Explicit and Implicit Coupling of Flow and Deformation in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs Simulation

Abstract eng:
This paper investigate the influence of coupling between the fluid flow and deformation in naturally fractured reservoirs, an aspect which is typically ignored or simplified in the conventional reservoir simulation (implicit formulation). The governing equations for a fully coupled (explicit) analysis of two-phase fluid flow through deformable fractured porous media are presented. Implicit formulations are derived from explicit formulation using simplifying assumption of constant total stress. Finite element method is utilized for numerical approximation of governing equations. Spatial discretisation of the governing equations is achieved using the standard Galerkin method while the finite difference technique is employed for the discretisation of the time domain. The application of the model is examined using a well-documented field case involving two phase fluid flow in a fractured porous reservoir. It is shown that to capture the reservoir response correctly the deformation and fluid flow fields must be coupled explicitly as the role of surrounding rock on the reservoir deformability cannot be accounted for through implicit formulations.

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