Discrete Fracture Network Modeling of Hydraulic Stimulation
Subtitle: Coupling Flow and Geomechanics
By: by Mark W. McClure, Roland N. Horne
Contributors: Horne, Roland N.; SpringerLink (Online service)
Series: SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences
Publisher: Springer International Publishing; Imprint: Springer
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Heidelberg
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 90
ISBN-13: 9783319003832
Subjects: Geoengineering, Foundations, Hydraulics; Structural Geology; Hydraulic engineering; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Power (Mechanics); Economic Geology; Force and energy; Power resources; Fossil Fuels (incl. Carbon Capture)
Description: Discrete Fracture Network Modeling of Hydraulic Stimulation describes the development and testing of a model that couples fluid-flow, deformation, friction weakening, and permeability evolution in large, complex two-dimensional discrete fracture networks.  The model can be used to explore the behavior of hydraulic stimulation in settings where matrix permeability is low and preexisting fractures play an important role, such as Enhanced Geothermal Systems and gas shale.  Used also to describe pure shear stimulation, mixed-mechanism stimulation, or pure opening-mode stimulation. A variety of novel techniques to ensure efficiency and realistic model behavior are implemented, and tested.  The simulation methodology can also be used as an efficient method for directly solving quasistatic fracture contact problems.  Results show how stresses induced by fracture deformation during stimulation directly impact the mechanism of propagation and the resulting fracture network.
Table of contents: title: Introduction.-Discrete Fracture Network Modeling.-Review of Stimulation Models; title: References.-Methodology; title: Governing and Constitutive Equations; title: Initial Conditions; title: Methods of Solution; title: Spatial Domain; title: Special Stimulation Topics.-References.-Results; title: Simulation and Discretization Details; title: Model A: Small Test Problem; title: Models B and C: Large Test Problems; title: Model D: Testing the Strain Penalty Method; title: Hierarchical Matrix Decomposition.-References; title: Discussion; title: Model A; title: Model B; title: Model C; title: Model D; title: Hierarchical Matrix Decomposition; title: Extension of the Model to Three Dimensions.-References.-Conclusions.