Hydrogeological Modeling and Pore Pressure Characterization of Deep Formations in the Northern Delaware Basin, Texas and New Mexico
Abstract
Induced seismicity in the Delaware Basin of West Texas and southeast New Mexico has increased dramatically in recent years, which is coincident with the development of unconventional resources in this area. The pre-Permian formations of the northern Delaware Basin (NDB), which are close to the area of induced seismicity, have been targeted for produced water disposal of more than 3 billion barrels. To better understand the relationship between seismicity and oil production related subsurface activities especially the produced water disposal, a 3D hydrogeological model of the deep formations of NDB is constructed using the Petrel geocellular software, with the available well logs, stratigraphic data, petrophysical analysis, and injection history. The model is upscaled into 20 layers within the deep section of NDB from Pennsylvanian formation to the end of Ellenburger formation and the top of the basement. Model calibration, using the CMG-STARS software, is constrained by historical injection wellhead pressure of 175 injection wells while maintaining injection rate history of 239 injection wells. Pore pressure buildups with deep injection are up to 3.5 MPa (500 psi) from 1983 - 2022, indicating that the native pore pressure state is increased by up to 10% locally. This detailed model provides a regional hydrogeological simulation on the pore pressure evolution of the deep formations of NDB, and is of great interest to assess fault reactivation, as well as understanding the origin of induced earthquakes in the Basin.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022AGUFM.S41A..09G