An Extended-FEM Model for CO2 Leakage Through a Naturally Fractured Cap-Rock During Carbon Dioxide Sequestration

In this paper, a numerical model is developed for the assessment of carbon dioxide transport through naturally fractured cap-rocks during CO₂ sequestration in underground aquifers. The cap-rock contains two types of fracture with different length scales: micro-cracks (fissures) and macro-cracks (faults). The effect of micro-cracks is incorporated implicitly by modifying the intrinsic permeability tensor of porous matrix, while the macro-cracks are modeled explicitly using the extended finite element method (X-FEM). The fractured porous medium is decomposed into the porous matrix and fracture domain, which are occupied with two immiscible fluid phases, water and CO₂. The flow inside the matrix domain is governed by the Darcy law, while the flow within the fracture is modeled using the Poiseuille flow. The mass conservation law is fulfilled for each fluid phase at both porous matrix and fracture domain; moreover, the mass exchange between the matrix and fracture is guaranteed through the integral formulation of mass conservation law. Applying the X-FEM technique, the explicit representation of macro-cracks is modeled by enriching the standard finite element approximation space with an enrichment function. Finally, several numerical examples of CO₂ injection into a brine aquifer below a naturally fractured cap-rock are modeled in order to investigate the effects of cracks’ aperture and orientation as well as the temperature of aquifer and the depth of injection on the leakage pattern of the carbon dioxide through the cap-rock.

     

An investigation of the step-wise propagation of a mode-II fracture in a poroelastic medium

In this paper we use an eXtended Finite Element Method based model for the simulation of shear fracture in fully saturated porous materials. The fracture is incorporated as a strong discontinuity in the displacement field by exploiting the partition of unity property of finite element shape functions. The pressure is assumed to be continuous across the fracture. However, the pressure gradient, i.e. the fluid flow, can be discontinuous. The failure process is described by the cohesive zone approach and a Tresca fracture condition without dilatancy. We investigate the propagation of a shear fracture under compression asking the question whether or not a Tresca criterion can result in stepwise propagation in a poroelastic medium. In order to evaluate possible numerical artefacts, we also look at the influence of the element size and the magnitude of a time increment. The performance of the X-FEM model and the influence of the pore pressure on the fracture propagation are addressed. Our simulations do not show evidence for step wise progression in mode II failure.     

Thermo‐hydrodynamic‐mechanical multiphase flow model for CO2 sequestration in fracturing porous media

In this paper, we introduce a fully coupled thermo‐hydrodynamic‐mechanical computational model for multiphase flow in a deformable porous solid, exhibiting crack propagation due to fluid dynamics, with focus on CO₂ geosequestration. The geometry is described by a matrix domain, a fracture domain, and a matrix‐fracture domain. The fluid flow in the matrix domain is governed by Darcy's law and that in the crack is governed by the Navier–Stokes equations. At the matrix‐fracture domain, the fluid flow is governed by a leakage term derived from Darcy's law. Upon crack propagation, the conservation of mass and energy of the crack fluid is constrained by the isentropic process. We utilize the representative elementary volume‐averaging theory to formulate the mathematical model of the porous matrix, and the drift flux model to formulate the fluid dynamics in the fracture. The numerical solution is conducted using a mixed finite element discretization scheme. The standard Galerkin finite element method is utilized to discretize the diffusive dominant field equations, and the extended finite element method is utilized to discretize the crack propagation, and the fluid leakage at the boundaries between layers of different physical properties. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the computational capability of the model. It shows that the model, despite the relatively large number of degrees of freedom of different physical nature per node, is computationally efficient, and geometry and effectively mesh independent. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于XFEM-MBEM的嵌入式离散裂缝模型流固耦合数值模拟方法

离散缝网的表征与模拟是目前国内外研究的热点. 在非常规油气开发过程中, 由于地应力场的存在会对裂缝的流动属性产生显著影响, 若将裂缝视为静态对象, 与矿场数据会出现极大偏差, 因此要基于动态裂缝做更深入的研究. 本文针对致密油藏应力场?渗流场耦合力学问题, 提出了一种高效的混合数值离散化方法, 其中采用扩展有限元法 (XFEM) 求解岩石的弹性形变, 采用了混合边界元法 (MBEM) 精确计算基岩与裂缝间的非稳态窜流, 这两种数值格式是完全耦合的, 并对整体计算格式的时间项进行了全隐式求解, 可准确表征致密油藏开采过程中的裂缝变形及流体流动机理. 此外, 本文采用了嵌入式离散裂缝前处理算法显式表征大尺度水力压裂缝, 并考虑了支撑剂的作用; 采用了双孔有效应力原理和双重介质隐式裂缝表征方法, 可捕捉基质与小尺度天然裂缝的动态信息; 由此, 本文所提出的混合模型综合表征了基质?天然裂缝?水力压裂缝共同组成的致密油藏复杂渗流环境, 并通过几个实例论证了模型的准确性, 研究表明: 对致密油藏压裂水平井进行产能评价时, 应力场所引起渗流参数的改变及裂缝开度降低的影响不可忽略. 本文研究可为非常规油气资源的开发提供理论指导.      

Experiment and simulation of slurry flow in irregular channels to understand proppant transport in complex fractures

Slurry flow and proppant placement in irregular fractures are crucial to evaluate hydraulic fracturing stimulation but need to be better understood. This study aims to investigate how irregular fracture affects proppant transport and distribution using laboratory experiments and micro-scale numerical models. The unresolved method of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the discrete element method (DEM) considers Saffman lift force, Magnus force, and virtual mass force to accurately capture the frequent interaction between proppant and slickwater. Experimental results validated the reliability of the optimized CFD-DEM model and calibrated primary parameters. The effects of crack height and width, bending angle, and distance between the crack and inlet on particle distribution were studied. The results indicated that the improved numerical method could rationally simulate proppant transport in fractures at a scale factor. The small crack height causes downward and upward flows, which wash proppant to the fracture rear and form isolated proppant dunes. A wider region in the fracture is beneficial to build up a large dune, and the high dune can hinder particle transport into the fracture rear. When the crack is close to the inlet, the primary fracture without proppants will close to hinder gas production. The smaller the bending angle, the smaller the proppant dune. A regression model can precisely predict the dune coverage ratio. The results fundamentally understand how complex fractures and natural cracks affect slurry flow and proppant distribution.     

准脆性材料中强不连续问题的数值方法若干应用及其研究进展

综述了模拟准脆性材料开裂过程的数值计算方法的研究进展和工程应用,比较了表征强不连续问题的显式非连续模型和隐式非连续模型的优缺点.结合混凝土粘结裂纹, 重点讨论了嵌入非连续模型,扩展有限元方法和富集有限元技术等非连续方法的构造特征和本质区别.从各种富集方法的理论完备性考察,以假定发展应变为基础的嵌入非连续方法虽然可以解决混凝土开裂过程中的应力锁死,满足内部边界的静力平衡条件以及反映开裂后的位移不连续问题,但嵌入非连续所采用的富集函数在开裂单元中并不能满足协调条件,使非连续两侧的应变不独立. 其局限性是由于富集自由度在单元的水平上引入,而以单位分解为基础的扩展有限元和富集有限元的富集函数以节点自由度的方式引入,除具有嵌入非连续的优点, 还可以有效消除嵌入非连续引起裂纹两侧应变的相互影响.文中同时指出了网格重构技术,弥散裂纹模型的局限性以及扩展有限元和富集有限元技术在构造方式上的细微差别.对于节点自由度方式引入的富集函数, 其操作困难性在文中也作了说明.      

Coupled Electrokinetic–Hydromechanic Model for \text{ CO}_{2} Sequestration in Porous Media

In this paper, a computational model for the simulation of coupled electrokinetic and hydromechanical flow in a multiphase domain is introduced. Particular emphasis is placed on modeling $\text{ CO}_{2}$ flow in a deformed, unsaturated geologic formation and its associated streaming potential. The governing field equations are derived based on the averaging theory and solved numerically based on a mixed discretization scheme. The standard Galerkin finite element method is utilized to discretize the deformation and the diffusive dominant field equations, and the extended finite element method, together with the level-set method, is utilized to discretize the advective dominant field equations. The level-set method is employed to trace the $\text{ CO}_{2}$ plume front, and the extended finite element method is employed to model the high gradient in the saturation field front. This mixed discretization scheme leads to a highly convergent system, giving a stable and effectively mesh-independent model; furthermore, it minimizes the number of degrees of freedom, making the numerical scheme computationally efficient. The capability of the proposed model is evaluated by verification and numerical examples. Effects of the formation stiffness on the $\text{ CO}_{2}$ flow and the salinity content on the streaming potential are discussed.     

横观各向同性油气藏水力压裂裂纹扩展规律研究

针对横观各向同性与各向同性油气藏水力压裂裂纹扩展的差异性,基于扩展有限元法建立水力压裂力学模型,通过ABAQUS子程序开发了各向同性和横观各向同性岩体的起裂判据。在各向同性岩体数值模拟结果与解析解以及现场压裂典型曲线对比吻合的基础上,得到了包含层理构造的横观各向同性岩体水力压裂过程中裂纹扩展规律。层理类岩体水力压裂的裂缝扩展方向由地应力状态、层理方向以及岩体与层理界面抗拉强度共同决定;水力压裂过程中,注水压力在裂纹尖端产生应力集中,层理面法向分量先达到界面抗拉强度时,裂纹沿层理方向开裂,反之裂纹沿垂直最小地应力的方向扩展;裂纹扩展速度随层理抗拉强度的增加而降低;由于地层的滤失,随压裂液的注入,裂纹长宽尺度增长速率降低。     

Extensions to the Macroscopic Navier–Stokes Equation

A development is provided showing that for any phase, by not neglecting the macroscopic terms of the deviation from the intensive momentum and of the dispersive momentum, we obtain a macroscopic secondary momentum balance equation coupled with a macroscopic dominant momentum balance equation that is valid at a larger spatial scale. The macroscopic secondary momentum balance equation is in the form of a wave equation that propagates the deviation from the intensive momentum while concurrently, in the case of a Newtonian fluid and under certain assumptions, the macroscopic dominant momentum balance equation may be approximated by Darcys equation to address drag dominant flow. We then develop extensions to the dominant macroscopic Navier–Stokes (NS) equation for saturated porous matrices, to account for the pressure gradient at the microscopic solid-fluid interfaces. At the microscopic interfaces we introduce the exchange of inertia between the phases, accounting for the relative fluid square velocities and the rate of these velocities, interpreted as Forchheimer terms. Conditions are provided to approximate the extended dominant NS equation by Forchheimer quadratic momentum law or by Darcys linear momentum law. We also show that the dominant NS equation can conform into a nonlinear wave equation. The one-dimensional numerical solution of this nonlinear wave equation demonstrates good qualitative agreement with experiments for the case of a highly deformable elasto-plastic matrix.     

On a finite-strain viscoplastic law coupled with anisotropic damage: theoretical formulations and numerical applications

Based on a dissipation inequality at finite strains and the effective stress concept, a Chaboche-type infinitesimal viscoplastic theory is extended to finite-strain cases coupled with anisotropic damage. The anisotropic damage is described by a rank-two symmetric tensor. The constitutive law is formulated in the corotational material coordinate system. Thus, the evolution equations of all internal variables can be expressed in terms of their material time derivatives. The numerical algorithm for implementing the material model in a finite element programme is also formulated, and several numerical examples are shown. Comparing the numerical simulations with experimental observations indicates that the present material model can describe well the primary, secondary and tertiary creep. It can also predict the anisotropic damage modes observed in experiments correctly.     

Simulation of planar converging flow of a Leonov viscoelastic fluid

An efficient finite element algorithm is presented to simulate the planar converging flow for the viscoelastic fluid of the Leonov model. The governing equation set, composed of the continuity, momentum and constitutive equations for the Leonov fluid flow, is conveniently decoupled and a two-stage cyclic iteration technique is employed to solve the velocity and elastic strain fields separately. Artificial viscosity terms are imposed on the momentum equations to relax the elastic force and data smoothing is performed on the iterative calculations for velocities to further stabilize the numerical computations. The calculated stresses agree qualitatively with the experimental measurements and other numerically simulated results available in the literature. Computations were successful to moderately high values of Deborah number of about 27·5.     

A new discontinuous FE formulation for crack path prediction in brittle solids

In this paper a new finite element (FE) formulation to simulate embedded strong discontinuity for the study of the fracture process in brittle or quasi-brittle solids is presented. A homogeneous discontinuity is considered to be present in a cracked finite element with the possibility to take into account the opening and the sliding phenomena which can occur across the crack faces. In such a context a new simple stress-based implementation of the discontinuous displacement field is proposed by an appropriate stress field correction introduced at the Gauss points level in order to simulate, in a fashion typical of an elastic–plastic classical FE formulation, the mechanical effects of the bridging and friction stresses due to crack faces opening and sliding which can occur during the loading–unloading process structural component or solid being analysed. The proposed formulation does not need to introduce special or modified shape functions to reproduce discontinuous displacement field but simply relaxes the stress field in an appropriate fashion. Both linear elastic and elastic–plastic behaviour of the non-cracked material can be considered. Several 2D problems are presented and solved by the proposed procedure in order to predict load–displacement curves of brittle structures as well as crack patterns that develop during the loading process.The proposed discontinuous new FE formulation gives the advantages to be simple, computationally economic and to keep internal continuity of the numerical FE model; furthermore the developed algorithm can be easily implemented in standard FE programs as a standard plasticity model.     

Numerical investigation of transient contraction flows for worm-like micellar systems using Bautista–Manero models

This study is concerned with the numerical modelling of the Modified Bautista–Manero (MBM) model, for both steady-state and transient solutions in planar 4:1 contraction flow. This model was proposed to represent the structured composition and behaviour of worm-like micellar systems which have importance in industrial oil-reservoir recovery applications. A parameter sensitivity analysis for the rheology of this model is presented in both transient and steady response, covering pure shear and uniaxial extension. In addition, some features in evolutionary flow-structure are demonstrated in contraction flows due to the influence and imposition of start-up transient boundary conditions. The different effects of various model parameter choices are described through transient field response, stress and viscosity fields in the contraction flow setting. Distinction may be drawn between fluid response in the strong/moderate extension hardening regimes by matching both steady-state and transient shear and extensional viscosity peaks, contrasting between micellar (MBM) models against network-based counterparts Phan-Thien/Tanner (PTT). Simulations are performed with a hybrid finite volume/element algorithm. The momentum and continuity equations are solved by a Taylor–Galerkin/pressure-correction finite element method, whilst the constitutive equation is dealt with by a cell-vertex finite volume algorithm.     

压裂页岩气藏多尺度耦合流动数值模拟研究

在碳达峰的国策背景之下,页岩气成为传统能源向绿色清洁低碳能源转型的重要过渡和能源支点.压后页岩气藏流体流动力学成为高效开发页岩气的关键力学问题.文章将小尺度低导流天然裂缝等效升级为连续介质,建立有机质-无机质-天然裂缝三重连续介质模型,同时对大尺度高导流裂缝采用离散裂缝模型刻画,嵌入天然裂缝连续介质中,构建多重连续/离散裂缝模型.综合考虑吸附气的非平衡非线性解吸附和表面扩散,自由气的黏性流和克努森扩散,给出页岩气在多尺度复杂介质中的非线性耦合流动数学模型.提出多尺度扩展有限单元法对离散裂缝进行显式求解,创新性构建三类加强形函数捕捉离散裂缝的局部流场特征,解决了压后页岩海量裂缝及多尺度流动通道的流动模拟难题.文章提出的模型和方法既能准确刻画高导流裂缝对渗流的影响,又克服了海量多尺度离散裂缝导致计算量增大的问题.通过算例展示了压后页岩各连续介质的压力衰减规律,发现裂缝中自由气、有机质中自由气、无机质中吸附气依次滞后的压力(浓度)扩散现象,重点分析了吸附气表面扩散系数、自由气克努森扩散系数、天然裂缝连续介质渗透率和吸附气解吸附速率对页岩气产量的影响.文章重点解决压后页岩多尺度流动通道的表征和...     

A precise singular finite element for crack analysis

The multi-variable finite element algorithm based on the generalized Galerkin’smethod is more flexible to establish a finite element model in the continuum mechanies.Byusing this algorithm and numerical tests a new singular finite element for elasto-plasticfracture analysis has been formulated.The results of numerical tests show that the newelement possesses high accuracy and good performance.Some rules for formulating amulti-variable singular finite element are also discussed in this paper.     

含两类附加函数的扩展等参有限元法

基于扩展有限元的基本思想,提出一类指数型间断函数来模拟。由于裂纹或节理等非连续结构所导致的位移不连续现象,该附加函数是以到间断处的垂直距离为自变量,且随距离的增大而呈指数衰减,同时,在非连续结构末端引入能反映其奇异场特性的三角基函数。本文用弱解形式推导了扩展有限元格式,并论证了两类附加函数在单元公共边上能够保持位移连续性这一要求。最后,编制了二维4节点和三维8节点的扩展等参有限元程序,并分别给出了算例,结果表明在模拟裂纹追踪时,扩展有限元法可行且有效。     

状态向量的扩展有限元方法研究

利用哈密顿正则方程的半解析法计算单元位移场和应力场,可以得到精度比较高的解.但此半解析法在计算应力尖峰区域时,该区域要细化网格.当裂纹扩展时,又要重新生成刚度矩阵进行求解,导致求解效率降低.利用扩展有限元处理裂纹的不连续性,当裂纹扩展时可以避免网格的重构.为充分利用状态向量方程和扩展有限元的优势,该文将两者结合起来分析材料的断裂问题:计算应力强度因子和模拟裂纹扩展.最后通过算例分析,验证了该文提出方案的可行性.     

Modeling Fluid Flow in Fractured Porous Media with the Interfacial Conditions Between Porous Medium and Fracture

One of the most popular models that has been applied to predict the fluid velocity inside the fracture with impermeable walls is the cubic law. It highlights that the mean flux along the fracture is proportional to the cubic of fracture aperture. However, for a fractured porous medium, the normal and tangential interface conditions between the fracture and porous matrix can change the velocity profile inside the fracture. In this paper, a correction factor is introduced for flow equation along the fracture by imposing the continuity of normal and tangential components of velocity at the interface between the fracture and porous matrix. As a result, the mean velocity inside the fracture depends not only on the fracture aperture, but also on a set of non-dimensional numbers, including the matrix porosity, the ratio of intrinsic permeability of fracture to that of matrix, the wall Reynolds number, and the ratio of normal velocity on one wall to the other. Finally, the introduced correction factor is employed within the extended finite element method, which is widely used for numerical simulation of fluid flow within the fractured porous media. Several numerical results are presented for the fluid flow through a specimen containing single fracture, in order to investigate the deviation from the cubic law in different case studies.

     

A Numerical Approach for Arbitrary Cracks in a Fluid-Saturated Medium

A finite element method is proposed that can capture arbitrary discontinuities in a two-phase medium. The discontinuity is described in an exact manner by exploiting the partition-of-unity property of finite element shape functions. The fluid flow away from the discontinuity is modelled in a standard fashion using Darcy’s relation, while at the discontinuity a discrete analogon of Darcy’s relation is proposed. The results of this finite element model are independent of the original discretisation, as is demonstrated by an example of shear banding in a biaxial, plane-strain specimen.     

Numerical simulation of high‐Reynolds number flow around circular cylinders by a three‐step FEM–BEM model

An innovative computational model, developed to simulate high‐Reynolds number flow past circular cylinders in two‐dimensional incompressible viscous flows in external flow fields is described in this paper. The model, based on transient Navier–Stokes equations, can solve the infinite boundary value problems by extracting the boundary effects on a specified finite computational domain, using the projection method. The pressure is assumed to be zero at infinite boundary and the external flow field is simulated using a direct boundary element method (BEM) by solving a pressure Poisson equation. A three‐step finite element method (FEM) is used to solve the momentum equations of the flow. The present model is applied to simulate high‐Reynolds number flow past a single circular cylinder and flow past two cylinders in which one acts as a control cylinder. The simulation results are compared with experimental data and other numerical models and are found to be feasible and satisfactory. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.