault model building

Key pillars extending to top and base of reservoir
Input : fault and horizon interpretations
2. Pillar gridding
Fitting of a regular structured grid on the faults
Interpolation of the grid to the top and base
3. Vertical layering
Horizons and layers building
Input : horizon interpretations and well data

Fault modeling best practices
Creating the fault model
Prepare your fault input data:

Cut the fault sticks at reservoir level
Organize faults in folder by areas
Re-name faults with short names(+ name of affected horizons)
Adjust workflow to quality of input
Use automated conversion whenever possible
Use manual conversion when low quality input
Use simple pillar geometry initially (linear)

Fault modeling best practices Keep a finger on the Esc key to
swap quickly between manipulation
and select/pick mode.
Editing the fault model Use the Target zoom to centre the
3D View on the part of the model on
which you are working.
Use the smoothing tools
Smooth XYZ OR S key
Smooth Z values only
Aim and click !!!
Space pillars evenly
Adjust fault height on top and base surfaces
if they are smooth enough! (The top and base lines of the
pillar grid must be as smooth as possible)
Otherwise adjust fault
height on constant level

Fault complexity and fault-horizon lines
Use enough pillars to describe the fault geometry

Dont over-simplify Fault/Horizon Lines
Reservoir Engineering considerations
If the lateral extent of the fault is uncertain, model the faults

in several inter-connected segments.
This will allow to assign variable transmissibility along the
fault and to easily test several connectivity hypothesis at the
simulation stage
Connecting the faults
Connect faults by areas

(Right-click on a fault \ Show connected faults)
Use auto-connection only on small simple models!
Review modeled faults against:
Fault sticks inputs
AND
Horizon inputs (Gridded surfaces, seismic interpretations)

Complex fault patterns
Vertical truncations Definitions
Truncating Truncated
pillar pillar (Drawn in grey color)
Truncation point

Vertical truncations
How to create a vertical truncation
1. Detect the truncating and

truncated faults in the fault
model
2. Make truncating fault active
3. Select two key pillars you

want to truncate
4. Press truncate pillar icon
5. Truncate the rest of the key

pillars

How to end truncations?
1. Self-truncation
Connect the truncated and
truncating faults then truncate
the common (Grey) pillar.

2. Against the boundary
Connect boundary segments
to corresponding truncating
truncated pillars.
Add a trend if the faults

extend beyond the boundary.

3. Against another fault
Connect the truncated and
truncating fault to the
crossing fault.
Truncate the common pillars,

truncate the next pillar on the
crossing fault and overlay the
bottom shape-points.

4. In the middle of the

truncated fault
Make sure that the bottom
shape-points of the last pair
of truncating truncated
pillars overlay.

Authorized truncations
1. Single base or top truncated
2. Multi base truncated

3. Multi top truncated
4. Multi top truncated and
multi base truncated

5. Top and base truncated
6. Both truncating and truncated

X-Faults
Complex antithetic fault geometry
Complex antithetic X faults can

be modeled in Petrel
Two faults truncated at the top
and bottom by a third one
Necessity to align the truncated
pillars

Vertically stacked truncations
that cant be modeled in Petrel
RESULT
Base Skeleton

Non griddable jumping truncation
Truncating 2
Truncating 3
Truncating 1
Truncation jumping between 3 non-connected faults

Non griddable jumping truncation
Distorted grid : crossing pillars

How to deal with
Minor / antithetic / vertically dying-out faults
Case 1 Minor fault dying-out vertically
Minor fault extended to bottom reservoir
No fault throw defined on lower horizons

How to deal with
Case 2 Minor antithetic fault
Base Top

How to deal with
Case 2 Minor antithetic fault Vertical Truncation
Truncating
fault active

How to deal with
Case 2 Minor antithetic fault Vertical Truncation
Normal cell
pinch-out

How to deal with
Case 2bis Minor antithetic fault Approximation
How to deal with
Case 2bis Minor antithetic fault Approximation
Modeling reverse faults
The basics
No particular rule to model reverse faults in Petrel

At the Make Horizons stage:
Input surfaces cannot have double Z values
Different input used for each fault compartment
Fault compartments must be isolated segments
Take into account at the fault modeling and Pillar

Gridding stage (Use trends to isolate segments)

Pillar Gridding
QC 3D, Top and Base grid geometry
Grid defects
Twisted cells
Envelopes Distorted cells
Negative volumes
Peaks in the skeleton grid

Pillar Gridding
How to deal with opposite dipping faults
Potential problem with twisted cells / negative volume at the base
Top Grid Base Grid
Reverse bottom line Fold in the grid

Pillar Gridding
How to deal with opposite dipping faults
Extend faults below reservoir level + 5 points pillars at fault ends

Align bottom shape points on fault trends
Initial Adapted

Some complex model geometries
Petrel structural modeling
and radial geological events
How to combine radial fault pattern
and structured grid in Petrel?
Gridding and Engineering constraints
Zig-Zag faults
How complex can the model be?
X-faults
A work-around to build more complexity in the simulation grid

Gridding constraints
Directions assigned to faults

Force cell edges along fault
Distort the grid in the direction
of the fault
Prevent triangular cells on fault
Trends
Force cell edges between faults
or away from faults
Used to solve local issues or
constrain cell number

Real field model
Radial fault network

29 faults simplified to 25 without vertical truncations
50*50 Grid
100 layers : average cell thickness 2.2 metres
Average theoretical cell volume Ca. 5000 m3
Four segments

Some simulation gridding rules
The grid orientation

influences the flow and the
simulation time
Variations in cell volume
affect the throughput and
the simulation time
Cell geometry affects the
accuracy of transmissibility
computations

Model Client Version
50x50 Grid
Fairly distorted grid
Ca. 6000 triangular cells
Multiple directions assigned
High proportion of small
volume cells
Proportion of cells with a volume lower than 2500

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved. m3 used as grid geometry QC criteria
Model Client Version + Zig-Zag
50x50 Grid
Zig-zag on arbitrary faults
High proportion of small
volume cells

Model No Trends
50x50 Grid
No directions assigned
Ca. 20,000 triangular cells
Lower proportion of low
volume cells

Model No Trends + Zig-Zag
50x50 Grid
No directions assigned
Lower proportion of low
volume cells
Excellent cell geometry

Model No Trends Coarse
100x100 Grid
Zig-Zag faults
Good cell geometry
471 triangular cells
GRV difference with
50x50 non ZZ grid
between 0.7 and 2%
depending on segment
and due mainly to the
model edges.

Model FrontSim simulation
Flow path analysis
Flow path, flight time (particles

displacement time) and
simulation time similar in original
Client model (Red) and in simple
50x50 model.
Potentially faster and more
stable ECLIPSE simulation as
better cell geometry in the 50x50
Zig-Zag model

Model with added complexity
Fault model modifications
Replacement of jumping
truncation by two independent
truncations
Replacement of simple
approximation by Truncated
Truncating combination
Add of X-fault and extra vertical

truncation

Grid geometry
Directions compulsory on
truncated faults
3400 triangular cells
Zig-Zag on arbitrary faults
Lower proportion of low volume cells

FrontSim Simulation
Flow path, flight time

(particles displacement
time) and simulation time
similar to original simplified
Client model
Directions on truncated
faults result in more
distorted cells locally.

ECLIPSE Simulation
One year ECLIPSE

simulation ran on segment
SW (Ca. 300,000 cells)
Run time Ca. 30 minutes
Distorted cells on
truncations have been
ACTNUMed out.

A workflow using RE faults
Objective :
Replace complex faults by
equivalent RE faults
Method :
Digitizing of RE faults
Assignment of variable
transmissibility vertically
Creation of permeability
barriers

A workflow using RE faults Polygon digitizing
Fault-equivalent polygons need to be digitized in 2D on skeleton grids

A workflow using RE faults RE faults creation
A workflow using RE faults Perm barriers creation
Use the K layer
player to determine
which layer(s) will be
used as barrier in the
fault equivalent.

A workflow using RE faults Perm barriers creation
Use of zone mapping to create temporary zonation for

variable vertical transmissibility
A workflow using RE faults Vertical transmissibility assignment
Trans = 0
Trans > 0
1 3 4 Background permeability
Permeability in the
2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved. fault
A workflow using RE faults Creation of a filter property
1
Interactive painting of the

cells where the permeability
barrier will be created

A workflow using RE faults Permeability barriers
In the property
calculator, a
conditional expression
on the filter property is
used to create the
permeability barrier

A workflow using RE faults The result
Added flow path
complexity
Real faults
approximation
NO alteration of
the grid geometry

Conclusions
Petrel allows modeling of complex fault patterns with multiple fault

directions, both in extensional and compressional settings.
A high level of complexity can be successfully modeled
(and simulated) in the case of a radial fault pattern.
Zig-zag faults allow to preserve a good cell geometry despite the
limitations of structured grids in radial settings.
The RE fault workflow can be used to build more complexity into the
grid without increasing its geometrical distortion.
Thank you for your attention. Any question?

Petrel Structural Modeling

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Petrel Structural Modeling

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Schlumberger Private

Petrel Structural Modeling

11th January 2007

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

1. Fault model building

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Prepare your fault input data:

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Use enough pillars to describe the fault geometry

If the lateral extent of the fault is uncertain, model the faults

Connect faults by areas

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

1. Detect the truncating and

3. Select two key pillars you

4. Press truncate pillar icon

5. Truncate the rest of the key

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2. Against the boundary

Add a trend if the faults

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

3. Against another fault

Truncate the common pillars,

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

4. In the middle of the

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

3. Multi top truncated

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

5. Top and base truncated

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Complex antithetic X faults can

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Truncation jumping between 3 non-connected faults

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Case 1 Minor fault dying-out vertically

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Case 2 Minor antithetic fault

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Case 2 Minor antithetic fault Vertical Truncation

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Case 2 Minor antithetic fault Vertical Truncation

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Case 2bis Minor antithetic fault Approximation

Case 2bis Minor antithetic fault Approximation

No particular rule to model reverse faults in Petrel

Take into account at the fault modeling and Pillar

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Potential problem with twisted cells / negative volume at the base

Reverse bottom line Fold in the grid

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Extend faults below reservoir level + 5 points pillars at fault ends

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Directions assigned to faults

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

Radial fault network

2007 Schlumberger Information Solutions. All rights reserved.

The grid orientation