Modeling interactions of natural and two-phase fluid-filled fracture propagation in porous media

In this paper, a novel computational framework is introduced for simulation of multiphase flow, geomechanics, and fracture propagation in porous media based on Biot's model for poroelasticity by focusing on interactions between hydraulic and natural fractures. Since realistic porous media contain many natural fractures, it is important not only to stimulate hydraulic fractures but also to study the interaction between natural and hydraulic fractures. Here, state-of-the-art numerical modeling of natural and hydraulic fractures using a diffusive adaptive finite element phase field approach is employed. The locally mass conservative enriched Galerkin finite element methods (EG) are utilized to model two-phase flow in propagating fractures with relative permeability and capillary pressure. Geomechanics approximated by a continuous Galerkin finite element method is coupled to multiphase flow by applying an iteratively coupled scheme. Numerical examples are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of this framework for different propagation scenarios by varying the degrees of physics. In addition, the capabilities to perform high-fidelity simulations on complex fracture networks, with randomly joined diffusive natural fractures, are illustrated.

Automated summary

This paper introduces a novel computational framework for simulating multiphase flow, geomechanics, and fracture propagation in porous media based on Biot's model for poroelasticity, focusing on interactions between hydraulic and natural fractures. State-of-the-art numerical modeling of natural and hydraulic fractures is employed, along with locally mass conservative enriched Galerkin finite element methods to model two-phase flow in propagating fractures. The effectiveness of the framework for different propagation scenarios and complex fracture networks is demonstrated through numerical examples.