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A Finite Volume Framework for Accurate Modeling of Fault Reactivation in Poroelastic Rocks

Novikov, A. (author)

Safe and sustainable exploitation of geo-energy resources requires not only a comprehensive evaluation of the performance and economics of the corresponding projects but also the assessments of the associated risks, including the risk of induced seismicity. Indeed, seismic events may arise from the reactivation of natural faults and fractures...

doctoral thesis 2024

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Simulation of two-phase flow in 3D fractured reservoirs using a projection-based Embedded Discrete Fracture Model on Unstructured tetrahedral grids (pEDFM-U)

Cavalcante, Túlio de M. (author), Castiel Reis de Souza, A. (author), Hajibeygi, H. (author), Carvalho, Darlan K.E. (author), Lyra, Paulo R.M. (author)

The modeling of fluid flow in heterogeneous, anisotropic and fractured porous media is relevant in many applications, including hydrocarbon and groundwater extraction, dispersion of contaminants, hydrogen or carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage. Thus, accurate and scalable simulation of fluid flow through these formations continues to be a...

journal article 2024

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Hybrid-dimensional modeling for fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media using dual fracture-pore model with flux interaction of fracture–cavity network

Wang, Luyu (author), Chen, Weizhong (author), Vuik, Cornelis (author)

Developing numerical method of fractured porous media is of paramount importance in geoscience applications. Previous studies have revealed that the discrete fractures and cavities as well as the heterogeneity have considerable influences on hydraulic property of porous media. This work presents a numerical investigation on fluid flow in...

journal article 2022

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Projection-based embedded discrete fracture model (pEDFM) for flow and heat transfer in real-field geological formations with hexahedral corner-point grids

Hosseinimehr, S.M. (author), Piguave Tomala, Janio (author), Vuik, Cornelis (author), Al Kobaisi, Mohammed (author), Hajibeygi, H. (author)

We present the projection-based embedded discrete fracture model (pEDFM) for hexahedral corner-point grid (CPG) geometries, for the simulation of hydrothermal processes in fractured porous media. Unlike the previously-developed pEDFM for structured box grids, our new development allows for the modeling of complex geometries defined with...

journal article 2022

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CO_2 Storage in deep saline aquifers: impacts of fractures on hydrodynamic trapping

Wang, Y. (author), Vuik, Cornelis (author), Hajibeygi, H. (author)

Natural or induced fractures are typically present in subsurface geological formations. Therefore, they need to be carefully studied for reliable estimation of the long-term carbon dioxide storage. Instinctively, flow-conductive fractures may undermine storage security as they increase the risk of CO2 leakage if they intersect the CO2 plume. In...

journal article 2022

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Accurate modeling and simulation of seepage in 3D heterogeneous fractured porous media with complex structures

Wang, L. (author), Wang, Y. (author), Vuik, Cornelis (author), Hajibeygi, H. (author)

The past decades have witnessed an increasing interest in numerical simulation for flow in fractured porous media. To date, most studies have focused on 2D or pseudo-3D computational models, where the impact of 3D complex structures on seepage has not been fully addressed. This work presents a method for modeling seepage in 3D heterogeneous...

journal article 2022

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An Advanced Discrete Fracture Methodology for Fast, Robust, and Accurate Simulation of Energy Production From Complex Fracture Networks

de Hoop, S. (author), Voskov, D.V. (author), Bertotti, G. (author), Barnhoorn, A. (author)

Fracture networks are abundant in subsurface applications (e.g., geothermal energy production, CO₂ sequestration). Fractured reservoirs often have a very complex structure, making modeling flow and transport in such networks slow and unstable. Consequently, this limits our ability to perform uncertainty quantification and increases...

journal article 2022

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Fracture Network Prediction in the Geneva Basin: A Geothermal Case Study

Alhamad Mahmood Abdulaziz M, Mahmood (author)

The aim of this study is to reduce the risk of the ongoing Geothermal exploration effort in Geneva Basin by estimating the influence of the natural fracture on the reservoir properties. A Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) was generated to resemble the fracture network in the Lower Cretaceous carbonate reservoir. The DFN modelling approach is using...

master thesis 2021

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Quantified Characterization of Discrete Fractures through Surface Roughness, Surface Area, and Hydraulic Conductivity

Reijm, Cornelis (author)

Argillaceous (clay-rich) host formations for radioactive waste geological repositories are extensively researched for their capability to decrease the hydraulic conductivity of fractures over time (i.e. self-sealing). This self-sealing behavior is beneficial in the context of radioactive repositories as the excavation of these spaces unavoidably...

bachelor thesis 2021

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Large-scale natural fracture network patterns: Insights from automated mapping in the Lilstock (Bristol Channel) limestone outcrops

Prabhakaran, R. (author), Urai, J. L. (author), Bertotti, G. (author), Weismüller, C. (author), Smeulders, D.M.J. (author)

The Lilstock outcrop in the southern Bristol Channel provides exceptional exposures of several limestone beds displaying stratabound fracture networks, providing the opportunity to create a very large, complete, and ground-truthed fracture model. Here we present the result of automated fracture extraction of high-resolution photogrammetric...

journal article 2021

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Modeling of multiphase mass and heat transfer in fractured high-enthalpy geothermal systems with advanced discrete fracture methodology

Wang, Y. (author), de Hoop, S. (author), Voskov, D.V. (author), Bruhn, D.F. (author), Bertotti, G. (author)

Multiphase mass and heat transfer are ubiquitous in the subsurface within manifold applications. The presence of fractures over several scales and complex geometry magnifies the uncertainty of the heat transfer phenomena, which will significantly impact, or even dominate, the dynamic transport process. Capturing the details of fluid and heat...

journal article 2021

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A novel hybrid model for multiphase flow in complex multi-scale fractured systems

Li, L. (author), Voskov, D.V. (author)

We present a multi-level discrete fracture model (MLDFM) to guarantee a robust and efficient solution for naturally fractured reservoir simulation. In MLDFM, we apply a triple continuum model using structured grid for forward simulation where large-scale fractures are represented with numerical embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) and the...

journal article 2021

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A benchmark study for dynamic multilevel multiscale (ADM) simulation of heat production from low-enthalpy fractured geothermal reservoirs

Marelis, Arjan (author)

Accurate and efficient predictions on the behavior of fluid flow and heat transport are required in the development of low-enthalpy geothermal reservoirs in fractured formations. Key challenges include the demand for high-resolution computational grids, the non-linear behavior of the system due to strong mass-heat coupling and the presence of...

master thesis 2020

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Characterization of a Fracture-Controlled Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) in the Trans-Mexican-Volcanic-Belt (TMVB): Predictive Mechanical Model for Fracture Stimulation in an Enhanced Geothermal System Context (EGS)

Lepillier, B.P. (author)

In 2020, as the world Energy demand keeps on rising (International Energy Agency (IEA), 2019), and with the global climate warming a reality (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2020), reducing our societal impact on Earth is of utmost importance. Energy and Climate have always been intrinsically related. Therefore...

doctoral thesis 2020

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A Computational Workflow for Flow and Transport in Fractured Porous Media Based on a Hierarchical Nonlinear Discrete Fracture Modeling Approach

Zhang, Wenjuan (author), Diab, Waleeb (author), Hajibeygi, H. (author), Al Kobaisi, Mohammed (author)

Modeling flow and transport in fractured porous media has been a topic of intensive research for a number of energy- and environment-related industries. The presence of multiscale fractures makes it an extremely challenging task to resolve accurately and efficiently the flow dynamics at both the local and global scales. To tackle this challenge,...

journal article 2020

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Modeling of gas flow in confined formations at different scales

Awadalla, Tarek (author), Voskov, D.V. (author)

Gas flow in fractured nano-porous shale formations is complicated by a hierarchy of structural features, ranging from nanopores to hydraulic fractures, and by several transport mechanisms that differ from standard viscous flow used in reservoir modeling. The use of accurate simulation techniques that honor the physical complexity of these...

journal article 2018

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Discrete fracture model for simulating waterflooding processes under fracturing conditions

Gallyamov, Emil (author), Garipov, Timur (author), Voskov, D.V. (author), van den Hoek, P.J. (author)

In our study, we develop a model for simulating fracturing processes in a poroelastic medium. The proposed approach combines the discrete fracture model enriched with contact plane mechanics. The model captures mechanical interactions of fractures and a deformable medium, fluid, and heat transfer in fractures and in a porous medium. Both...

journal article 2018

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Projection-based Embedded Discrete Fracture Model (pEDFM)

Tene, M. (author), Bosma, Sebastian (author), Al Kobaisi, Mohammed S. (author), Hajibeygi, H. (author)

This work presents a new discrete fracture model, namely the Projection-based Embedded Discrete Fracture Model (pEDFM). Similar to the existing EDFM approach, pEDFM constructs independent grids for the matrix and fracture domains, and delivers strictly conservative velocity fields. However, as a significant step forward, it is able to accurately...

journal article 2017

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An integrated workflow for stress and flow modelling using outcrop-derived discrete fracture networks

Bisdom, K. (author), Nick, H.M. (author), Bertotti, G. (author)

Fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs is often controlled by subseismic-scale fracture networks. Although the fracture network can be partly sampled in the direct vicinity of wells, the inter-well scale network is poorly constrained in fractured reservoir models. Outcrop analogues can provide data for populating domains of the...

journal article 2017

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Inter-well scale natural fracture geometry and permeability variations in low-deformation carbonate rocks

Bisdom, K. (author), Bertotti, G. (author), Bezerra, F. H. (author)

Regional natural fracture networks often show variations on a scale below that captured by seismic reflection data. This variability is not considered in most reservoir models, but likely impacts uncertainties in permeability. We quantify this uncertainty using a database of 13,000 fractures in nine outcrops digitised in the carbonate...

journal article 2017