The influence of fault permeability on single-phase fluid flow near fault-sand intersections: Results from steady-state high-resolution models of pressure-driven fluid flow

Abstract

By integrating numerical analysis with field information, we have developed realistic cross-sectional models of faulted sand-shale sequences at 3 km or greater depth to investigate how fluid-flow patterns vary with fault permeability. Simulated (isotropic) permeability ranges for shale were 10-19 to 10-17 m2 (porosity φ = 10-35%) and for sand were 10-14 to 10-12 m2 (φ = 20-25%). Fault permeability ranged between 10-21 to 10-12 m2 among four models. Our results were obtained with a novel multigrid finite-element technique allowing the rapid solution of fluid flow on very fine meshes that represent thin faults and interlayered sand-shale strata with their correct aspect ratios (up to ≥800:1) a..