Improved Understanding of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs Using Data Assimilation

Abstract

Naturally fractured reservoirs can pose challenges for energy operations such as hydrocarbon production, CO2 storage, and geothermal energy production. Fluid flow in these reservoirs is greatly affected by fracture properties such as orientation and aperture, whose magnitude is mainly influenced by the stresses on the reservoir rocks. Simulating fractures and their behavior tends to be computationally intensive, but recent advances in Discrete Fracture Models (DFM) have successfully overcome computational complexity and allow for the explicit inclusion of discrete fractures in reservoir simulations. However, there are still challenges in dealing with uncertainties, including fracture aperture and the effect of in-situ stresses on the fracture surface and their effect on the fluid behavior. This study explores the use of data-assimilation techniques to help quantify these uncertainties. We combine a recent implementation of DFM on the Delft Advanced Research Terra Simulator (DARTS) with both ensemble and gradientbased data-assimilation methods. Our results show that data assimilation can help to understand the dynamic behavior of fluids in fractured reservoirs. Using this technique, we obtain a more accurate representation of the stresses acting on the reservoir and how they affect the fracture aperture. This information is essential for more efficient reservoir management.