A Coupled Reservoir and Geomechanical Simulation System

TLDR

Current simulation models ignore interactions among geomechanics, formation fracturing, multiphase flow, and heat transfer in porous media. The paper proposes a modular coupling method between a commercial reservoir simulator, a 3D stress code, and a fracture‑propagation model. The authors implement an iterative coupling that is mathematically equivalent to a fully coupled flow–stress solution, accelerate it, and validate it on example cases. The iterative method is robust and yields significantly different, more realistic results compared to uncoupled solutions, as demonstrated in example studies. Limitations and future work are discussed.

Abstract

Summary Current simulation models do not account for the interactions among the geomechanical behavior, formation fracturing and multiphase flow, and heat transfer in porous media. This paper describes a method for modular coupling of a commercial reservoir simulator with a three-dimensional (3D) stress code and fracture-propagation model. The iteratively coupled system is equivalent to a fully coupled solution of flow and stress. The iterative method is very robust. An experience with acceleration of the iteration is described, and the utility of the method is demonstrated on examples. The comparison with an uncoupled solution shows that significantly different (and more realistic) answers are obtained with the coupled modeling. The current limitations and future work are also discussed.