Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Transient Flow Simulation in Complex Subsurface Fracture Geomteries
AssigneesSim Tech LLC, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsKamy Sepehrnoori, Yifei Xu, Wei Yu, Jijun Miao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for simulating subterranean regions having multi-scale fracture geometries. Non-intrusive embedded discrete fracture modeling formulations are applied in conjunction with commercial simulators to efficiently and accurately model subsurface transient flow characteristics in regions having complex hydraulic fractures, complex natural fractures, or a combination of both, and geometries including corner point grids.
Claims22
A method for simulating a subterranean region having fracture geometries, comprising:
- a) obtaining data representing a subterranean region, the data comprising a matrix grid and fracture parameters;
- b) identifying gridblocks close to fractures in the matrix grid;
- c) refining the size of gridblocks among the identified matrix gridblocks;
- d) determining if the refined gridblocks meet a specified criterion;
- e) repeating steps (b)-(d) if the criterion of step (d) is not met;
- f) proceeding to step (g) if the criterion of step (d) is met;
- g) calculating intersections between the refined gridblocks and the fractures;
- and
- h) using the calculated intersections for generation of a simulation of the subterranean region.
A system for simulating a subterranean region having fracture geometries, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- a memory linked to the processor, the memory having instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the processor to perform functions including to:
- a) input data representing a subterranean region, the data comprising a matrix grid and fracture parameters;
- b) use the input data to identify gridblocks close to fractures in the matrix grid;
- c) refine the size of gridblocks among the identified matrix gridblocks;
- d) determine if the refined gridblocks meet a specified criterion;
- e) repeat steps (b)-(d) if the criterion of step (d) is not met;
- f) proceed to step (g) if the criterion of step (d) is met;
- g) calculate intersections between the refined gridblocks and the fractures;
- and
- h) produce output values corresponding to the calculated intersections for generation of a simulation of the subterranean region.
A method for simulating a subterranean region having fracture geometries, comprising:
- detecting geometrical intersections between matrix gridblocks and fractures associated with a subterranean region;
- cutting the fractures into segments along matrix gridblock boundaries;
- applying a pore-volume cutoff for small fracture segments;
- calculating connections between segments inside a fracture and between connected segments belonging to intersecting fractures;
- calculating intersections between well trajectories associated with the subterranean region and fracture segments;
- computing transmissibility factors for non-neighboring connections and well indices associated with the subterranean region;
- creating gridblocks in a grid domain and modifying the gridblock properties to represent fracture segments;
- canceling connections and adding non-neighboring connections for the created gridblocks;
- adding well perforations on the gridblocks;
- and
- generating a simulation of the subterranean region using a simulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.