Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins
<p>Hydrocarbons are found in rocks within sedimentary basins below the Earth’s surface. Whilst they remain a primary energy source, many hydrocarbon fields are nearing depletion, and new, more advanced exploration and recovery techniques are required to find new reserves and to sustain product...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2019
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| _version_ | 1797109526627876864 |
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| author | Lee, JJE |
| author2 | Gillow, K |
| author_facet | Gillow, K Lee, JJE |
| author_sort | Lee, JJE |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p>Hydrocarbons are found in rocks within sedimentary basins below the Earth’s surface. Whilst they remain a primary energy source, many hydrocarbon fields are nearing depletion, and new, more advanced exploration and recovery techniques are required to find new reserves and to sustain production. One such technique aims at predicting the evolution of pressure, porosity, and temperature profiles within basins from past to present, to determine whether there is potential for hydrocarbon generation in a certain location and also to reduce drilling risk.</p>
<p>In this thesis, we identify and mathematically model the primary geological processes within a sedimentary basin. We develop a fundamental model which describes both the mechanical and chemical compaction of sediments, and their influence on the porosity, pressure, and temperature profiles. We write our model in a general form which then sets up the framework on which we can add geological features, such as sills and fault lines. Such a generalised model, which can include these features in multiple dimensions, is rarely seen in literature.</p>
<p>We use the finite element method to develop a solver which can tackle our full model in multiple dimensions, and we test the validity of the solver through the method of manufactured solutions and error analysis. We discuss additional numerical techniques that can be used to model the deforming basin with respect to compaction and sedimentation. Our model is solved for the simplest case first, before we present simulations for varying geological situations. We examine the effects of a constant versus a porosity-dependent permeability model, varying rock viscosity values, different compaction models, and mechanical or chemical compaction (the latter of which is frequently neglected in literature and in industry). Then, we present simulations for basins in the presence of complex geological features, such as laterally varying stresses, faults, and sills. Finally, we summarise our key findings.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:42:59Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oxford-uuid:c0d957c7-1201-430e-a9fa-25430f6e39c9 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:42:59Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:c0d957c7-1201-430e-a9fa-25430f6e39c92023-05-11T09:53:58ZModelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basinsThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:c0d957c7-1201-430e-a9fa-25430f6e39c9Earth sciencesMathematicsEnglishHyrax Deposit2019Lee, JJEGillow, KVan Gorder, RWhiteley, J<p>Hydrocarbons are found in rocks within sedimentary basins below the Earth’s surface. Whilst they remain a primary energy source, many hydrocarbon fields are nearing depletion, and new, more advanced exploration and recovery techniques are required to find new reserves and to sustain production. One such technique aims at predicting the evolution of pressure, porosity, and temperature profiles within basins from past to present, to determine whether there is potential for hydrocarbon generation in a certain location and also to reduce drilling risk.</p> <p>In this thesis, we identify and mathematically model the primary geological processes within a sedimentary basin. We develop a fundamental model which describes both the mechanical and chemical compaction of sediments, and their influence on the porosity, pressure, and temperature profiles. We write our model in a general form which then sets up the framework on which we can add geological features, such as sills and fault lines. Such a generalised model, which can include these features in multiple dimensions, is rarely seen in literature.</p> <p>We use the finite element method to develop a solver which can tackle our full model in multiple dimensions, and we test the validity of the solver through the method of manufactured solutions and error analysis. We discuss additional numerical techniques that can be used to model the deforming basin with respect to compaction and sedimentation. Our model is solved for the simplest case first, before we present simulations for varying geological situations. We examine the effects of a constant versus a porosity-dependent permeability model, varying rock viscosity values, different compaction models, and mechanical or chemical compaction (the latter of which is frequently neglected in literature and in industry). Then, we present simulations for basins in the presence of complex geological features, such as laterally varying stresses, faults, and sills. Finally, we summarise our key findings.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Earth sciences Mathematics Lee, JJE Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins |
| title | Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins |
| title_full | Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins |
| title_fullStr | Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins |
| title_short | Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins |
| title_sort | modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins |
| topic | Earth sciences Mathematics |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leejje modellingandsimulationofcompactingsedimentarybasins |