Abstract
In this study, we present a hybrid model coupled with two-set nodes Green element method (GEM) and embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) for capturing the effect of transient flow in inhomogeneous fractured porous media. GEM is an excellent advanced algorithm, which can solve nonlinear problems in heterogeneous media. That is also an obvious advantage of GEM against the original boundary element method (BEM). The novel GEM has double nodes of pressure and flux and it is an improvement of classical GEM, which has a second-order precision and fits for triangle structured grids. In the place of adopting the linear flow approximation for original EDFM, the interflows between local triangle matrix grids and fracture elements are derived using the novel GEM, which has higher accuracy than those in previous EDFMs. Consequently, the modified hybrid model can indeed calculate the pressure and flux distribution of transient flow in multifracture porous media. Three numerical cases are presented to show the practicability of our novel model which include (i) multistage fractured horizontal well, (ii) heterogeneous fractured porous media, and (iii) complex fracture networks (CFNs) in an unconventional reservoir.
Highlights
Accurate modeling and simulation of pressure and flux distribution in naturally and hydraulically fractured reservoirs is a hot topic and quite challenging work for many oilfield engineering technicians
The original embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) was firstly presented by Li and Lee (2008) [9], in which discrete fractures are embedded in the structured matrix cell, and the mass transfer equations can be expressed by the nonneighboring connection (NNC) geometrical relationship of fractures and matrix
This discussion is conducted to verify that modified EDFM based on novel Green element method (GEM) can reflect the early-time transient flow effect and to analyze the average relative error between the original EDFM and the modified EDFM
Summary
Accurate modeling and simulation of pressure and flux distribution in naturally and hydraulically fractured reservoirs is a hot topic and quite challenging work for many oilfield engineering technicians. For the original EDFM, computing the interflux conductivity between matrix grids and discrete fracture elements is only related to geometrical properties, which did not in accord with the actual physical fact. To overcome this problem, the boundary element method (BEM) is possibly a compelling treatment to calculate the mass transmission between matrix and fracture. It is essential to develop an effective numerical approach for coupled EDFM simulators to characterize the transient mass transfer in heterogeneous fractured porous medium
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