Control-Volume Distributed Multi-Point Flux Approximation Coupled with a Lower-Dimensional Fracture Model

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ahmed ◽  
M.G. Edwards ◽  
S. Lamine ◽  
B.A.H. Huisman ◽  
M. Pal
Keyword(s):  
Control Volume ◽  
Fracture Model ◽  
Flux Approximation ◽  
Lower Dimensional

scholarly journals Control-volume distributed multi-point flux approximation coupled with a lower-dimensional fracture model

2015 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 462-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ahmed ◽  
M.G. Edwards ◽  
S. Lamine ◽  
B.A.H. Huisman ◽  
M. Pal
Keyword(s):  
Control Volume ◽  
Fracture Model ◽  
Flux Approximation ◽  
Lower Dimensional

Tracing Streamlines on Unstructured Grids From Finite Volume Discretizations

SPE Journal ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
pp. 423-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien F. Matringe ◽  
Ruben Juanes ◽  
Hamdi A. Tchelepi
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Velocity Field ◽  
Finite Difference ◽  
Finite Volume ◽  
Unstructured Grids ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Flux Approximation ◽  
Streamline Tracing ◽  
Tracing Method

Summary The accuracy of streamline reservoir simulations depends strongly on the quality of the velocity field and the accuracy of the streamline tracing method. For problems described on complex grids (e.g., corner-point geometry or fully unstructured grids) with full-tensor permeabilities, advanced discretization methods, such as the family of multipoint flux approximation (MPFA) schemes, are necessary to obtain an accurate representation of the fluxes across control volume faces. These fluxes are then interpolated to define the velocity field within each control volume, which is then used to trace the streamlines. Existing methods for the interpolation of the velocity field and integration of the streamlines do not preserve the accuracy of the fluxes computed by MPFA discretizations. Here we propose a method for the reconstruction of the velocity field with high-order accuracy from the fluxes provided by MPFA discretization schemes. This reconstruction relies on a correspondence between the MPFA fluxes and the degrees of freedom of a mixed finite-element method (MFEM) based on the first-order Brezzi-Douglas-Marini space. This link between the finite-volume and finite-element methods allows the use of flux reconstruction and streamline tracing techniques developed previously by the authors for mixed finite elements. After a detailed description of our streamline tracing method, we study its accuracy and efficiency using challenging test cases. Introduction The next-generation reservoir simulators will be unstructured. Several research groups throughout the industry are now developing a new breed of reservoir simulators to replace the current industry standards. One of the main advances offered by these next generation simulators is their ability to support unstructured or, at least, strongly distorted grids populated with full-tensor permeabilities. The constant evolution of reservoir modeling techniques provides an increasingly realistic description of the geological features of petroleum reservoirs. To discretize the complex geometries of geocellular models, unstructured grids seem to be a natural choice. Their inherent flexibility permits the precise description of faults, flow barriers, trapping structures, etc. Obtaining a similar accuracy with more traditional structured grids, if at all possible, would require an overwhelming number of gridblocks. However, the added flexibility of unstructured grids comes with a cost. To accurately resolve the full-tensor permeabilities or the grid distortion, a two-point flux approximation (TPFA) approach, such as that of classical finite difference (FD) methods is not sufficient. The size of the discretization stencil needs to be increased to include more pressure points in the computation of the fluxes through control volume edges. To this end, multipoint flux approximation (MPFA) methods have been developed and applied quite successfully (Aavatsmark et al. 1996; Verma and Aziz 1997; Edwards and Rogers 1998; Aavatsmark et al. 1998b; Aavatsmark et al. 1998c; Aavatsmark et al. 1998a; Edwards 2002; Lee et al. 2002a; Lee et al. 2002b). In this paper, we interpret finite volume discretizations as MFEM for which streamline tracing methods have already been developed (Matringe et al. 2006; Matringe et al. 2007b; Juanes and Matringe In Press). This approach provides a natural way of reconstructing velocity fields from TPFA or MPFA fluxes. For finite difference or TPFA discretizations, the proposed interpretation provides mathematical justification for Pollock's method (Pollock 1988) and some of its extensions to distorted grids (Cordes and Kinzelbach 1992; Prévost et al. 2002; Hægland et al. 2007; Jimenez et al. 2007). For MPFA, our approach provides a high-order streamline tracing algorithm that takes full advantage of the flux information from the MPFA discretization.

Acute PEBI Grid Generation for Reservoir Geometries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahid Manzooor ◽  
Michael G. Edwards ◽  
Ali H. Dogru
Keyword(s):  
Unstructured Grid ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Control Point ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Grid Generation ◽  
Geometric Constraints ◽  
Reconstruction Technique ◽  
Delaunay Triangulations ◽  
Flux Approximation ◽  
Mesh Reconstruction

Abstract An unstructured grid generation method is presented that automates control-volume boundary alignment to geological objects and control point alignment to complex wells. The grid generation method is coupled with an iterative acute mesh reconstruction technique, to construct essentially acute triangulations, while satisfying quite general geometric constraints. For well aligned grids control points are constrained to the well trajectory and protection circles are used, whereas for boundary aligned grids halo construction is performed. Unstructured Delaunay triangulations (DT) have the desirable locally orthogonal perpendicular bisectional (PEBI) property, required by the industry standard two-point flux approximation for consistency for isotropic fields. The PEBI property can only be exploited if such grids are comprised of acute simplexes, with circumcentres located inside their respective elements. The method presented enables acute DT layered mesh generation while honoring internal boundaries and wells in a two dimensional space. A dual (Voronoi) grid derived from a feature honored simplicial mesh is then projected in the vertical direction generating 2.5D PEBI grids. Effectiveness of the method to construct acute PEBI grids honoring geological objects and complex wells is demonstrated by meshing representative reservoir geometries. Numerical results are presented that verify consistency of the two-point flux on the resulting boundary-aligned acute PEBI grids. Development of an unstructured grid generation method which 1) Automates interior boundary alignment, 2) Honors features with respect to control point and/or control volume, and 3) Generates acute PEBI grids for reservoir geometries is presented. A unique workflow is presented to generate boundary aligned acute PEBI grids for complex geometries. Development of boundary aligned grids that honor both geological objects and multilateral complex wells, together with mesh reconstruction to ensure circumcenter containment is presented. Further, 3D PEBI grid generation method which can limit refinement to well perforations and geological objects is also described.

scholarly journals Discrete Fracture Model for Hydro-Mechanical Coupling in Fractured Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xupeng He ◽  
Tian Qiao ◽  
Marwa Alsinan ◽  
Hyung Kwak ◽  
Hussein Hoteit
Keyword(s):  
Fractured Reservoirs ◽  
Fracture Model ◽  
System Of Nonlinear Equations ◽  
Fracture Permeability ◽  
Coupled Flow ◽  
General Applicability ◽  
Discrete Fracture Model ◽  
Mechanical Coupling ◽  
Flux Approximation ◽  
Discrete Fracture

Abstract The process of coupled flow and mechanics occurs in various environmental and energy applications, including conventional and unconventional fractured reservoirs. This work establishes a new formulation for modeling hydro-mechanical coupling in fractured reservoirs. The discrete-fracture model (DFM), in which the porous matrix and fractures are represented explicitly in the form of unstructured grid, has been widely used to describe fluid flow in fractured formations. In this work, we extend the DFM approach for modeling coupled flow-mechanics process, in which flow problems are solved using the multipoint flux approximation (MPFA) method, and mechanics problems are solved using the multipoint stress approximation (MPSA) method. The coupled flow-mechanics problems share the same computational grid to avoid projection issues and allow for convenient exchange between them. We model the fracture mechanical behavior as a two-surface contact problem. The resulting coupled system of nonlinear equations is solved in a fully-implicit manner. The accuracy and generality of the numerical implementation are accessed using cases with analytical solutions, which shows an excellent match. We then apply the methodology to more complex cases to demonstrate its general applicability. We also investigate the geomechanical influence on fracture permeability change using 2D rock fractures. This work introduces a novel formulation for modeling the coupled flow-mechanics process in fractured reservoirs, and can be readily implemented in reservoir characterization workflow.

A Cut-Cell Polyhedral Finite Element Model for Coupled Fluid Flow and Mechanics in Fractured Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Shovkun ◽  
Hamdi A. Tchelepi
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Fractured Reservoirs ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Mechanical Deformation ◽  
Naturally Fractured Reservoirs ◽  
Fracture Model ◽  
Single Fracture ◽  
Cut Cell ◽  
Flux Approximation

Abstract Mechanical deformation induced by injection and withdrawal of fluids from the subsurface can significantly alter the flow paths in naturally fractured reservoirs. Modeling coupled fluid-flow and mechanical deformation in fractured reservoirs relies on either sophisticated gridding techniques, or enhancing the variables (degrees-of-freedom) that represent the physics in order to describe the behavior of fractured formation accurately. The objective of this study is to develop a spatial discretization scheme that cuts the "matrix" grid with fracture planes and utilizes traditional formulations for fluid flow and geomechanics. The flow model uses the standard low-order finite-volume method with the Compartmental Embedded fracture Model (cEDFM). Due to the presence of non-standard polyhedra in the grid after cutting/splitting, we utilize numerical harmonic shape functions within a Polyhedral finite-element (PFE) formulation for mechanical deformation. In order to enforce fracture-contact constraints, we use a penalty approach. We provide a series of comparisons between the approach that uses conforming Unstructured grids and a Discrete Fracture Model (Unstructured DFM) with the new cut-cell PFE formulation. The manuscript analyzes the convergence of both methods for linear elastic, single-fracture slip, and Mandel’s problems with tetrahedral, Cartesian, and PEBI-grids. Finally, the paper presents a fully-coupled 3D simulation with multiple inclined intersecting faults activated in shear by fluid injection, which caused an increase in effective reservoir permeability. Our approach allows for great reduction in the complexity of the (gridded) model construction while retaining the solution accuracy together with great saving in the computational cost compared with UDFM. The flexibility of our model with respect to the types of grid polyhedra allows us to eliminate mesh artifacts in the solution of the transport equations typically observed when using tetrahedral grids and two-point flux approximation.

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