Physically rigorous reduced-order flow models of fractured subsurface environments without explosive computational cost
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Fractured media models comprise discontinuities of multiple lengths (e.g. fracture lengths and apertures, wellbore area) that fall into the relatively insignificant length scales spanning millimeter-scale fractures to centimeter-scale wellbores in comparison to the extensions of the field of interest, and challenge the conventional discretization methods imposing highly-fine meshing and formidably large numerical cost. By utilizing the recent developments in the finite element analysis of electromagnetics that allow to represent material properties on a hierarchical geometry, this project develops computational capabilities to model fluid flow, heat conduction, transport and induced polarization in large-scale geologic environments that possess geometrically-complex fractures and man-made infrastructures without explosive computational cost. The computational efficiency and robustness of this multi-physics modeling tool are demonstrated by considering various highly-realistic complex geologic environments that are common in many energy and national security related engineering problems.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Sandia National Laboratories, Carlsbad, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- NA0003525
- OSTI ID:
- 1886999
- Report Number(s):
- SAND2022-12255; 709754
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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