System and method of grid generation for discrete fracture modeling

A system for generating a grid used to construct a simulation model of a fractured subsurface reservoir, the system comprising:

• a user interface to input information into the system, the information including a representation of a fractured subsurface reservoir and a fracture represented within the fractured subsurface reservoir;
• a database configured to store data including the input information from the user interface;
• a computer processor configured to receive the stored data from the database and to execute a software program responsive to the stored data;
• and
• the software program executable on the computer processor, the software program comprising:
• (a) a decomposition module for constructing a grid comprising a plurality of polyhedral cells, the polyhedral cells defining cell-to-cell interfaces at boundaries between the polyhedral cells;
• and
• (b) an interface selection module for selecting a plurality of the cell-to-cell interfaces adjacent to the fracture to form a continuous interfaces path approximating the geometry of the fracture, the continuous interfaces path being associated with predetermined fracture properties;
• wherein the grid comprising the continuous interfaces path associated with the predetermined fracture properties is output for constructing a simulation model of the fractured subsurface reservoir.

A software program stored on a processor readable medium to generate a grid for a simulation model of a fractured subsurface reservoir, the software program configured for:

• constructing a grid for a representation of a fractured subsurface reservoir having at least one fracture, the grid comprising a plurality of polyhedral cells defining cell-to-cell interfaces at boundaries between the polyhedral cells;
• selecting a plurality of the cell-to-cell interfaces adjacent to the fracture to form a continuous interfaces path approximating the geometry of the fracture;
• associating the continuous interfaces path approximating the geometry of the fracture with predetermined fracture properties;
• and
• outputting the grid comprising the continuous interfaces path associated with the predetermined fracture properties for use in constructing a simulation model of the fractured subsurface reservoir.