About this Research Topic
As the global oil and gas demands continue to grow, deep and unconventional reservoirs have become the main areas for increasing reserves and improving production, and are increasingly valued by various countries and oil companies. However, deep and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs often have poor matrix physical properties, development of natural fractures, and strong heterogeneity. Natural fractures at different scales and types are the main storage space and important seepage channels of these tight reservoirs, which control the migration, accumulation, preservation, and single-well productivity of oil and gas, and affect fracture propagation mode and fracturing performance.
The study of natural fracture distribution is of great significance for guiding deep and unconventional oil and gas exploration (such as selection of high-quality reservoir, evaluation of the integrity of cap rock, evaluation of gas storage safety) and development (such as fracture propagation, drilling and completion methods, etc.). In recent years, the development of deep and unconventional reservoir research has produced innovations in methods and technologies. Many advances have been made in the quantitative characterization and predictive modeling of fracture systems, which have improved our understanding of formation mechanisms and the dynamic evolution processes of natural fractures. The purpose of this research topic is to deepen the understanding of natural fractures in deep and unconventional reservoirs and improve the theoretical system and prediction techniques of oil and gas reservoir fractures.
We welcome both review and original research regarding fractures in deep and unconventional reservoirs. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
• Quantitative characterization and comprehensive evaluation of natural fractures
• Distribution characteristics, formation mechanism and coupling relationship of bedding fractures
• Fault zone architecture and its mechanism in fracture control, reservoir control and reservoir control
• Quantitative division of mechanical stratigraphy and fracture-control mechanism
• The influence of mechanical stratigraphy and natural fractures on fracture propagation in artificial fracturing
• Sub-seismic fault identification and prediction
The study of natural fracture distribution is of great significance for guiding deep and unconventional oil and gas exploration (such as selection of high-quality reservoir, evaluation of the integrity of cap rock, evaluation of gas storage safety) and development (such as fracture propagation, drilling and completion methods, etc.). In recent years, the development of deep and unconventional reservoir research has produced innovations in methods and technologies. Many advances have been made in the quantitative characterization and predictive modeling of fracture systems, which have improved our understanding of formation mechanisms and the dynamic evolution processes of natural fractures. The purpose of this research topic is to deepen the understanding of natural fractures in deep and unconventional reservoirs and improve the theoretical system and prediction techniques of oil and gas reservoir fractures.
We welcome both review and original research regarding fractures in deep and unconventional reservoirs. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
• Quantitative characterization and comprehensive evaluation of natural fractures
• Distribution characteristics, formation mechanism and coupling relationship of bedding fractures
• Fault zone architecture and its mechanism in fracture control, reservoir control and reservoir control
• Quantitative division of mechanical stratigraphy and fracture-control mechanism
• The influence of mechanical stratigraphy and natural fractures on fracture propagation in artificial fracturing
• Sub-seismic fault identification and prediction
Keywords: Natural fracture, Deep reservoir, Unconventional reservoir, Mechanical stratigraphy, Fault architecture
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