Connectivity Evaluation of Fracture-Cavity Reservoirs in S91 Unit

• Published in: Applied sciences Vol. 15; no. 17; p. 9738
• Main Authors: Xue, Yunlong, Gao, Yinghan, Peng, Xiaobo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2025
• Subjects: Accuracy; Algorithms; Analysis; Carbonates; Caves; Connectivity; connectivity evaluation; crack simulation; Efficiency; Fault lines; fracture cave type reservoir; Geology; Identification; Integrated approach; Methods; Network management systems; Oil fields; Petroleum products; RGB attribute fusion; Simulation methods; Unit S91; China; Tarim Basin
• ISSN: 2076-3417; 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app15179738

Carbonate fracture–cavity reservoirs are significant oil and gas reservoirs globally, and their efficient development is influenced by the connectivity between fracture–cavity units within the reservoir. These reservoirs primarily consist of large caves, dissolution holes, and natural fractures, which serve as the primary storage and flow spaces. The S91 unit of the Tarim Oilfield is a karstic fracture–cavity reservoir with shallow coverage. It exhibits significant heterogeneity in the fracture–cavity reservoirs and presents complex connectivity between the fracture–cavity bodies. The integration of static and dynamic data, including geology, well logging, seismic, and production dynamics, resulted in the development of a set of static and dynamic connectivity evaluation processes designed for highly heterogeneous fracture–cavity reservoirs. Methods include using structural gradient tensors and stratigraphic continuity attributes to delineate the boundaries of caves and holes; performing RGB fusion analysis of coherence, curvature, and variance attributes to characterize large-scale fault development features; applying ant-tracking algorithms and fracture simulation techniques to identify the distribution and density characteristics of fracture zones; utilizing 3D visualization technology to describe the spatial relationship between fracture–cavity units and large-scale faults and fracture development zones; and combining dynamic data to verify interwell connectivity. This process will provide a key geological basis for optimizing well network deployment, improving water and gas injection efficiency, predicting residual oil distribution, and formulating adjustment measures, thereby improving the development efficiency of such complex reservoirs.