Discrete Fracture Network-Workflow
Discrete Fracture Network-Workflow
2) Data loading
One of the main well data for DFN is the FMI interpretation (wellbore image). Fracture dataset (MD, Dip
and Dip-Azimuth) could be loaded independently for each stratigraphic unit in order to perform fracture
intensity logs for each zone/stratigraphic unit. See Figure 2.
Figure 2. Dataset for each stratigraphic interval and Petrel import format
Generation of well sections showing raw logs, petrophysic properties, core data, PLT’s and fractures
“tadpoles” (Dip/dip-azimuth displays).
A. Checking the data correlation in depth.
B. Rose Diagrams could be created for each zones/stratigraphic unit. See Figure 3.
C. Basics statistics analysis of dip and dip azimuth, investigate the possible correlation
between fracture intensity and lithology.
D. Fracture intensity curves generated for each stratigraphic unit.
It is strongly recommended to know the tectonic history and structural trends of the field in order to
define the main fault orientations in relation with the main stresses (σ1, σ2 and σ3) and thus the main
fractures orientations (See Figure 4) in order to build a simple conceptual model. When having the data
loaded in Petrel (under “point well data” in “Global well logs”) the Fracture sets (groups of fractures
showing the same orientation) can be defined and then the corresponding intensity log curves can be
generated (for each fracture set and for each stratigraphic unit). Fracture intensity logs are used to
create a fracture intensity model for the DFN. Fracture sets can be defined using a stereonet window to
display the fractures in polar projection. Fracture sets attributes (orientation) are created in Petrel for
each stratigraphic unit.
A. Fractures attributes
An attribute has to be created in order to manually select some group (or clusters) of fractures
points in the stereonet window.
a) Display the fractures in a Schmidt diagram: Wells/Global well logs/Point well data + Toggle “on”
to display the fracture data in the stereonet window. (See Figure 5).
b) Create the fracture attributes: Point well data/Right click/ /Select “Insert New Attribute” (See
Figure 5).
c) Select “Discrete” type and change the name of the attribute. (See Figure 5).
Figure 5. Fracture sets attributes
d) The 2 groups (or Sub-Sets) of a same Fracture Set could be merged using the Petrel calculator
(See Figure 7). This could be done using formulas within each unit:
To give a value to the Sub-Set 1: “SubSet1 =If( Set1 =1, 1, U )”,
To give a value to the Sub-Set 2 and to merge the Sub-Sets: “Merged_Sets =If( Set2 =1, 2,
SubSet1)”.
e) It is necessary to deselect the previous Fracture Set that has been merged before creating a
new set using the calculator.
d) Right click in the “Point Well Data”/menu/insert global intensity log. In the first window select
“Intensity log” for the log type; in “Output” select the right attribute corresponding to the
intensity log that needs to be created.
e) The new Fracture intensity log is located in “Global well log”, below “Point well data” in a new
folder called “Intensity logs from: Point well data”