Anisotropic geometry-adaptive refinement for reservoir mesh creation
AssigneeLandmark Graphics Corporation
InventorsMichael L. Brewer, Steven B. Ward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method inserts fracture networks into an existing Earth Model that exists as a structured grid and physical property values. The fracture network is in the form of a surface mesh (manifold or non-manifold) in a three-dimensional (“3D”) space. The structured grid of the Earth Model is then anisotropically refined to resolve the fractures and to provide appropriate cell grading in the near-fracture region. The generated Earth Model may be utilized in a variety of applications, including for example, a reservoir simulation.
Claims22
A computer-implemented method of refining an earth model of a reservoir formation for well planning and placement, the method comprising:
- selecting, by a computer system, cells in a mesh to be refined in a determined direction within a three-dimensional space representing the reservoir formation, the selecting by:
- determining a location of a fracture within the earth model;
- identifying cells in a near-fracture region, based on the location of the fracture;
- determining a target size of edges of the identified near-fracture cells;
- determining whether edges of the near-fracture cells in the determined direction are longer than the target size times a scalar variable;
- and
- identifying the near-fracture cells having edges in the determined direction which are determined to be longer than the target size times the scalar variable;
- refining the selected cells in the determined direction;
- resolving a fracture network within the earth model using the refined cells;
- utilizing the earth model in a reservoir simulation, based on the resolved fracture network;
- and
- drilling a wellbore within the reservoir formation based on the reservoir simulation.
A computer-implemented method of refining an earth model of a reservoir formation for well planning and placement, the method comprising:
- anisotropically, by a computer system, refining cells of a mesh in a determined direction within a three-dimensional space representing the reservoir formation by:
- determining a location of a fracture within the earth model;
- identifying cells in a near-fracture region, based on the location of the fracture;
- determining a target size of edges of the identified near-fracture cells;
- determining whether edges of the near-fracture cells in the determined direction are longer than the target size times a scalar variable;
- and
- identifying the near-fracture cells having edges in the determined direction which are determined to be longer than the target size times the scalar variable;
- resolving a fracture network within the earth model using the refined cells;
- utilizing the earth model in a reservoir simulation, based on the resolved fracture network;
- and
- drilling a wellbore within the reservoir formation based on the reservoir simulation.
A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a plurality of functions, including functions to:
- select cells in a mesh of an earth model to be refined in a determined direction within a three-dimensional space representing a reservoir formation by:
- determining a location of a fracture within the earth model;
- identifying cells in a near-fracture region, based on the location of the fracture;
- determining a target size of edges of the identified near-fracture cells;
- determining whether edges of the near-fracture cells in the determined direction are longer than the target size times a scalar variable;
- and
- identifying the near-fracture cells having edges in the determined direction which are determined to be longer than the target size times the scalar variable;
- refine the selected cells in the determined direction;
- resolve a fracture network within the earth model using the refined cells;
- and
- utilize the earth model in a reservoir simulation, based on the resolved fracture network, wherein a wellbore is drilled within the reservoir formation based on the reservoir simulation.
A system comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a plurality of functions, including functions to:
- select cells in a mesh of an earth model to be refined in a determined direction within a three-dimensional space representing a reservoir formation by:
- determining a location of a fracture within the earth model;
- identifying cells in a near-fracture region, based on the location of the fracture;
- determining a target size of edges of the identified near-fracture cells;
- determining whether edges of the near-fracture cells in the determined direction are longer than the target size times a scalar variable;
- and
- identifying the near-fracture cells having edges in the determined direction which are determined to be longer than the target size times the scalar variable;
- refine the selected cells in the determined direction;
- resolve a fracture network within the earth model using the refined cells;
- and
- utilize the earth model in a reservoir simulation, based on the resolved fracture network, wherein a wellbore is drilled within the reservoir formation based on the reservoir simulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.