A model of fracture nucleation, growth and arrest, and consequences for fracture density and scaling

Davy, Philippe; Goc, Romain Le; Darcel, Caroline

doi:10.1002/jgrb.50120

Cited by 102 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 108 publications

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“…Instead the model creates X-shaped intersections since the fractures are free to cross each other. This could be addressed by integration of simplified mechanical rules to take into account the fracture interaction and their consequences on the distribution of intersection and spatial organization of the network fracture [3,[18][19][20]. Building on simplified mechanical rules Davy et al have introduced a mechanical DFN model [3,20].…”

Section: Discrete Fracture Network Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the mechanical DFN model, the generation of the fracture networks occurs in three steps; fracture nucleation, fracture growth and fracture arrest [3].…”

Section: Mechanical Dfn Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where n N is the number of nuclei, and t the time [3]. Once created, a fracture grows at a rate given by…”

Section: Mechanical Dfn Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is however impossible to detect the full fracture network. Information can be obtained through seismic or well logging, but this information has to be expanded with the use of a model to fully describe the network [2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An improvement of the DFN model has been based on the idea that large fractures can stop the propagation of smaller fractures [3]. This mechanical DFN model is based on simplified mechanical rules which produce a fracture network formation that includes fracture nucleation, growth and arrest [3]. For three-dimensional models, the mechanical DFN model has been shown to give much higher flow channeling than the Poissonian DFN model [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topological impact of constrained fracture growth

et al. 2015

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The topology of two discrete fracture network models is compared to investigate the impact of constrained fracture growth. In the Poissonian discrete fracture network model the fractures are assigned length, position and orientation independent of all other fractures, while in the mechanical discrete fracture network model the fractures grow and the growth can be limited by the presence of other fractures. The topology is found to be impacted by both the choice of model, as well as the choice of rules for the mechanical model. A significant difference is the degree mixing. In two dimensions the Poissonian model results in assortative networks, while the mechanical model results in disassortative networks. In three dimensions both models produce disassortative networks, but the disassortative mixing is strongest for the mechanical model.

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Section: Discrete Fracture Network Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the mechanical DFN model, the generation of the fracture networks occurs in three steps; fracture nucleation, fracture growth and fracture arrest [3].…”

Section: Mechanical Dfn Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where n N is the number of nuclei, and t the time [3]. Once created, a fracture grows at a rate given by…”

Section: Mechanical Dfn Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topological impact of constrained fracture growth

et al. 2015

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Finite volume hydromechanical simulation in porous media

Nordbotten

2014

Water Resour. Res.

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Cell-centered finite volume methods are prevailing in numerical simulation of flow in porous media. However, due to the lack of cell-centered finite volume methods for mechanics, coupled flow and deformation is usually treated either by coupled finite-volume-finite element discretizations, or within a finite element setting. The former approach is unfavorable as it introduces two separate grid structures, while the latter approach loses the advantages of finite volume methods for the flow equation. Recently, we proposed a cell-centered finite volume method for elasticity. Herein, we explore the applicability of this novel method to provide a compatible finite volume discretization for coupled hydromechanic flows in porous media. We detail in particular the issue of coupling terms, and show how this is naturally handled. Furthermore, we observe how the cell-centered finite volume framework naturally allows for modeling fractured and fracturing porous media through internal boundary conditions. We support the discussion with a set of numerical examples: the convergence properties of the coupled scheme are first investigated; second, we illustrate the practical applicability of the method both for fractured and heterogeneous media.

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A new approach to upscaling fracture network models while preserving geostatistical and geomechanical characteristics

et al. 2015

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A new approach to upscaling two-dimensional fracture network models is proposed for preserving geostatistical and geomechanical characteristics of a smaller-scale "source" fracture pattern. First, the scaling properties of an outcrop system are examined in terms of spatial organization, lengths, connectivity, and normal/shear displacements using fractal geometry and power law relations. The fracture pattern is observed to be nonfractal with the fractal dimension D ≈ 2, while its length distribution tends to follow a power law with the exponent 2 < a < 3. To introduce a realistic distribution of fracture aperture and shear displacement, a geomechanical model using the combined finite-discrete element method captures the response of a fractured rock sample with a domain size L = 2 m under in situ stresses. Next, a novel scheme accommodating discrete-time random walks in recursive self-referencing lattices is developed to nucleate and propagate fractures together with their stress-and scale-dependent attributes into larger domains of up to 54 m × 54 m. The advantages of this approach include preserving the nonplanarity of natural cracks, capturing the existence of long fractures, retaining the realism of variable apertures, and respecting the stress dependency of displacement-length correlations. Hydraulic behavior of multiscale growth realizations is modeled by single-phase flow simulation, where distinct permeability scaling trends are observed for different geomechanical scenarios. A transition zone is identified where flow structure shifts from extremely channeled to distributed as the network scale increases. The results of this paper have implications for upscaling network characteristics for reservoir simulation.

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A model of fracture nucleation, growth and arrest, and consequences for fracture density and scaling

Cited by 102 publications

References 108 publications

Topological impact of constrained fracture growth

Topological impact of constrained fracture growth

Finite volume hydromechanical simulation in porous media

A new approach to upscaling fracture network models while preserving geostatistical and geomechanical characteristics

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