An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic Formations
The embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM), among different flow simulation models, achieves a good balance between efficiency and accuracy. In the EDFM, micro-scale fractures that cannot be characterized individually need to be homogenized into the matrix, which may bring anisotropy into the matri...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3070 |
| _version_ | 1827715165064265728 |
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| author | Renjie Shao Yuan Di Dawei Wu Yu-Shu Wu |
| author_facet | Renjie Shao Yuan Di Dawei Wu Yu-Shu Wu |
| author_sort | Renjie Shao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM), among different flow simulation models, achieves a good balance between efficiency and accuracy. In the EDFM, micro-scale fractures that cannot be characterized individually need to be homogenized into the matrix, which may bring anisotropy into the matrix. However, the simplified matrix–fracture fluid exchange assumption makes it difficult for EDFM to address the anisotropic flow. In this paper, an integrally embedded discrete fracture model (iEDFM) suitable for anisotropic formations is proposed. Structured mesh is employed for the anisotropic matrix, and the fracture element, which consists of a group of connected fractures, is integrally embedded in the matrix grid. An analytic pressure distribution is derived for the point source in anisotropic formation expressed by permeability tensor, and applied to the matrix–fracture transmissibility calculation. Two case studies were conducted and compared with the analytic solution or fine grid result to demonstrate the advantage and applicability of iEDFM to address anisotropic formation. In addition, a two-phase flow example with a reported dataset was studied to analyze the effect of the matrix anisotropy on the simulation result, which also showed the feasibility of iEDFM to address anisotropic formation with complex fracture networks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:12:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f54138d9b11446b9991688782fecf28f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:12:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f54138d9b11446b9991688782fecf28f2023-11-20T03:44:04ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-06-011312307010.3390/en13123070An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic FormationsRenjie Shao0Yuan Di1Dawei Wu2Yu-Shu Wu3College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaPetroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USAThe embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM), among different flow simulation models, achieves a good balance between efficiency and accuracy. In the EDFM, micro-scale fractures that cannot be characterized individually need to be homogenized into the matrix, which may bring anisotropy into the matrix. However, the simplified matrix–fracture fluid exchange assumption makes it difficult for EDFM to address the anisotropic flow. In this paper, an integrally embedded discrete fracture model (iEDFM) suitable for anisotropic formations is proposed. Structured mesh is employed for the anisotropic matrix, and the fracture element, which consists of a group of connected fractures, is integrally embedded in the matrix grid. An analytic pressure distribution is derived for the point source in anisotropic formation expressed by permeability tensor, and applied to the matrix–fracture transmissibility calculation. Two case studies were conducted and compared with the analytic solution or fine grid result to demonstrate the advantage and applicability of iEDFM to address anisotropic formation. In addition, a two-phase flow example with a reported dataset was studied to analyze the effect of the matrix anisotropy on the simulation result, which also showed the feasibility of iEDFM to address anisotropic formation with complex fracture networks.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3070fractured reservoir simulationanisotropic formationembedded discrete fracture modelmatrix-fracture transmissibility |
| spellingShingle | Renjie Shao Yuan Di Dawei Wu Yu-Shu Wu An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic Formations Energies fractured reservoir simulation anisotropic formation embedded discrete fracture model matrix-fracture transmissibility |
| title | An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic Formations |
| title_full | An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic Formations |
| title_fullStr | An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic Formations |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic Formations |
| title_short | An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model for Flow Simulation in Anisotropic Formations |
| title_sort | integrally embedded discrete fracture model for flow simulation in anisotropic formations |
| topic | fractured reservoir simulation anisotropic formation embedded discrete fracture model matrix-fracture transmissibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3070 |
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