The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 25, 2020
Filed:
Feb. 18, 2015
Repsol, S.a., Madrid, ES;
Universidad Politécnica DE Cataluña, Barcelona, ES;
Lakshmikantha Mookanahallipatna Ramasesha, Madrid, ES;
José María Segura Serra, Madrid, ES;
Jose Alvarellos Iglesias, Madrid, ES;
Ignacio Carol Vilarasau, Barcelona, ES;
Pere Prat Catalan, Barcelona, ES;
Ignasi Aliguer Piferrer, Barcelona, ES;
Daniel Garolera Vinent, Barcelona, ES;
REPSOL, S.A., Madrid, ES;
UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA, Barcelona, ES;
Abstract
The object of the invention is a method implemented in a computer for the numerical simulation of a porous medium that may comprise multiple interacting hydraulic fractures in continuous or naturally fractured medium. The method calculates numerically the propagation of a crack, or set of cracks, for instance under the fluid pressure imposed artificially through a well or perforation in a rock mass. This is accomplished by using the Finite Element Method and the special elements named zero-thickness interface or joint elements in the specialized literature, which are pre-inserted along all potential crack paths in the rock mass (pre-existing natural and artificial fractures plus main potential new fracture paths).