Remote sensing of subsurface fractures in the Otway Basin, South Australia

Naturally occurring fractures were remotely detected in a 3-D seismic volume from the Penola Trough in South Australia's Otway Basin and validated through an integrated approach. Identified in image logs are 508 fractures and 523 stress indicators, showing maximum horizontal stress orientation in the Penola Trough is 127 degrees N. Two fracture types were identified: (1) 268 electrically conductive (potentially open to fluid flow) fractures with mean NW-SE strikes and (2) 239 electrically resistive (closed to fluid flow) fractures with mean E-W strikes. Core from Jacaranda Ridge-1 shows that open fractures are rarer than what image logs indicate, due to the presence of fracture-filling siderite, an electrically conductive cement which may cause fractures to appear hydraulically conductive in image logs. The majority of fractures detected is favorably oriented for reactivation under in situ stresses, although it is demonstrated that fracture fills primarily control which fractures are open. Seismic attributes calculated from the 3-D Balnaves/Haselgrove survey are mapped to the Pretty Hill Formation to enhance observations of structural fabrics, showing linear discontinuities likely representing faults and fractures. Discontinuity orientations are consistent with natural fracture orientations identified in image logs, striking E-W and NW-SE, limited to zones around larger faults. However, it is unlikely that a large proportion of these fractures are open given observations of core and image logs, limiting possible fracture connectivity and therefore significant secondary permeability in the Penola Trough. The integrated methodology presented herein provides an effective workflow for remote detection of subsurface fractures and determining if electrically conductive fractures are also hydraulically conductive.