scholarly journals Finite Element Modelling of Coupled Fluid-Flow and Geomechanical Aspects for the Sustainable Exploitation of Reservoirs: The Case Study of the Cavone Reservoir

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
Elena Benvenuti ◽  
Giulia Maurillo
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
In Situ Stress ◽  
Stress Fields ◽  
Flow Equations ◽  
Coupled Problem ◽  
In Situ Stresses

The study of the seismogenic mechanical effects induced by oil & gas activities is a socially impacting issue of environmental engineering as well as a challenging task in computational geomechanics. It requires the solution of a coupled problem governed by poroelastic and fluid flow equations in a faulted domain in the presence of in situ stress fields. As a viable alternative to state-of-the-art academical computational models, the present study contributes a simplified methodology based on a commercial Finite Element multiphysics software. The focus is on the evaluation of the link between the oil & gas activities of the Cavone oilfield reservoir, located in North Italy and adjacent to the Mirandola fault, and the recent seismic sequence that struck Emilia in May 2012. An operational coupled fluid-geomechanical procedure is developed where the Cavone reservoir is subjected to the typical in situ stresses, and the nearby Mirandola fault is modelled as an impervious thin layer.

scholarly journals Numerical Algorithms for Simulation of a Fluid-Filed Fracture Evolution in a Poroelastic Medium

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-35
Author(s):  
V. E Borisov ◽  
A. V Ivanov ◽  
B. V Kritsky ◽  
E. B Savenkov
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Geometric Model ◽  
Numerical Algorithms ◽  
Problem Solution ◽  
Poroelastic Medium ◽  
Heterogeneous Distribution ◽  
Coupled Problem ◽  
Fracture Evolution ◽  
Point Projection

The paper deals with the computational framework for the numerical simulation of the three dimensional fluid-filled fracture evolution in a poroelastic medium. The model consists of several groups of equations including the Biot poroelastic model to describe a bulk medium behavior, Reynold’s lubrication equations to describe a flow inside fracture and corresponding bulk/fracture interface conditions. The geometric model of the fracture assumes that it is described as an arbitrary sufficiently smooth surface with a boundary. Main attention is paid to describing numerical algorithms for particular problems (poroelasticity, fracture fluid flow, fracture evolution) as well as an algorithm for the coupled problem solution. An implicit fracture mid-surface representation approach based on the closest point projection operator is a particular feature of the proposed algorithms. Such a representation is used to describe the fracture mid-surface in the poroelastic solver, Reynold’s lubrication equation solver and for simulation of fracture evolutions. The poroelastic solver is based on a special variant of X-FEM algorithms, which uses the closest point representation of the fracture. To solve Reynold’s lubrication equations, which model the fluid flow in fracture, a finite element version of the closet point projection method for PDEs surface is used. As a result, the algorithm for the coupled problem is purely Eulerian and uses the same finite element mesh to solve equations defined in the bulk and on the fracture mid-surface. Finally, we present results of the numerical simulations which demonstrate possibilities of the proposed numerical techniques, in particular, a problem in a media with a heterogeneous distribution of transport, elastic and toughness properties.

Rock properties and in-situ stress state of the Egilabria Prospect, Lawn Hill Platform, Queensland

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam H. E. Bailey ◽  
Liuqi Wang ◽  
Lisa Hall ◽  
Paul Henson
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Stress ◽  
Rock Properties ◽  
Resource Potential ◽  
North West ◽  
Reservoir Volume ◽  
Geological Surveys ◽  
In Situ Stresses ◽  
Petroleum Resource ◽  
Gas Potential

The Energy component of Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program is aimed at improving our understanding of the petroleum resource potential of northern Australia, in partnership with the state and territory geological surveys. The sediments of the Mesoproterozoic South Nicholson Basin and the underlying Paleoproterozoic Isa Superbasin in the Northern Territory and Queensland are amongst the primary targets of the EFTF Energy program, as they are known to contain organic-rich sedimentary units with the potential to host unconventional gas plays, although their subsurface extent under the cover of the Georgina Basin is presently unknown. In order to economically produce from unconventional reservoirs, the petrophysical rock properties and in-situ stresses must be conducive to the creation of secondary permeability networks that connect a wellbore to as large a reservoir volume as possible. This study utilises data from the recently drilled Armour Energy wells Egilabria 2, Egilabria 2-DW1, and Egilabria 4 to constrain rock properties and in-situ stresses for the Isa Superbasin sequence where intersected on the Lawn Hill Platform of north-west Queensland. These results have implications for petroleum prospectivity in an area with proven gas potential, which are discussed here in the context of the rock properties and in-situ stresses desired for a viable shale gas play. In addition, these results are relevant to potential future exploration across the broader Isa Superbasin sequence.

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