Fracture Modeling: Petrel 2011
Fracture Modeling Import/Display QC and use Fracture Initial Data Modeling Fracture
Intro Attribute Data Analysis Parameters
Fracture model with
Building Fracture Upscaling Multiple Fracture Simulation
Model Drivers
Overview
Upscaling for reservoir flow simulation
Upscaling process
– Fracture attributes (planes)
– Fracture properties (upscaled)
Upscaling methods
– ODA and flow based
– Limitations
Products
– Sigma factor.
Workflow
Fracture analysis Intensity property Fracture model
Upscaling
3D framework grid
Dual porosity simulation
(ECLIPSE)
Fracture properties
Matrix properties
Flow Simulation: General
Permeability Upscaling
Finite Element
Upscaling of permeability is more problematic in fractured reservoirs (single Phase)
than in conventional, single porosity reservoirs. Permeability of the
fracture system exhibits extreme scale sensitivity. Depending on the
simulation gridblock size (LG) vs. a fracture of length (Lf), there
might or might not be interblock connectivity.
LG LG
LG Finite Difference
(Multi Phase)
Lf Lf Lf
Lf > LG Lf = LG Lf < < LG
Dual porosity Dual porosity Single porosity
Upscaling Methods in Petrel: ODA
ODA method (Statistical)
Estimates permeability, based on the total area of discrete fractures in
each cell and performs a numerical integration over orientation
sectors for the implicit fractures.
Limitation
Does not account for the connectivity of fractures and can, therefore,
over-estimate fracture permeability when the intensity and/or
interconnectivity is low.
Note: The ODA method is a fast
statistical upscaling method that will
generate a result with both isolated
and interconnected fractures.
Upscaling Methods in Petrel: Flow Based
Flow-based method (Tensor upscaling)
Creates a finite element grid for each grid cell and simulates flow
under a pressure gradient, to calculate the permeability in each
of the given directions.
Limitation
Calculations are much slower, but take into account the full
geometry and percolation path of the system; can only be used
for upscaling discrete fracture planes.
Isolated fractures Percolation path Note: Frac size and number are
almost same, but no connectivity in
isolated fractures gives zero
permeability.
Grid cells can be too small or too
large relative to fracture connectivity.
Upscaling Process: Input
Purpose
The Scale up fracture network properties converts
the fracture model into new grid properties that
can be used in a Reservoir Simulation run.
Input
A fracture network model must be dropped in. The
3D grid from which it was generated will
automatically be chosen to upscale into.
Upscale from Methods
You can choose to upscale from only the DFN or the Oda can be used for all, but flow based
IFM or from the whole hybrid model (DFN + IFM). is limited to discrete planes only.
Note: The same grid used for generating the fracture model must be used for upscaling.
Alternatively, a coarser grid can be used, but through the Scale up properties process.
Upscaling Process: Output
Process
The generated properties are fracture porosity, fracture permeabilities, and sigma factor.
Property filter
Note: A Property filter can be applied on the 3D
grid to limit generation of fracture properties.
Sigma Factor Calculation
Sigma Factor
Sigma factor calculation per cell
The sigma factor is a connection factor
between the matrix and fracture
properties, describing how fluid flows
between matrix and fractures of a dual
porosity/permeability model in a porous The pseudo-steady state, analytically
medium. derived expression for sigma (shape) factor
in terms of fracture spacing (L) in x,y and z
Fracture permeability (Cells) directions.
1 1 1
s = 4 2 + 2 + 2
Sx S y Sz
Numerically derived expression: pi2 = 4
Sigma Factor (Cells)
Figure from Golder associates
