The opening of new areas and the changing regional political and economic situation, together wit... more The opening of new areas and the changing regional political and economic situation, together with innovative technologies, new seismic data and improved imaging, have revitalised exploration activity in the Central and Western Mediterranean. Analysing the characteristics of previous carbonate discoveries can help future exploration activity.
The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoir... more The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoirs is continuously growing in petroleum geology. The large amount of data for each well and the presence of different wells to be simultaneously analyzed make this task both complex and time consuming. In this scenario, the development of reliable interpretation methods is of prime importance in order to help the geologist and reduce the subjectivity of data interpretation.
Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image l... more Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image logs, because they provide a visual representation of the borehole surface and they are fundamental to retrieve information on bedding and rocks characteristics. In this paper, we present a novel approach for image log interpretation and extraction of the main features of the rock formation.
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2011
... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along ... more ... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along the strike of structures because they maintain relatively constant cut-off angles with bedding have been documented for other normal faults in Central Apennines (eg Mazzoli et al. ...
We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset reco... more We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset recorded in an abandoned limestone quarry, analogous to a specific set of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Our main objective was to image the vertical and lateral lithological variations, the network of stratigraphic joints and fractures and to characterize the rock mass based on the radar response. We
The “Provençal Basin”, portion of the sea that lies between the southeastern coasts of Spain and ... more The “Provençal Basin”, portion of the sea that lies between the southeastern coasts of Spain and France, the east of Menorca Island and the western coasts of Sardinia and Corsica, has proved to be an attractive area with a significant potential for hydrocarbon generation. This potential is linked to the unique tectonic arrangement and the occurrence of salt related structures. All the essential geologic elements and geometries of reservoir-seal and overburden rocks that control the hydrocarbon generation, migration, entrapment and preservation may exist in the basin. Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators (DHIs) have been recognized on the seismic data (Roberts & Christoffersen, 2013) and the presence of possible seeps, occurring where the salt has either soled out or been broken up by diapirism, has been noted by some authors (Ianev et al., 2007). Despite the fact that the Provençal Basin (province 4068) in World Energy 2000 Assessment study has been classified as a basin with a single hypo...
London 2013, 75th eage conference en exhibition incorporating SPE Europec, 2013
ABSTRACT The Lower Jurassic of Sicily is a mature but still interesting portion of a proved petro... more ABSTRACT The Lower Jurassic of Sicily is a mature but still interesting portion of a proved petroleum system of the Central Mediterranean Basin. This study on the Inici Fm across the Sicilian onshore and offshore better defines the characteristics of these carbonates. The paleogeographic distribution of the Inici is apparently continuous toward south, while toward the northwest is delimited by the Streppenosa Basin. The extreme variability in the thickness of this unit is both associated to the strong synsedimentary tectonics occurring in the area and often to the mis-recognition of the lower boundary in the wells . In outcrops it is possible to observe the presence of secondary dolomites that are masking the lower stratigraphic contact and are in some way extending the reservoir potential of these relatively tight limestone.
The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoir... more The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoirs is continuously growing in petroleum geology. The large amount of data for each well and the presence of different wells to be simultaneously analyzed make this task both complex and time consuming. In this scenario, the development of reliable interpretation methods is of prime importance in order to help the geologist and reduce the subjectivity of data interpretation. In this paper, we propose a novel interpretation method based on the ...
ABSTRACT Fault zones may exert a first-order control on fluid flow by acting either as a barrier ... more ABSTRACT Fault zones may exert a first-order control on fluid flow by acting either as a barrier and/or conduit in the subsurface. Faults often include highly fractured damage zones encompassing cataclastic bodies (fault core) where most of the deformation is localized. Especially in tight carbonates, both porosity and permeability significantly increase within the fault damage zones, while the fault cores behave as a hydraulic barrier for cross-fault fluid flow. The general validity of this hydraulic-deformational characterization of fault zones is influenced by several factors including displacement distribution, fault geometry, modalities of fault propagation, fault slip direction, mechanical rock properties and environmental conditions of deformation (mainly lithostatic burial and pore fluid pressure). In order to investigate the inner structure of tight platform carbonates, and hence gain new insights on the related fault permeability, we study the fault dimensional parameters (i.e. damage zone and core thickness variations relative to the amount of displacement) of different types of faults cropping out in the Murge Plateau, southern Italy. The Murge Plateau represents the Plio-Pleistocene foreland of the South-Apennines orogenic belt which is characterized by a relatively-thick lithosphere and a little deformed sedimentary cover. The outcrops in Murge Plateau are good analogues of the Upper Cretaceous carbonate systems of the peri-Adriatic area that represent important hydrocarbon reservoirs in southern Italy. In this work, we compute the scaling relationships between fault dimensional parameters and the cumulative frequency distributions of the fault-related fracture networks (i.e. spacing and opening). The scaling relationships are fitted by power-law, logarithmic or exponential relationships, in agreement with different degree of faults development within the geo-structural contest of this sector of the Apenninic foreland. Based on the relative thickness between fault damage zones and fault cores, we infer different permeability structures associated to the studied faults. These last parameters are strongly affected by the presence of both sedimentary dykes, which include large clasts of breccias, clay material and calcite, and karst that often is present within the fault damage zones.
Proceedings of the XIII Internarional Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, 2010
We tested and adapted seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi frequency GPR dataset ... more We tested and adapted seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi frequency GPR dataset to image the network of stratigraphic joints and fractures, the lithological variations and to characterize the rock mass based on the response to the radar wavefield measured in an abandoned limestone quarry. We applied semi-automatic horizon mapping techniques using manually picked seeds (control points)
Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image l... more Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image logs, because they provide a visual representation of the borehole surface and they are fundamental to retrieve information on bedding and rocks characteristics. In this paper, we present a novel approach for image log interpretation and extraction of the main features of the rock formation. This process led to the development of I 2 AM, a semiautomatic system that exploits image processing algorithms and artificial intelligence techniques to analyze ...
ABSTRACT Fault related dolomitization is a key topic for carbonate reservoirs characterization, b... more ABSTRACT Fault related dolomitization is a key topic for carbonate reservoirs characterization, because often these types of dolomites are necessary a good reservoir. Fault-related dolomites are normally related to the circulation of hydrothermal or hot fluids across fault systems and developing often a tree-like structure. The duration and the efficiency of the dolomitization mechanism are key controlling factors in the variation of porosity and pore network type, but if the circulation of these fluids last too much, the precipitation of dolomite cements can drastically reduce any remaining porosity ("overdolomitization"). However, the dolomitizing fluid is a fluid reacting with the host rock and it is not necessarily linked only to the dolomitization process. Often, fault related dolomitization can be anticipated by a phase of intensive corrosion within carbonates, enhancing the fracture and pore network that allows the fluid circulation.
ABSTRACT The characterisation of carbonate fractured reservoir is often a difficult challenge due... more ABSTRACT The characterisation of carbonate fractured reservoir is often a difficult challenge due to the amount of data and the scale issues related to the fault and fracture network. The correct characterisation of the structural framework at all scales has a large impact on the correct understanding of the potentials of carbonate fractured reservoirs (deliverability), on the circulation of fluids (hydrocarbons and water) into these units and on the appraisal and development strategies to maximise the recovery factors in this type of fields. Mechanical Stratigraphy can be an important tool when trying to characterise the fault and fracture network in carbonate fractured sequences if an integrated approach of the available subsurface and outcrop analogues information is considered.
We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset reco... more We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset recorded in an abandoned limestone quarry, analogous to a specific set of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Our main objective was to image the vertical and lateral lithological variations, the network of stratigraphic joints and fractures and to characterize the rock mass based on the radar response. We
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2011
... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along ... more ... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along the strike of structures because they maintain relatively constant cut-off angles with bedding have been documented for other normal faults in Central Apennines (eg Mazzoli et al. ...
The opening of new areas and the changing regional political and economic situation, together wit... more The opening of new areas and the changing regional political and economic situation, together with innovative technologies, new seismic data and improved imaging, have revitalised exploration activity in the Central and Western Mediterranean. Analysing the characteristics of previous carbonate discoveries can help future exploration activity.
The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoir... more The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoirs is continuously growing in petroleum geology. The large amount of data for each well and the presence of different wells to be simultaneously analyzed make this task both complex and time consuming. In this scenario, the development of reliable interpretation methods is of prime importance in order to help the geologist and reduce the subjectivity of data interpretation.
Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image l... more Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image logs, because they provide a visual representation of the borehole surface and they are fundamental to retrieve information on bedding and rocks characteristics. In this paper, we present a novel approach for image log interpretation and extraction of the main features of the rock formation.
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2011
... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along ... more ... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along the strike of structures because they maintain relatively constant cut-off angles with bedding have been documented for other normal faults in Central Apennines (eg Mazzoli et al. ...
We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset reco... more We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset recorded in an abandoned limestone quarry, analogous to a specific set of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Our main objective was to image the vertical and lateral lithological variations, the network of stratigraphic joints and fractures and to characterize the rock mass based on the radar response. We
The “Provençal Basin”, portion of the sea that lies between the southeastern coasts of Spain and ... more The “Provençal Basin”, portion of the sea that lies between the southeastern coasts of Spain and France, the east of Menorca Island and the western coasts of Sardinia and Corsica, has proved to be an attractive area with a significant potential for hydrocarbon generation. This potential is linked to the unique tectonic arrangement and the occurrence of salt related structures. All the essential geologic elements and geometries of reservoir-seal and overburden rocks that control the hydrocarbon generation, migration, entrapment and preservation may exist in the basin. Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators (DHIs) have been recognized on the seismic data (Roberts & Christoffersen, 2013) and the presence of possible seeps, occurring where the salt has either soled out or been broken up by diapirism, has been noted by some authors (Ianev et al., 2007). Despite the fact that the Provençal Basin (province 4068) in World Energy 2000 Assessment study has been classified as a basin with a single hypo...
London 2013, 75th eage conference en exhibition incorporating SPE Europec, 2013
ABSTRACT The Lower Jurassic of Sicily is a mature but still interesting portion of a proved petro... more ABSTRACT The Lower Jurassic of Sicily is a mature but still interesting portion of a proved petroleum system of the Central Mediterranean Basin. This study on the Inici Fm across the Sicilian onshore and offshore better defines the characteristics of these carbonates. The paleogeographic distribution of the Inici is apparently continuous toward south, while toward the northwest is delimited by the Streppenosa Basin. The extreme variability in the thickness of this unit is both associated to the strong synsedimentary tectonics occurring in the area and often to the mis-recognition of the lower boundary in the wells . In outcrops it is possible to observe the presence of secondary dolomites that are masking the lower stratigraphic contact and are in some way extending the reservoir potential of these relatively tight limestone.
The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoir... more The need for integration of different data in the understanding and characterization of reservoirs is continuously growing in petroleum geology. The large amount of data for each well and the presence of different wells to be simultaneously analyzed make this task both complex and time consuming. In this scenario, the development of reliable interpretation methods is of prime importance in order to help the geologist and reduce the subjectivity of data interpretation. In this paper, we propose a novel interpretation method based on the ...
ABSTRACT Fault zones may exert a first-order control on fluid flow by acting either as a barrier ... more ABSTRACT Fault zones may exert a first-order control on fluid flow by acting either as a barrier and/or conduit in the subsurface. Faults often include highly fractured damage zones encompassing cataclastic bodies (fault core) where most of the deformation is localized. Especially in tight carbonates, both porosity and permeability significantly increase within the fault damage zones, while the fault cores behave as a hydraulic barrier for cross-fault fluid flow. The general validity of this hydraulic-deformational characterization of fault zones is influenced by several factors including displacement distribution, fault geometry, modalities of fault propagation, fault slip direction, mechanical rock properties and environmental conditions of deformation (mainly lithostatic burial and pore fluid pressure). In order to investigate the inner structure of tight platform carbonates, and hence gain new insights on the related fault permeability, we study the fault dimensional parameters (i.e. damage zone and core thickness variations relative to the amount of displacement) of different types of faults cropping out in the Murge Plateau, southern Italy. The Murge Plateau represents the Plio-Pleistocene foreland of the South-Apennines orogenic belt which is characterized by a relatively-thick lithosphere and a little deformed sedimentary cover. The outcrops in Murge Plateau are good analogues of the Upper Cretaceous carbonate systems of the peri-Adriatic area that represent important hydrocarbon reservoirs in southern Italy. In this work, we compute the scaling relationships between fault dimensional parameters and the cumulative frequency distributions of the fault-related fracture networks (i.e. spacing and opening). The scaling relationships are fitted by power-law, logarithmic or exponential relationships, in agreement with different degree of faults development within the geo-structural contest of this sector of the Apenninic foreland. Based on the relative thickness between fault damage zones and fault cores, we infer different permeability structures associated to the studied faults. These last parameters are strongly affected by the presence of both sedimentary dykes, which include large clasts of breccias, clay material and calcite, and karst that often is present within the fault damage zones.
Proceedings of the XIII Internarional Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, 2010
We tested and adapted seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi frequency GPR dataset ... more We tested and adapted seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi frequency GPR dataset to image the network of stratigraphic joints and fractures, the lithological variations and to characterize the rock mass based on the response to the radar wavefield measured in an abandoned limestone quarry. We applied semi-automatic horizon mapping techniques using manually picked seeds (control points)
Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image l... more Abstract. In petroleum geology, exploration and production wells are often analyzed using image logs, because they provide a visual representation of the borehole surface and they are fundamental to retrieve information on bedding and rocks characteristics. In this paper, we present a novel approach for image log interpretation and extraction of the main features of the rock formation. This process led to the development of I 2 AM, a semiautomatic system that exploits image processing algorithms and artificial intelligence techniques to analyze ...
ABSTRACT Fault related dolomitization is a key topic for carbonate reservoirs characterization, b... more ABSTRACT Fault related dolomitization is a key topic for carbonate reservoirs characterization, because often these types of dolomites are necessary a good reservoir. Fault-related dolomites are normally related to the circulation of hydrothermal or hot fluids across fault systems and developing often a tree-like structure. The duration and the efficiency of the dolomitization mechanism are key controlling factors in the variation of porosity and pore network type, but if the circulation of these fluids last too much, the precipitation of dolomite cements can drastically reduce any remaining porosity ("overdolomitization"). However, the dolomitizing fluid is a fluid reacting with the host rock and it is not necessarily linked only to the dolomitization process. Often, fault related dolomitization can be anticipated by a phase of intensive corrosion within carbonates, enhancing the fracture and pore network that allows the fluid circulation.
ABSTRACT The characterisation of carbonate fractured reservoir is often a difficult challenge due... more ABSTRACT The characterisation of carbonate fractured reservoir is often a difficult challenge due to the amount of data and the scale issues related to the fault and fracture network. The correct characterisation of the structural framework at all scales has a large impact on the correct understanding of the potentials of carbonate fractured reservoirs (deliverability), on the circulation of fluids (hydrocarbons and water) into these units and on the appraisal and development strategies to maximise the recovery factors in this type of fields. Mechanical Stratigraphy can be an important tool when trying to characterise the fault and fracture network in carbonate fractured sequences if an integrated approach of the available subsurface and outcrop analogues information is considered.
We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset reco... more We adapt and test seismic attributes techniques on a 2-D and 3-D multi-frequency GPR dataset recorded in an abandoned limestone quarry, analogous to a specific set of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Our main objective was to image the vertical and lateral lithological variations, the network of stratigraphic joints and fractures and to characterize the rock mass based on the radar response. We
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2011
... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along ... more ... 1988; Endignoux et al. 1989; Mazzoli et al. ... Variations in the dip of normal faults along the strike of structures because they maintain relatively constant cut-off angles with bedding have been documented for other normal faults in Central Apennines (eg Mazzoli et al. ...
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