A new mesh generation strategy and related algorithm for discrete fracture model in naturally fractured reservoir numerical simulation

Abstract

A new mesh generation strategy is presented in this paper: fractures and rock matrix are separated to generate mesh, and coupled by the fluid exchange between fractures and matrix. This method makes the mesh much simpler, and greatly decreases the computational complexity and increases computational speed. The principle of the new method is detailed discussed and the algorithm implementation of single phase fluid flow in porous medium is presented in this paper. The method is also applied to a simple case of naturally fractures reservoir simulation, results show that the method presented in this paper is applicable to simulate fluid flowing in fractured reservoir. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.