Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Fischer, Mark P.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences

LCSH

Geology; Geological engineering; Petroleum geology; Rock mechanics--Research; Hydrogeology--Research; Rocks--Fracture--Research

Abstract

Fracture networks can have a significant impact on the performance of subsurface reservoirs, and therefore have a wide variety of industrial applications (e.g., oil and gas, economic ore deposits, hydrogeology, environmental science). Collectively, these industries make multi-trillion dollar decisions based on information gathered from geological models. As a result, these industries are faced with the ongoing risk that unreliable models lead to costly mistakes.;The reliability of all rock fracture models is coupled with the spatial variability (e.g., spatial heterogeneity and anisotropy) of fracture network characteristics. This study provides a foundation for developing a new generation of mechanical and stochastic fracture modeling techniques that incorporate constraints on spatial variability. More specifically, it introduces new applications of the semivariogram to quantitatively characterize the scale, style, and abundance of spatial variability exhibited by a natural fracture network. It also includes a case study that demonstrates how such information can correlate to nearby geological structures. Analysis of spatial variability is essential for improving the reliability of fracture and fracture network predictions in the subsurface of the Earth.

Comments

Advisors: Mark P. Fischer.||Committee members: Alan Polansky; Ryan Pollyea.

Extent

150 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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