Investigating scale variations in outcrop derived permeability tensors and the effect on geothermal fluid in upscaling naturally fractured reservoirs

Fluid flow within low permeable reservoirs such as carbonates is primarily controlled by faults, fractures and other structural networks which can be defined through properties such as intensity, connectivity and aperture. These properties can vary not only among individual fractures but also between scales which can influence uncertainties within permeability calculations and fluid flow simulations. Therefore, understanding the interactions and variations within these networks is fundamental to deriving properties such as permeability and characterising fluid flow through naturally fractured reservoirs.

Determining fracture network properties of reservoirs can be undertaken using several methods across different scales from both surface and subsurface sources. However, where subsurface data is limited (e.g., within the geothermal reservoirs of Northern Bavaria), outcrop analogues become vital for obtaining the important information required for characterising fracture networks. Outcrops such as quarry sections can be imaged and scanned using both 2D and 3D photogrammetry techniques, from which fault and fracture networks can be detected and analysed. Previous work has presented a method to upscale fracture networks to 2D permeability tensors from outcrop sections through independently assigning properties to individual fractures within the networks. However, upscaling the networks to larger scales can lead to uncertainties due to variations within the modelled fracture networks. It its therefore important to understand the how the permeability tensor varies between scales and dimensions to reduce upscaling uncertainties.

Using examples from multiple outcrops within the Franconian Basin, Germany, we present an improved workflow to derive the tensors between dimensions and an investigation of the relationships among fracture networks at different scales. This will show the effect on permeability within geothermal reservoirs in the region and how to reduce the uncertainty in upscaling outcrops to subsurface reservoir scale.