Estimating fluid flow rates through fracture networks using combinatorial optimization
Abstract
To enable fast uncertainty quantification of fluid flow in a discrete fracture network (DFN), we present two approaches to quickly compute fluid flow in DFNs using combinatorial optimization algorithms. Specifically, the presented Hanan Shortest Path Maxflow (HSPM) and Intersection Shortest Path Maxflow (ISPM) methods translate DFN geometries and properties to a graph on which a max flow algorithm computes a combinatorial flow, from which an overall fluid flow rate is estimated using a shortest path decomposition of this flow. The two approaches are assessed by comparing their predictions with results from explicit numerical simulations of simple test cases as well as stochastic DFN realizations covering a range of fracture densities. Both methods have a high accuracy and very low computational cost, which can facilitate much-needed in-depth analyses of the propagation of uncertainty in fracture and fracture-network properties to fluid flow rates.
- Publication:
-
Advances in Water Resources
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.advwatres.2018.10.002
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1801.08321
- Bibcode:
- 2018AdWR..122...85H
- Keywords:
-
- Discrete fracture networks;
- Fluid flow;
- Permeability;
- Combinatorial optimization;
- Numerical methods;
- Physics - Geophysics;
- 8608 (Primary) 8604 (Secondary)
- E-Print:
- doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2018.10.002