Computing Pressure Front Propagation Using the Diffusive-Time-of-Flight in Structured and Unstructured Grid Systems via the Fast-Marching Method

Abstract

Summary Diffusive-time-of-flight (DTOF), representing the travel time of pressure front propagation, has found many applications in unconventional reservoir performance analysis. The computation of DTOF typically involves upwind finite difference of the Eikonal equation and solution using the fast-marching method (FMM). However, the application of the finite difference-based FMM to irregular grid systems remains a challenge. In this paper, we present a novel and robust method for solving the Eikonal equation using finite volume discretization and the FMM. The implementation is first validated with analytical solutions using isotropic and anisotropic models with homogeneous reservoir properties. Consistent DTOF distributions are obtained between the proposed approach and the analytical solutions. Next, the implementation is applied to unconventional reservoirs with hydraulic and natural fractures. Our approach relies on cell volumes and connections (transmissibilities) rather than the grid geometry, and thus can be easily applied to complex grid systems. For illustrative purposes, we present applications of the proposed method to embedded discrete fracture models (EDFMs), dual-porosity dual-permeability models (DPDK), and unstructured perpendicular-bisectional (PEBI) grids with heterogeneous reservoir properties. Visualization of the DTOF provides flow diagnostics, such as evolution of the drainage volume of the wells and well interactions. The novelty of the proposed approach is its broad applicability to arbitrary grid systems and ease of implementation in commercial reservoir simulators. This makes the approach well-suited for field applications with complex grid geometry and complex well architecture.