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Abstract
This thesis is aimed to calculate the effective permeability tensor and to simulate the fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs. This requires an understanding of the mechanisms of fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs and the detailed properties of individual fractures and matrix porous media. This study has been carried out to address the issues and difficulties faced by previous methods; to establish possible answers to minimise the difficulties; and hence, to improve the efficiency of reservoir simulation through the use of properties of individual fractures. The methodology used in this study combines several mathematical and numerical techniques like the boundary element method, periodic boundary conditions, and the control volume mixed finite element method. This study has contributed to knowledge in the calculation of the effective permeability and simulation of fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs through the development of two algorithms. The first algorithm calculates the effective permeability tensor by use of properties of arbitrary oriented fractures (location, size and orientation). It includes all multi-scaled fractures and considers the appropriate method of analysis for each type of fracture (short, medium and long). In this study a characterisation module which provides the detail information for individual fractures is incorporated. The effective permeability algorithm accounts for fluid flows in the matrix, between the matrix and the fracture and disconnected fractures on effective permeability. It also accounts for the properties of individual fractures in calculation of the effective permeability tensor. The second algorithm simulates flow of single-phase fluid in naturally fractured reservoirs by use of the effective permeability tensor. This algorithm takes full advantage of the control volume discretisation technique and the mixed finite element method in calculation of pressure and fluid flow velocity in each grid block. It accounts for the continuity of flux between the neighbouring blocks and has the advantage of calculation of fluid velocity and pressure, directly from a system of first order equations (Darcy’s law and conservation of mass’s law). The application of the effective permeability tensor in the second algorithm allows us the simulation of fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs with large number of multi-scale fractures. The fluid pressure and velocity distributions obtained from this study are important and can considered for further studies in hydraulic fracturing and production optimization of NFRs.