Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag (Germany) Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
The dissolution of carbonate rocks usually leads to both porosity (ϕ) and permeability (k) increase. We present experimental evidences and physical-based models of positive and anti-correlated dynamics of k and ϕ observed during dissolution experiments of carbonate rocks. We study the way the rate of change of ϕ and k is controlled by the degree of undersaturation of the percolating solution for two different types of carbonate rocks. We document the occurrence of an anti-correlated k−ϕ trend when the flowing fluid (deionized water) has a weak capacity of dissolution. A positive correlation is found when CO2 is added to the deionized water to increase the potential dissolution rate. Detailed analyses of the microstructures of the rock performed by X-ray microtomography reveal that low dissolution rate favors detachment of solid particles and their subsequent accumulation at the pore-throat inlet. Particles are detached from the rock matrix due to the differential dissolution rate of the indurated grains and the microporous cement. We then propose a simple phenomenological model to interpret the effect of the pore-throat clogging by the accumulation of partially dissolved carbonate particles. We conjecture that permeability is controlled by the decrease of the effective hydraulic radius and the increase of the tortuosity due to partial and localized obstruction of the pore network. Conversely, increasing the level of undersaturation of the flowing solution leads to an augmented potential of dissolving most of the transported particles before they reach the throats. In this case, both k and ϕ increase and display power-law correlations.
ISSN: 0169-3913

hal-01174145
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01174145
DOI : 10.1007/s11242-015-0456-2

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Geological Society of America
Résumé : International audience
On the New Jersey shelf (offshore North America), the presence of pore water fresher than seawater is known from a series of boreholes completed during the 1970s and 1980s. To account for this fresh water, a fi rst hypothesis involves possible present-day active dynamic connections with onshore aquifers, while a second involves meteoritic and/or sub- ice-sheet waters during periods of lowered sea level. Expedition 313 drilled three boreholes on the middle shelf, offering a unique opportunity for the internal structure of the siliciclastic system to be accessed, at scales ranging from the depositional matrix to the continental margin. This enables the stratigraphic architecture to be correlated with the spatial distribution and salinity of saturating fl uids. Expedition 313 revealed both very low salinities (<3 g/L) at depths exceeding 400 m below the seafl oor and evidence for a multilayered reservoir organization, with freshand/ or brackish-water intervals alternating vertically with salty intervals. In this study we present a revised distribution of the salinity beneath the middle shelf. Our observations suggest that the processes controlling salinity are strongly infl uenced by lithology, porosity, and permeability. Saltier pore waters generally occur in coarse-grained intervals and fresher pore waters occur in fi ne-grained intervals. The transition from fresher to saltier intervals is often marked by cemented horizons that probably act as permeability barriers. In the lowermost parts of two holes, the salinity varies independently of lithology, suggesting different mechanisms and/or sources of salinity. We present an interpretation of the sedimentary facies distribution, derived from core, logs, and seismic profi le analyses, that is used to discuss the marginscale two-dimensional reservoir geometry and permeability distribution. These proposed geometries are of primary importance when considering the possible pathways and emplacement mechanisms for the fresh and salty water below the New Jersey shelf.
EISSN: 1553-040X

insu-00858241
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00858241
DOI : 10.1130/GES00855.1

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag (Germany) Springer Verlag
Résumé : Production rates in horizontal shale gas wells display declines that are controlled by the low permeability and the intrinsic heterogeneity of the shale matrix. We present an original multi-continuum approach that yields a physical model able to reproduce the complexity of the decreasing gas rates. The model describes the dynamics of gas rate as function of the physical reservoir parameters and geometry, while the shale matrix heterogeneity is accounted for by a stochastic description of transmissivity field. From the 3D (Dimensional) problem setting, including the heterogeneous shale matrix, the fractures generated by the hydrofracking operations, as well as the production well characteristics, we establish an effective upscaled 1D model for the gas pressures in fracture and matrix as well as the volumetric flux. We analyse the decline curves behaviour, and we identify the time scales that characterize the dynamics of the gas rate decline using explicit analytical Laplace space solutions of the upscaled process model. Asymptotically, the flux curves decrease exponentially, while in an intermediate regime we find a power-law behaviour, in which the flux scales with a power law in time as (t^{-beta }), where (beta ) reflects the medium heterogeneity. We use this solution to fit a set of real data displaying distinctly different decline trends and study the sensitivity of the model to the reservoir parameters in order to identify their respective controls at the different stages of the decline curve dynamics. Results indicate that the initial value of the gas rate is determined by the transmissivity of the fractures and the initial pressure of the gas in the shale matrix. The latter causes mainly a shift in the entire decline curve. The early time of decline curve shape is primarily controlled by the fracture properties (compressibility and transmissivity). During the main part of the economically valuable production times, i.e. before the production rate drops exponentially, the decline curve is strongly controlled by the properties of the shale rocks including their heterogeneity, which is modelled by two parameters describing the non-Fickian pressure diffusion effects in a stochastic framework.
ISSN: 0169-3913

hal-01217247
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01217247
DOI : 10.1007/s11242-015-0504-y

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Geological storage of CO2 is one of diverse technologies being explored to reduce atmospheric carbon fromindustrial processes (i.e. fossil fuel combustion). One of the specific features of CO2 injection is the possibility ofgeochemical reactions (dissolution – precipitation) between mobile reactive brine (e.g. formation water enrichedin CO2) and the host rock during the spatial and temporal evolution of CO2. That leads to modifications in thepore structure, which in turn change the flow dynamics of the reservoir (e.g. the permeability k). Then, thesesstructural modifications can largely control the injectivity, so that the pressure field in the reservoir and also theCO2 propagation. Accordingly, it is crucial to explore the changes in the reservoir properties (e.g. structural andhydrodynamic) induced during a CO2 injection and specially the relationships between them (e.g. k or reactivesurface-Sr versus porosity-φ , k versus rock heterogeneity), for developing predictive modelling tools of thetransport and reaction processes occurring during a CO2 injection and reliable risk assessment. In the case ofcarbonate rocks, the application of the predictive models of transport and reaction is still challenging, because oftheir high heterogeneity so that the incertitude in the reaction kinetics of carbonate minerals.From this perspective, we realized brine-enriched in CO2 percolation experiments through carbonate rocksamples in thermodynamic conditions expected during CO2 injection in deep reservoirs (T = 100°C et P =12MPa). The permeability changes k(t) is monitored during the experiments and the porosity variationφ (t) iscalculated from chemical analyses of the sampled outlet fluids, using ICP-EAS. The pore structure modificationsare investigated from high resolution X ray micro tomography images acquired from the synchrotron ofGrenoble (ESRF). Depending to the dissolution regime, controlled by the reservoir rock fabric and the chemicalcomposition of the brine (e.g. PCO2), we observed that a modification of pore structure can either improve(atypical result in dissolution context) or impair the value of the permeability k.
Le stockage géologique du CO2 est l’une des diverses technologies étant explorées afin deréduire les émissions de carbone atmosphérique des processus industriels (i.e. combustion del’énergie fossile). L’une des spécifiques caractéristiques de l’injection du CO2 en profondeurreste la possibilité de réactions géochimiques (dissolution-précipitation) entre la saumureréactive mobile (e.g. eau de formation enrichie en CO2) et la roche encaissante durantl’évolution spatiale et temporelle du CO2, conduisant à des modifications dans la structure despores et par conséquent dans les propriétés d’écoulement du réservoir (e.g. la perméabilité k).Donc, ces changements structuraux peuvent largement contrôler l’injectivité, ainsi que lechamp de pression dans le réservoir et aussi la propagation du CO2. Il demeure ainsi cruciald’explorer les changement dans les propriétés de réservoirs (e.g. structurales ethydrodynamiques) induits durant une injection de CO2 et explicitement les relations existantesentre eux (e.g. k ou surface réactive-Sr versus porosité-φ , k versus hétérogénéité de la roche),afin de développer des outils de modélisation prédictive des processus de transport etréactionnels se produisant durant une injection de CO2 et d’évaluer de façon fiable les risques.Dans le cas des réservoirs carbonatés, l’application des modèles prédictifs de transport réactifdemeure toujours un enjeu, car contrainte par la forte hétérogénéité en leur sein ainsi que parl’incertitude dans la cinétique de réactions des minéraux carbonatés dans ce contexte. Danscette optique, nous avons réalisé des expériences de percolation à travers des échantillons deroches carbonatées dans les conditions thermodynamiques de stockage en profondeur (T =100°C et P =12 MPa). L’évolution de la perméabilité k(t) est suivie au cours desexpériences ; et la variation de la porosité φ (t) est calculée à partir des résultats d’analyseschimiques au ICP-AES des fluides de sortie échantillonnés. L’investigation des modificationsapportées à la structure des pores est réalisée par le biais de la Micro-Tomographie hauterésolution à rayon X, acquise au synchrotron de Grenoble (e.g. ESRF).Dépendant du régime de dissolution, contrôlé par la fabrique de la roche réservoir et lacomposition chimique de la saumuré chargée en CO2 (e.g. PCO2 engagée), on a observéqu’une modification de la structure de la roche peut soit améliorer soit détériorer (résultatatypique en contexte de dissolution) la valeur de la perméabilité k.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136

tel-01142136
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136/file/thesemangane2013.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Structural controls are critical during magmatic-to-hydrothermal transition in the formation of intrusion-related gold deposits. They may explain why only some parts of intrusions are mineralized and why only very few intrusions host large deposits. Moreover, most of these gold deposits postdate peak regional metamorphism and were formed in zones of relatively low strain. Indeed, the efficiency of structural gold traps is highest along favourably oriented intrusion/host-rock contacts where mechanical instability maintains high permeability in the cracked thermal aureole. This may be reinforced by melt injections from an underlying root zone. We present a structural analysis of the deformation features of a granite-pluton roof; large-scale dykes and a network of gold veins are intensively developed in this roof, recording a succession of mechanical instabilities. Our gravity survey underlines the presence of a pluton feeder zone located just beneath the mineralized network. It is argued that interferences between regional stress and melt injection in the feeder zone favoured the development of the network by strain located close to the granite roof. This stresses the role of mechanical instabilities triggered by the combined effects of regional stress and melt dynamics in determining the location and size of this type of gold deposit.
ISSN: 0191-8141

insu-00914780
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00914780
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00914780/document
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00914780/file/manuscript.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2013.11.006

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Secondary migration is defined as the movement of hydrocarbons through relatively permeable rocks from source to trap: a two-phase flow within a porous medium. Depending on the geometry and capillary pressure distributions of carrier beds, secondary migration has both vertical and lateral components. The present paper focuses on that part of the migration where the movement is mainly vertical. Its objective is to propose a description of the dynamics governing the vertical part of secondary migration based on the main physical aspects of two-phase flow in a homogeneous porous medium. The study is illustrated by laboratory observations performed in a vertical, 2-D Hele-Shaw cell filled with a transparent porous medium where the flow of dyed oil invading a wetting fluid is visually observed. These observations help us to understand the effect of buoyant, capillary and viscous forces on the resulting flow, the relative importance of which is characterized by non-dimensional numbers. Extrapolating these observations to natural media, it is proposed that vertical secondary migration can be described as a percolation of disconnected and vertically-elongated stringers. These stringers do not move continuously but as a succession of snap-off and re-feeding events which result in a jerky upward movement. Using parameters characterizing the physical properties of the fluid and of the porous medium, the geometry and the dynamic behavior of the stringers are estimated. The width of stringers occurring during secondary migration in geological media is centimetric and their vertical size ranges from several centimeters to a few meters. An upper limit of the mean upward velocity of stringers is proposed, as well as an estimate of their spatial density and of the minimum, average horizontal distance (decametric) between two stringers. The stringers are sparsely distributed, resulting in a low average oil loss and a high efficiency of the vertical migration process.
ISSN: 0264-8172

hal-00831370
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00831370
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00831370/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00831370/file/pekins-V-edited.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.04.020

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
Analysis of the microstructures in the km-scale mantle shear zone that separates the northern and the central parts of the Lanzo peridotite massif provides evidence of an evolution in time and space of deformation processes accommodating shearing in the shallow mantle within an extensional setting. This shear zone displays an asymmetric distribution of deformation facies. From south to north, gradual reorientation of the foliation of coarse porphyroclastic plagioclase-bearing peridotites is followed by development of protomylonites, mylonites, and mm-scale ultramylonite bands. A sharp grain size gradient marks the northern boundary. Early deformation under near-solidus conditions in the south is recorded by preservation of weakly deformed interstitial plagioclase and almost random clinopyroxene and plagioclase crystal orientations. Feedback between deformation and melt transport probably led to melt focusing and strain weakening in the shear zone. Overprint of melt-rock reaction microstructures by solid-state deformation and decrease in recrystallized grain size in the protomylonites and mylonites indicate continued deformation under decreasing temperature. Less enriched peridotite compositions and absence of ultramafic dykes or widespread melt-impregnation microstructures north of the shear zone and clinopyroxene and amphibole enrichment in the mylonites and ultramylonites suggest that the shear zone acted as both a thermal barrier and a high-permeability channel for late crystallizing fluids. These observations, together with chemical data indicating faster cooling of central Lanzo relative to the northern body, corroborate that this shear zone is a mantle detachment fault. All deformation facies have crystal preferred orientations consistent with deformation by dislocation creep with dominant activation of the (010)[100] and (100)[001] systems in olivine and orthopyroxene, respectively. Dynamic recrystallization produces dispersion of olivine CPO but not a change of dominant deformation mechanism. Evidence for activation of grain boundary sliding is limited to mm-scale ultramylonite bands, where solid-state reactions produced very fine grained polymineralic aggregates. Except for these latest stages of deformation, strain localization does not result from the microstructural evolution; the grain size decrease is a consequence of the need to deform a rock volume whose strength continuously increases because of decreasing temperature conditions. Strain localization in the intermediate levels thus essentially results from the more localizing behavior of both the deep, partially molten, and shallow parts of this extensional shear zone distribution.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-00644844
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00644844
DOI : 10.1029/2011GC003627

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We report microstructural evidence for fluid-assisted ductile strain localization in a ≤ 50 m-wide mylonitic–ultramylonitic shear zone in the Ronda Peridotite massif, Southern Spain. Strain localization occurred at relatively low pressure (< 0.8 GPa) and moderate temperature (750–1000 °C). Initial deformation by dislocation creep resulted in formation of mylonites. Focusing of aqueous fluids in the shear zone favored the activation of dissolution–precipitation creep, resulting in further strain localization. This process is recorded by two generations of ultramylonitic bands composed of fine-grained, well-mixed olivine–orthopyroxene aggregates. Microstructural observations in the ultramylonites suggest alternating dissolution and precipitation of olivine and orthopyroxene, which may be explained by local changes in silica molality of the percolating fluid (disequilibrium and mass transfer at scales > mm). In the mylonites, olivine shows a crystal preferred orientation (CPO) coherent with dominant (001)[100] glide, probably due to the presence of interstitial fluids during deformation. In the ultramylonites, olivine CPO is weak to very weak, consistently with a decreasing contribution of dislocation creep to deformation. In contrast, fine-grained orthopyroxene in both mylonites and ultramylonites displays a clear CPO characterized by a [001] maximum normal to the foliation, which is not consistent with dislocation glide in any known slip system for orthopyroxene. We interpret this CPO as formed by oriented crystallization during dissolution–precipitation. In the present study, dissolution–precipitation creep predominates only in small-scale ultramylonite bands due to limited fluid availability and localized dynamic permeability. However, this process may be important in intermediate temperature domains of subduction zones, where it may lead to a feedback between strain localization and fluid transport.
ISSN: 0024-4937

hal-01395122
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01395122
DOI : 10.1016/j.lithos.2016.07.038