Fault Seal Analysis

A two to three-day theory-based course on methods and techniques for evaluating sealing faults. The emphasis is placed on the application of an objective methodology to the analysis of sub-surface data (seismic interpretation and wells). All sessions comprise a mixture of lectures and practical sessions.

Course contents:

Key Concepts
Causes and evaluation of subsurface pressures; seal classification - capillary seals and permeability.

Fault juxtaposition seal
Fault-displacement patterns, analysis of seismic interpretations and map data, triangle diagrams.

Fault-seal mechanisms
Clay smear, cataclastic features, cementation/diagenesis, prediction of fault-seal capacity (gouge ratio and smear factor)..

Faults, fluid flow and diagenesis
Fluid flow along faults, slip tendency.

Fault seals in production
Application to reservoir models, estimation of transmissibility multipliers.