An efficient method for discretizing 3D fractured media for subsurface flow and transport simulations

We introduce a new method to discretize inclined non‐planar two‐dimensional (2D) fractures in three‐dimensional (3D) fractured media for subsurface flow and transport simulations. The 2D fractures are represented by ellipsoids. We first discretize the fractures and generate a 2D finite element mesh for each fracture. Then, the mesh of fractures is analyzed by searching and treating critical geometric configurations. Based on that search, the method generates a quality mesh and allows for including finer grids. A solute transport problem in fractured porous media is solved to test the method. The results show that the method (i) adequately represents the fractured domain by maintaining the geometric integrity of input surfaces and geologic data, (ii) provides accurate results for both simple and complex fractured domains, (iii) is insensitive to spatial discretization, and (iv) is computationally very efficient. For inclined and vertical fractures, analytical and numerical solutions are shown to be in good agreement. The method is therefore suitable to discretize fracture networks for flow and transport simulations in fractured porous media. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of Solute Transport Through Fractured Rock: A Higher-Order Accurate Finite-Element Finite-Volume Method Permitting Large Time Steps

Discrete-fracture and rock matrix (DFM) modelling necessitates a physically realistic discretisation of the large aspect ratio fractures and the dissected material domains. Using unstructured spatially adaptively refined finite-element meshes, we find that the fastest flow often occurs in the smallest elements. Flow velocity and element size vary over many orders of magnitude, disqualifying global Courant number (CFL)-dependent transport schemes because too many time steps would be necessary to investigate displacements of interest. Here, we present a higher-order accurate implicit pressure–(semi)-implicit transport scheme for the advection–diffusion equation that overcomes this CFL limitation for DFM models. Using operator splitting, we solve the pressure and the transport equations on finite-element, node-centred finite-volume meshes, respectively, using algebraic multigrid methods. We apply this approach to field data-based DFM models where the fracture flow velocity and mesh refinement is 2–4 orders of magnitude greater than that of the matrix. For a global CFL of ≤10,000, this implies sub-CFL, second-order accurate behaviour in the matrix, and super-CFL, at least first-order accurate, transports in fast-flowing fractures. Their greater refinement, however, largely offsets this numerical dispersion, promoting a highly accurate overall solution. Numerical and fracture-related mechanical dispersions are compared in the realistic DFM models using second-order accurate runs as reference cases. With a CFL histogram, we establish target error criteria for CFL overstepping. This analysis indicates that for extreme fracture heterogeneity, only a few transport steps can be sufficient to analyse macro-dispersion. This makes our implicit method attractive for quick analysis of transport properties on multiple realisations of DFM models.     

A method to discretize non‐planar fractures for 3D subsurface flow and transport simulations

A method is presented to discretize inclined non‐planar 2D fractures within a 3D finite element grid for subsurface flow and transport simulations. Each 2D fracture is represented as a triangulated surface. Each triangle is then discretized by 2D fracture elements that can be horizontal, vertical or inclined and that can be triangular or rectangular. The 3D grid representing a porous rock formation consists of hexahedra and can be irregular to allow grid refinement. An inclined fracture was discretized by (a) inclined triangles and (b) orthogonal rectangles and flow/transport simulations were run to compare the results. The comparison showed that (i) inclined fracture elements must be used to simulate 2D transient flow, (ii) results of 2D/3D steady‐state and 3D transient flow simulations are identical for both discretization methods, (iii) inclined fracture elements must be used to simulate 2D/3D transport because orthogonal fracture elements significantly underestimate concentrations, and (iv) orthogonal elements can be used to simulate 2D/3D transport if fracture permeability is corrected and multiplied by the ratio of fracture surface areas (orthogonal to inclined). Groundwater flow at a potential site for long‐term disposal of spent nuclear fuel was simulated where a complex 3D fracture network was discretized with this technique. The large‐scale simulation demonstrates that the proposed discretization procedure offers new possibilities to simulate flow and transport in complex 3D fracture networks. The new procedure has the further advantage that the same grid can be used for different realizations of a fracture network model with no need to regenerate the grid. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SOLUTION OF THE ADVECTION–DIFFUSION EQUATION USING A COMBINATION OF DISCONTINUOUS AND MIXED FINITE ELEMENTS

When transport is advection-dominated, classical numerical methods introduce excessive artificial diffusion and spurious oscillations. Special methods are required to overcome these phenomena. To solve the advection‒diffusion equation, a numerical method is developed using a discontinuous finite element method for the discretization of the advective terms. At the discontinuities of the approximate solution, numerical advective fluxes are calculated using one-dimensional approximate Riemann solvers. The method is stabilized with a multidimensional slope limiter which introduces small amounts of numerical diffusion when sharp concentration fronts occur. In addition, the diffusive term is discretized using a mixed hybrid finite element method. With this approach, numerical oscillations are completely avoided for a full range of cell Peclet numbers. The combination of discontinuous and mixed finite elements can be easily applied to 2D and 3D models using various types of elements in regular and irregular meshes. Numerical tests show good agreement with 1D and 2D analytical solutions. This approach is compared at the same time with two different numerical methods, a standard mixed finite method and a finite volume approach with high-resolution upwind terms. Regular and irregular meshes are used for the numerical tests to study the mesh effects on the numerical results. Our data show that in all cases this approach performs well. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多尺度嵌入式离散裂缝模型模拟方法

天然裂缝性油藏和人工压裂油藏内裂缝形态多样,分布复杂,传统的离散裂缝模型将裂缝作为基岩网格的边界,采用非结构化网格进行网格划分,其划分过程复杂,计算量大。嵌入式离散裂缝模型划分网格时不需要考虑油藏内的裂缝形态,只需对基岩系统进行简单的网格剖分,可以大大降低网格划分的复杂度,从而提高计算效率。然而,在油藏级别的数值模拟和人工压裂裂缝下的产能分析中,仍然存在计算量巨大、模拟时间过长的问题。本文提出嵌入式离散裂缝模型的多尺度数值计算格式,使用多尺度模拟有限差分法研究嵌入式离散裂缝模型渗流问题。通过在粗网格上求解局部流动问题计算多尺度基函数,多尺度基函数可以捕捉裂缝与基岩间的相互关系,反映单元内的非均质性,因此该方法既有传统尺度升级法的计算效率,又可以保证计算精度,数值结果表明这是一种有效的裂缝性油藏数值模拟方法。     

Multiphase flow in heterogeneous porous media: A classical finite element method versus an implicit pressure–explicit saturation‐based mixed finite element–finite volume approach

Various discretization methods exist for the numerical simulation of multiphase flow in porous media. In this paper, two methods are introduced and analyzed—a full‐upwind Galerkin method which belongs to the classical finite element methods, and a mixed‐hybrid finite element method based on an implicit pressure–explicit saturation (IMPES) approach. Both methods are derived from the governing equations of two‐phase flow. Their discretization concepts are compared in detail. Their efficiency is discussed using several examples. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A numerical approach for pressure transient analysis of a vertical well with complex fractures

A new well test model for a vertical fractured well is developed based on a discrete-fracture model in which the fractures are discretized as one dimensional (1-D) entities. The model overcomes the weakness of complex meshing, a large number of grids, and instability in conventional stripe-fracture models. Then, the discrete-fracture model is implemented using a hybrid element finite-element method. Triangular elements are used for matrix and line elements for the fractures. The finite element formulation is validated by comparing with the semi-analytical solution of a single ver-tical fractured well. The accuracy of the approach is shown through several examples with different fracture apertures, fracture conductivity, and fracture amount. Results from the discrete-fracture model agree reasonably well with the stripe-fracture model and the analytic solutions. The advantages of the discrete-fracture model are presented in mesh gen-eration, computational improvement, and abilities to handle complex fractures like wedge-shaped fractures and fractures with branches. Analytical results show that the number of grids in the discrete-fracture model is 10%less than stripe-fracture model, and computational efficiency increases by about 50%. The more fractures there are, the more the com-putational efficiency increases.     

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.      

Computational Modeling of Fluid Flow through a Fracture in Permeable Rock

Laminar, single-phase, finite-volume solutions to the Navier–Stokes equations of fluid flow through a fracture within permeable media have been obtained. The fracture geometry was acquired from computed tomography scans of a fracture in Berea sandstone, capturing the small-scale roughness of these natural fluid conduits. First, the roughness of the two-dimensional fracture profiles was analyzed and shown to be similar to Brownian fractal structures. The permeability and tortuosity of each fracture profile was determined from simulations of fluid flow through these geometries with impermeable fracture walls. A surrounding permeable medium, assumed to obey Darcy’s Law with permeabilities from 0.2 to 2,000 millidarcies, was then included in the analysis. A series of simulations for flows in fractured permeable rocks was performed, and the results were used to develop a relationship between the flow rate and pressure loss for fractures in porous rocks. The resulting friction-factor, which accounts for the fracture geometric properties, is similar to the cubic law; it has the potential to be of use in discrete fracture reservoir-scale simulations of fluid flow through highly fractured geologic formations with appreciable matrix permeability. The observed fluid flow from the surrounding permeable medium to the fracture was significant when the resistance within the fracture and the medium were of the same order. An increase in the volumetric flow rate within the fracture profile increased by more than 5% was observed for flows within high permeability-fractured porous media.     

The solid variational principles of the discrete from—The variational principles of the discrete analysis by the finite element method

This paper suggests a new solid variational principle of discrete form. Basing on the true case of the discrete analysis by the finite element method and considering the variable boundaries of the elements and the unknown functions of piecewise approximation, the unknown functions have various discontinuities at the interfaces between successive element.Thus, we have used mathematical technique of variable boundary with discontinuity of the unknown functions, based on the conditions that the first variation vanishes immediately, to establish the solid variation principles of discrete form. It generalizes the classical and non-classical variational principles. Successive equations that have to be satisfied by the unknown functions are the convergency necessary conditions for the finite elements method (including conforming and non-conforming). They expand that convergency necessary conditions of the compatibility conditions in the internal interfaces.     

考虑多重运移机制耦合页岩气藏压裂水平井数值模拟

页岩作为典型的微纳尺度多孔介质,游离气与吸附气共存,传统的达西定律已无法准确描述气体在页岩微纳尺度的运移规律.基于双重介质模型和离散裂缝模型构建页岩气藏分段压裂水平井模型,其中基岩中考虑气体的黏性流、Knudsen 扩散以及气体在基岩孔隙表面的吸附解吸,吸附采用Langmuir等温吸附方程;裂缝中考虑黏性流和Knudsen扩散,在此基础上建立基岩-裂缝双重介质压裂水平井数学模型并采用有限元方法对模型进行求解.结果表明,基岩固有渗透率越小,表面扩散和Knudsen扩散的影响越大,反之则越小;人工裂缝的性质包括条数、开度、半长以及间距,主要影响压裂水平井生产早期,随着人工裂缝参数值的增加,压裂水平井产能增加,累产气量也越大.其次,页岩气藏压裂诱导缝和天然裂缝的发育程度对页岩气藏的产能有很大的影响,水平井周围只有人工裂缝,周围天然裂缝不开启或不发育时,页岩气藏的水平井的产能较低.      

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.     

High‐resolution p‐adaptive DG simulations of flows with moving shocks

High‐order accurate DG discretization is employed for Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations modeling of complex shock‐dominated, unsteady flow generated by gas issuing from a shock tube nozzle. The DG finite element discretization framework is used for both the flow field and turbulence transport. Turbulent flow in the near wall regions and the flow field is modeled by the Spalart–Allmaras one‐equation model. The effect of rotation on turbulence modeling for shock‐dominated supersonic flows is considered for accurate resolution of the large coherent and vortical structures that are of interest in high‐speed combustion and supersonic flows. Implicit time marching methodologies are used to enable large time steps by avoiding the severe time step limitations imposed by the higher order DG discretizations and the source terms. Sufficiently high mesh density is used to enable crisp capturing of discontinuities. A p ? type refinement procedure is employed to accurately represent the vortical structures generated during the development of the flow. The computed solutions showed qualitative agreement with experiments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modeling of discrete multi-crack growth applied to pattern formation in geological brittle media

We describe a finite element-based method to propagate multiple fractures simultaneously. The algorithm is iterative and it simulates sub-critical quasi-static crack propagation. The matrix is homogeneous and isotropic, and behaves linear elastically. The algorithmic cornerstones are a failure criterion, a propagation criterion, and a propagation angle. Fracture geometries are kept track of independently of the mesh allowing geometric handling of fracture arrest, closure, and coalescence. Fracture aperture is an emergent property of the model. The mesh is adaptively remeshed to capture variations in the geometry and displacement field. Generated patterns reproduce observed crack paths in physical experiments. Algorithm efficiency scales linearly. The model reproduces en-echelon crack linkage, fracture hooking, and orthogonal tip approximation patterns. Our numerical experiments closely match physical experiments. Remeshing consumes <2% of the total computational time demonstrating current computational capabilities allow for discrete crack propagation to be viable for multiple crack propagation.     

Fracture-Flow-Enhanced Matrix Diffusion in Solute Transport Through Fractured Porous Media

Over the past few decades, significant progress of assessing chemical transport in fractured rocks has been made in laboratory and field investigations as well as in mathematic modeling. In most of these studies, however, matrix diffusion on fracture–matrix surfaces is considered as a process of molecular diffusion only. Mathematical modeling based on this traditional concept often had problems in explaining or predicting tracer transport in fractured rock. In this article, we propose a new conceptual model of fracture-flow-enhanced matrix diffusion, which correlates with fracture-flow velocity. The proposed model incorporates an additional matrix-diffusion process, induced by rapid fluid flow along fractures. According to the boundary-layer theory, fracture-flow-enhanced matrix diffusion may dominate mass-transfer processes at fracture–matrix interfaces, where rapid flow occurs through fractures. The new conceptual model can be easily integrated with analytical solutions, as demonstrated in this article, and numerical models, as we foresee. The new conceptual model is preliminarily validated using laboratory experimental results from a series of tracer breakthrough tests with different velocities in a simple fracture system. Validating of the new model with field experiments in complicated fracture systems and numerical modeling will be explored in future research.     

An unfitted interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin method for incompressible Navier–Stokes two‐phase flow

A discontinuous Galerkin method for the solution of the immiscible and incompressible two‐phase flow problem based on the nonsymmetric interior penalty method is presented. Therefore, the incompressible Navier–Stokes equation is solved for a domain decomposed into two subdomains with different values of viscosity and density as well as a singular surface tension force. On the basis of a piecewise linear approximation of the interface, meshes for both phases are cut out of a structured mesh. The discontinuous finite elements are defined on the resulting Cartesian cut‐cell mesh and may therefore approximate the discontinuities of the pressure and the velocity derivatives across the interface with high accuracy. As the mesh resolves the interface, regularization of the density and viscosity jumps across the interface is not required. This preserves the local conservation property of the velocity field even in the vicinity of the interface and constitutes a significant advantage compared with standard methods that require regularization of these discontinuities and cannot represent the jumps and kinks in pressure and velocity. A powerful subtessellation algorithm is incorporated to allow the usage of standard time integrators (such as Crank–Nicholson) on the time‐dependent mesh. The presented discretization is applicable to both the two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional cases. The performance of our approach is demonstrated by application to a two‐dimensional benchmark problem, allowing for a thorough comparison with other numerical methods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Reconstruction of Darcy Velocity in Finite-Volume Methods

The accuracy of particle tracking methods for advective transport in porous media depends in turn upon the accuracy of the computed velocity. In many advanced finite-volume methods used in practical applications, the velocity field is often only accurate up to the first order, and is typically defined only on mesh edges. We develop an inexpensive method for reconstructing a quasi-optimal accuracy-preserving velocity field inside the elements of a polygonal mesh. Numerical verification on quadrilateral meshes shows reduction of L ²-error in comparison with conventional reconstruction strategies.     

基于单元破裂的岩石裂纹扩展模拟方法

传统离散元方法在处理破裂问题时, 采用界面上的准则进行判断, 裂纹只能沿着单元边界扩展. 当物理问题存在宏观或微观裂隙时, 在界面上应用准则具有其合理性; 而裂纹沿着单元边界扩展, 使得裂纹路径受网格影响较大, 扩展方向受到限制. 针对上述情况, 可以基于单元破裂的方式, 构建连续- 非连续单元法, 并应用于岩石裂纹扩展问题的模拟. 该方法在连续计算时, 将单元离散为具有物理意义的弹簧系统, 在局部坐标系下由弹簧特征长度、面积求解单元变形和应力, 通过更新局部坐标系和弹簧特征量, 可进一步计算块体大位移、大转动, 连续问题计算结果与有限元一致, 同时提高了计算效率. 在此基础上, 引入最大拉应力与莫尔—库伦的复合准则, 判断单元破裂状态和破裂方向, 并采用局部块体切割的方式, 在单元内形成初始裂纹. 裂纹两侧相应增加新的计算节点, 同时引入内聚力模型描述裂纹两侧的法向、切向作用与张开度及滑移变形之间的关系. 按此方式, 裂纹尖端处的扩展路径可穿过单元内部和单元边界, 在扩展方向的选取上更为准确. 最后, 通过三点弯曲梁、单切口平板拉伸、双切口试样等典型数值试验, 模拟裂纹在拉伸、压剪等各种应力状态下的扩展问题, 并对岩石单轴压缩试验的破坏过程进行模拟, 分析裂纹形成与应力—应变曲线各阶段之间的对应关系. 结果表明: 连续—非连续单元法通过单元内部破裂的方式, 可以显示模拟裂纹萌生、扩展、贯通直至形成宏观裂缝的过程.      

Non-homogeneous displacement jumps in strong embedded discontinuities

In this paper, strong discontinuities are embedded in finite elements to describe fracture in quasi-brittle materials. A new numerical formulation is introduced in which the displacement jumps do not need to be homogeneous within each finite element. Both the crack path and the displacement jumps are continuous across element boundaries. This formulation is compared with the discrete approach, in which interface elements are inserted to model the discontinuities, as well as with other embedded discontinuity approaches and with the partition of unity method. Numerical results have been obtained with relatively coarse meshes, which compare well with experimental results and with the results obtained from analyzes with interface elements.     

Extended finite element modeling of production from a reservoir embedded with an arbitrary fracture network

A numerical scheme based on the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is proposed to simulate complex fluid flow in a fractured porous reservoir. By enriching the elements fully cut by the fracture and the near‐tip region, the flow mechanism including the tip flux singularity can be exactly represented in the XFEM formulation. Fluid transfer between the matrix and the fractures can be easily coupled, and XFEM also overcomes the sensitivity to the mesh used in the traditional unstructured discretizations, regardless of the complexity of the fracture network. The method is validated for a simple case by the exact analytical solution. Results are compared between XFEM and FEM. Case studies are presented to illustrate the power, efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility of the proposed method for simulating transient productive flow in reservoirs with complex fracture networks.