A stochastic sequential Discrete Fracture Network simulation: impact on fracture spatial correlation and network connectivity.

@inproceedings{BonneauGM2014,
 abstract = { This paper presents a stochastic sequential approach to simulate Discrete Fracture Networks (DFNs). Our approach drives DFN simulations in order to reproduce both the network statistics (such as fracture dip, strike and density inferred from field observations and analogs) and the hierarchical organization of fracture systems. Natural fractures appear and grow gradually when the stress intensity reaches the fracture toughness. Older fractures, because of their influence on both stress field and rock coherence, impact later fracture initiation. In the early stage of the process a few 3D discrete fractures are simulated. The implantation of new fractures is more (respectively less) likely in the stress accumulation zone (respectively the shadow zone) of previously simulated fractures. This sequential seeding of 3D objects yields a hierarchical organisation in the simulated DFN. We show that such a process affects the properties of the simulated DFN as comprared to classical DFN simulation techniques. We perform empirically simulation parameters that lead to sensitivity study to identify the emergence of fractal geometry. Finally, we study the impact of spatial correlations, that emerge from the sequential process, on DFNs connectivity and percolation. We show that correlated DFNs reach the percolation state with a reduced percolation threshold as compared to uncorrelated ones. },
 author = { Bonneau, Francois AND Caumon, Guillaume AND Renard, Philippe },
 booktitle = { Proc. 34th Gocad Meeting, Nancy },
 title = { A stochastic sequential Discrete Fracture Network simulation: impact on fracture spatial correlation and network connectivity. },
 year = { 2014 }
}