A computational model for coupled multiphysics processes of CO2 sequestration in fractured porous media

In this paper, a computational model for the simulation of coupled hydromechanical and electrokinetic flow in fractured porous media is introduced. Particular emphasis is placed on modeling CO₂ flow in a deformed, fractured geological formation and the associated electrokinetic flow. The governing field equations are derived based on the averaging theory and the double porosity model. They are solved numerically with a mixed discretization scheme, formulated on the basis of the standard Galerkin finite element method, the extended finite element method, the level-set method and the Petrov–Galerkin method. The standard Galerkin method is utilized to discretize the equilibrium and the diffusive dominant field equations, and the extended finite element method, together with the level-set method and the Petrov–Galerkin method, are utilized to discretize the advective dominant field equations. The level-set method is employed to trace the CO₂ plume front, and the extended finite element method is employed to model the high gradient in the saturation field front. The proposed mixed discretization scheme leads to a convergent system, giving a stable and effectively mesh-independent model. The accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed model is evaluated by verification and numerical examples. Effects of the fracture spacing on the CO₂ flow and the streaming potential are discussed.     

Hydro‐mechanical modeling of cohesive crack propagation in multiphase porous media using the extended finite element method

In this paper, a numerical model is developed for the fully coupled hydro‐mechanical analysis of deformable, progressively fracturing porous media interacting with the flow of two immiscible, compressible wetting and non‐wetting pore fluids, in which the coupling between various processes is taken into account. The governing equations involving the coupled solid skeleton deformation and two‐phase fluid flow in partially saturated porous media including cohesive cracks are derived within the framework of the generalized Biot theory. The fluid flow within the crack is simulated using the Darcy law in which the permeability variation with porosity because of the cracking of the solid skeleton is accounted. The cohesive crack model is integrated into the numerical modeling by means of which the nonlinear fracture processes occurring along the fracture process zone are simulated. The solid phase displacement, the wetting phase pressure and the capillary pressure are taken as the primary variables of the three‐phase formulation. The other variables are incorporated into the model via the experimentally determined functions, which specify the relationship between the hydraulic properties of the fracturing porous medium, that is saturation, permeability and capillary pressure. The spatial discretization is implemented by employing the extended finite element method, and the time domain discretization is performed using the generalized Newmark scheme to derive the final system of fully coupled nonlinear equations of the hydro‐mechanical problem. It is illustrated that by allowing for the interaction between various processes, that is the solid skeleton deformation, the wetting and the non‐wetting pore fluid flow and the cohesive crack propagation, the effect of the presence of the geomechanical discontinuity can be completely captured. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

扩展有限元法的数值方面

扩展有限元法是一种在常规有限元框架内求解强和弱不连续问题的新型数值方法,其原理是在裂尖附近用一些奇异函数和沿裂纹面用阶跃函数加强传统有限元的基,以考虑跨过裂纹的位移场的不连续,该加强策略允许计算网格独立于不连续体几何。讨论了扩展有限元法的一些数值方面,主要包括：水平集法确定界面和加强节点与加强方式、裂尖加强范围的选择、J积分区域的确定和积分方案等。     

准脆性地层中水平井多段水压致裂的扩展有限元法模拟

在实际的水力压裂过程中,裂缝总是沿着垂直于最小地应力的方向扩展,地应力的分布形式和多个压裂段之间的互相影响(应力阴影效应)对于形成复杂的裂缝网络具有重要的影响。本文基于扩展有限单元法(XFEM)模拟页岩等多孔介质在水压作用下裂缝的任意扩展,由于在传统有限元法的基础上引入了扩充自由度和可以描述间断的位移阶跃函数,所以裂缝可以独立于网格扩展,而不需要重新剖分网格。通过引入一维流动假设,求解润滑方程,并考虑流体在裂缝内的流动。同时也考虑裂缝向基质中流动的滤失效应。研究实际施工中不同段间距下裂缝的扩展模式和段间距对裂缝形态的影响,结果表明,压裂段间距过小时中间的裂缝会被屏蔽;此外,裂缝会由于应力阴影效应而发生转向。     

Coupled hydromechanical‐fracture simulations of nonplanar three‐dimensional hydraulic fracture propagation

This paper presents an algorithm and a fully coupled hydromechanical‐fracture formulation for the simulation of three‐dimensional nonplanar hydraulic fracture propagation. The propagation algorithm automatically estimates the magnitude of time steps such that a regularized form of Irwin's criterion is satisfied along the predicted 3‐D fracture front at every fracture propagation step. A generalized finite element method is used for the discretization of elasticity equations governing the deformation of the rock, and a finite element method is adopted for the solution of the fluid flow equation on the basis of Poiseuille's cubic law. Adaptive mesh refinement is used for discretization error control, leading to significantly fewer degrees of freedom than available nonadaptive methods. An efficient computational scheme to handle nonlinear time‐dependent problems with adaptive mesh refinement is presented. Explicit fracture surface representations are used to avoid mapping of 3‐D solutions between generalized finite element method meshes. Examples demonstrating the accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency of the proposed formulation, regularized Irwin's criterion, and propagation algorithm are presented.     

Comparison of continuous and discontinuous constitutive models to simulate concrete behaviour under mixed‐mode failure conditions

The paper presents detailed FE simulation results of concrete elements under mixed‐mode failure conditions according to the so‐called shear‐tension test by Nooru‐Mohamed, characterized by curved cracks. A continuous and discontinuous numerical two‐dimensional approach was used. In order to describe the concrete's behaviour within continuum mechanics, two different constitutive models were used. First, an elasto‐plastic model with isotropic hardening and softening was assumed. In a compression regime, a Drucker–Prager criterion with a non‐associated flow rule was used. In turn, in a tensile regime, a Rankine criterion with an associated flow rule was adopted. Second, an isotropic damage constitutive model was applied with a single scalar damage parameter and different definitions of the equivalent strain. Both constitutive laws were enriched by a characteristic length of micro‐structure to capture properly strain localization. As an alternative approach, the extended finite element method was used. Our results were compared with the experimental ones and with results of other FE simulations reported in the literature. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Frictional slip plane growth by localization detection and the extended finite element method (XFEM)

This paper is concerned with developing a numerical tool for detecting instabilities in elasto‐plastic solids (with an emphasis on soils) and inserting a discontinuity at these instabilities allowing the boundary value problem to proceed beyond these instabilities. This consists of implementing an algorithm for detection of strong discontinuities within a finite element (FE) framework. These discontinuities are then inserted into the FE problem through the use of a displacement field enrichment technique called the extended finite element method (XFEM). The newly formed discontinuities are governed by a Mohr–Coulomb frictional law that is enforced by a penalty method. This implementation within an FE framework is then tested on a compressive soil block and a soil slope where the discontinuity is inserted and grown according to the localization detection. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three-phase XFEM model for hydraulic fracturing with cohesive crack propagation

A three-phase hydro-mechanical model for hydraulic fracturing is proposed. Three phases include: porous solid, fracturing fluid and host fluid. Discontinuity is handled using extended finite element method (XFEM) while cohesive crack model is used as fracturing criterion. Flow through fracture is defined as one-dimensional laminar flow, and flow through porous medium (host reservoir) is defined as two-dimensional Darcy flow. Coupling between two fluids in each space, fracture and pore, is captured through capillary pressure–saturation relationship, while the identical fluids in fracture and pore are coupled through a so-called leak-off mass transfer term. Coupling between fluids and deformation is captured through compatibility of volumetric strain of fluids within fracture and pore, and volumetric strain of the matrix. Spatial and temporal discretisation is achieved using the standard Galerkin method and the finite difference technique, respectively. The model is verified against analytical solutions available from literature. The leaking of fracturing fluid into the medium and suction of porous fluid into the fracture around the tip, are investigated. Sensitivity analyses are carried out for cases with slow and fast injection rates. It is shown that the results by single-phase flow may underestimate the leak-off.     

Coupled formulation and algorithms for the simulation of non‐planar three‐dimensional hydraulic fractures using the generalized finite element method

This paper presents a coupled hydro‐mechanical formulation for the simulation of non‐planar three‐dimensional hydraulic fractures. Deformation in the rock is modeled using linear elasticity, and the lubrication theory is adopted for the fluid flow in the fracture. The governing equations of the fluid flow and elasticity and the subsequent discretization are fully coupled. A Generalized/eXtended Finite Element Method (G/XFEM) is adopted for the discretization of the coupled system of equations. A Newton–Raphson method is used to solve the resulting system of nonlinear equations. A discretization strategy for the fluid flow problem on non‐planar three‐dimensional surfaces and a computationally efficient strategy for handling time integration combined with mesh adaptivity are also presented. Several three‐dimensional numerical verification examples are solved. The examples illustrate the generality and accuracy of the proposed coupled formulation and discretization strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of non‐planar three‐dimensional hydraulic fracture propagation

Hydraulic fracturing is the method of choice to enhance reservoir permeability and well efficiency for extraction of shale gas. Multi‐stranded non‐planar hydraulic fractures are often observed in stimulation sites. Non‐planar fractures propagating from wellbores inclined from the direction of maximum horizontal stress have also been reported. The pressure required to propagate non‐planar fractures is in general higher than in the case of planar fractures. Current computational methods for the simulation of hydraulic fractures generally assume single, symmetric, and planar crack geometries. In order to better understand hydraulic fracturing in complex‐layered naturally fractured reservoirs, fully 3D models need to be developed. In this paper, we present simulations of 3D non‐planar fracture propagation using an adaptive generalized FEM. This method greatly facilitates the discretization of complex 3D fractures, as finite element faces are not required to fit the crack surfaces. A solution strategy for fully automatic propagation of arbitrary 3D cracks is presented. The fracture surface on which pressure is applied is also automatically updated at each step. An efficient technique to numerically integrate boundary conditions on crack surfaces is also proposed and implemented. Strongly graded localized refinement and analytical asymptotic expansions are used as enrichment functions in the neighborhood of fracture fronts to increase the computational accuracy and efficiency of the method. Stress intensity factors with pressure on crack faces are extracted using the contour integral method. Various non‐planar crack geometries are investigated to demonstrate the robustness and flexibility of the proposed simulation methodology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.