3D numerical model of fluid extraction, showing flows and simulated fault slip. Most numerical simulations of fluid or gas extraction assume that all flow is through the rock mass, and ignore the effects of geological structure (faults, shears) on fluid flow and the impacts of induced rock mass damage on hydraulic conductivity. This model is unique because it captures these essential impacts.
BE undertakes automatically fully coupled hydro-mechanical analyses:
- one-way or two-way fully coupled, field scale, 3D, discontinuum models
- flow on discontinuities
- non-linear hydrogeological models – rock mass damage and fault movement changes the hydrogeological properties
- isotropic or orthotropic hydrogeological properties
- stress and strain induced change of permeability for anisotropic fractured rock
- extraction and injection induced seismic calibration and forecasting
- rapid, direct calibration using recovery, flow, induced seismicity, subsidence and other physical measurements.
- coupling of LR2 (strain softening, dilatant discontinuum) rock mechnics with the three-component, three-phase Black-Oil model by Trangenstein & Bell (1989) or with your standard solutions
- simulation of reservoir induced seismicity using RER
Measured seismicty and hydraulic fractures
BE is also developing fully coupled discontinuum tools to simulate the effects of hydraulic fracturing at a well-bore scale and inter-bore scale. Our intent is to develop and apply sophisticated simulation tools to model hydraulic fracturing coupled to our explicit, dynamic global discontinuum models to better simulate the effects of hydraulic fracturing. For more information on any of these topics please contact Dr Arnd Flatten or Dr David Beck.
