Coupled Basin and Hydro-Mechanical Modeling of Gas Chimney Formation: The SW Barents Sea

Gas chimneys are one of the most intriguing manifestations focused fluid flows in sedimentary basins. To predict natural and human-induced leakage, it is essential to understand mechanism how flow localizes into conductive chimney dynamics. This work predicts conditions parameters for formation two fields SW Barents Sea, Tornerose field Snøhvit Hammerfest Basin. The based on types models, basin modeling hydro-mechanical formation. Multi-layer models were used produce initial relatively fast propagation process. Using we determined thermal, structural, petrophysical features gas field. Our model treats through lithological boundaries with strong contrasts. reproduces identified by seismic imaging without pre-defining their locations or geometry. steepness interface between reservoir caprock, thickness, compaction length strata. We demonstrate that highly-permeable leakage pathways. width speed a single strongly depends viscosity permeability rock. For field, predicted time about 13 40 years an 2 km high chimney.