Patent ID: 7565278

Claim:
A method for simulating fluid flow in a fractured subterranean reservoir, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a three-dimensional hybrid reservoir model representative of a fractured subterranean reservoir, the hybrid reservoir model including porous matrix blocks and a network of long fractures overlying the matrix blocks, the network of long fractures including interconnected long fractures, the network of long fractures including two-dimensional fracture blocks; (b) obtaining matrix and fracture flow equations for fluid flow in the matrix and fracture blocks; (c) determining the effective fluid flow transmissibility between the matrix blocks and the fracture blocks; (d) coupling the matrix and fracture flow equations via the effective fluid flow transmissibility; (e) solving simultaneously the matrix and fracture flow equations for flow responses; (f) using the flow responses to simulate fluid flow in the fractured subterranean reservoir; and (g) outputting a visual display responsive to the simulated fluid flow in the fractured subterranean reservoir.