Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Gauthier D Becker

Hao Bin Huang

Rodrick Myers

Xiaohui Wu

Larisa V Branets

Dar-Lon Chang

Thomas C Halsey

Xiang Ma

Huafei Sun

Leonel A Gomez Torres

A method for modeling a subsurface reservoir system, the method including: generating, with a computer, a background mesh that does not honor at least one subsurface feature included in the subsurface reservoir system; splitting, with a computer, the background mesh along the subsurface feature included in the subsurface reservoir system such that a resulting mesh honors a geometry of the subsurface features; identifying, with a computer, element faces or edges where the resulting mesh is non-conforming and/or the element faces or edges lie on subsurface features; and performing a computer-based numerical simulation utilizing the resulting mesh to model at least one fluid-related or geomechanical reservoir response, wherein mass or traction balance is enforced on the identified element faces or edges.

Nitsche continuity enforcement for non-conforming meshes

Methods and systems for modeling and predicting fractures within the subsurface region are provided. The methods and systems use multi-layer models to represent stacks of layered rocks, which are used to evaluate shear tractions caused by the relatively higher lateral strains in a more compliant overlying or underlying adjacent layers. As the lateral strains can induce tensional stresses in the brittle layers that can exceed the rocks tensile strength and fail, the formation of natural fractures may be modeled. Accordingly, the method and system model fractures due to stacking using mechanical rock property information from well logs and simulating the farfield loading conditions using basin history.

Method and system for stacking fracture prediction

A method and system are described for creating a subsurface model and using the subsurface model in hydrocarbon operations. In the method and systems, a global model and one or more local models are obtained. A simulation is performed with the global model to generate global deformation results. The global deformation results are used to determine boundary conditions for the one or more local models. The one or more local models are simulated to generate local deformation results which include fracture characterization for the local model. The global model may or may not be updated based on the local deformation results from the simulation of the local model.

Method and system for forming and using a subsurface model in hydrocarbon operations

A method and system are described for characterizing fractures in subsurface regions, using the fracture characterizations in subsurface models, and using the subsurface models in hydrocarbon operations. In the methods and systems, one or more zones are identified in a subsurface model for fracture characterization; a multi-layer model is created for the selected zone; and macromechanical geological loads are applied and simulated to generate fractures for the zone.

Method and system for characterizing fractures in a subsurface region

A method and system are described for generating a geologic model having material properties for a faulted subsurface region. The method and system involve parameterizing corresponding fault surfaces and solving an energy optimization equation and/or conservation law equation for the corresponding fault surfaces based on parameterized nodes on the fault surfaces to generate a displacement map. The displacement map is used to map a geologic model from the physical space to the design space, where it is populated with material properties. The resulting populated geologic model may be used for hydrocarbon operations associated with the subsurface region.

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Gauthier D Becker