Landmark Graphics Corporation

Other

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Michael Loyd Brewer

Steven Ward

Steven Bryan Ward

Dominic Camilleri

Gerrick Bivins

Amit Kumar

Steven B Ward

Hybrid 3D geocellular grids are generated to represent a subset of a natural fracture network ('NFN') directly in the simulation, while the remainder of the NFN is approximated by a multi-continuum formulation. The resulting output is a 3D geocellular grid that possesses a higher level of mesh resolution in those areas surrounding the first fracture subsets, and lower mesh resolution in the areas of the second fracture subset.

Hybrid 3D geocellular representation of selected natural fracture network subsets

One example herein involves a method that includes identifying, based on a received reservoir specification: a set fractures including 2.5 dimensional (2.5D)-permitting fractures; and other fractures. The method further includes generating an intermediate reservoir model including an extrusion mesh which models the 2.5D-permitting fractures in a three-dimensional (3D) space. In response to determining that cells in the mesh should be refined in a direction within the 3D space, the method anisotropically refines cells in the mesh corresponding to the other fractures. The method also includes resolving a fracture network within the intermediate reservoir model using the refined cells and then generating a reservoir earth model using the fracture network.

Reservoir mesh creation using extended anisotropic, geometry-adaptive refinement of polyhedra

The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating multiple correlated meshes around complex and discrete fractures for the purpose of reservoir simulation. In an initial two-stage process, a 2.5-dimensional mesher algorithm, may be used in conjunction with an extended anisotropic geometry-adaptive refinement algorithm to produce, from a structured grid Earth Model, a refined reservoir model. Fractures may be modeled as a volumetric mesh that is independent of the refined reservoir model. Thereafter, the two independent, overlapping meshes are combined by forming matrix-matrix, fracture-fracture, and matrix-fracture connections to form a single model to allow rapid simulation of an extremely complex fracture network with sufficiently accurate results.

Simulating fractured reservoirs using multiple meshes

The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating hybrid computational meshes around complex and discrete fractures for the purpose of reservoir simulation. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes a method that comprises receiving a set of 3D fracture surfaces with geometry that has been discretized in a 2D manifold by a collection of polygons. The method defines a family of non-intersecting 2D slicing surfaces for slicing the set of 3D fracture surfaces. The method then uses the intersection of the 2D slicing surface with the 2D manifolds defining the fracture surfaces to create a set of 2D fractures on each slicing surface. Following a series of steps, the method generates three-dimensional shells connecting a set of stadia corresponding to each fracture on each 2D slicing surface to a corresponding set of stadia on a neighboring 2D slicing surface for creating a three-dimensional model.

Lofting algorithm for discrete network meshing

The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating hybrid computational meshes around complex and discrete fractures for the purpose of reservoir simulation. For example, one embodiment is a computer-implemented method for modeling three-dimensional (3D) geological fractures. The method includes the steps of receiving a set of fractures with geometry that has been discretized in a two-dimensional plane by a collection of line segments. The method generates closed loops around all the line segments associated with a fracture using a set of stadia and further generates shape elements within the closed loops. A constrained mesh around the closed loops of the set of fracture is generated to fill in a remainder space of the two-dimensional plane. The cell elements in the two-dimensional plane can then be extruded in a third dimension to form a three-dimensional model usable for performing reservoir simulations.

2.5D stadia meshing

A system and method inserts fracture networks into an existing Earth Model that exists as a structured grid and physical property values. The fracture network is in the form of a surface mesh (manifold or non-manifold) in a three-dimensional ('3D') space. The structured grid of the Earth Model is then anisotropically refined to resolve the fractures and to provide appropriate cell grading in the near-fracture region. The generated Earth Model may be utilized in a variety of applications, including for example, a reservoir simulation.

Anisotropic geometry-adaptive refinement for reservoir mesh creation

The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for modeling three dimensional objects, such as, but not limited to, fractures, for the purpose of reservoir simulation. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes a method that receives a set of 3D fractures with geometry that has been discretized by 2D surfaces by a collection of polygonal facets, generates a set of 3D stadia at specified radii around each facet in the collection of polygonal facet, generates closed 3D stadia surfaces around intersecting facets, discretizes all 3D stadia surfaces using various shape cells, generates 3D cells within each of the closed 3D stadia surfaces, and assigns each cell reservoir properties suitable for a numeric simulation program, such as, but not limited to, Nexus&#xae; Reservoir Simulation Software.

3D stadia algorithm for discrete network meshing

A rotatable engine holding assembly for permitting rotation of an engine while the engine is being held above a support surface. The rotatable engine holding assembly includes a support frame having an attachment assembly couplable to an engine block to hold the engine. The assembly includes a rotatable axle coupling the attachment assembly to the support frame to permit rotation of the engine while the engine is being held.

Growing community of inventors

Katy, TX, United States of America

Michael Loyd Brewer