Numerical simulation of compositional flow in shale gas-condensate reservoirs using generic projection-based embedded discrete fracture model

Abstract

Current commercial and in-house numerical simulators often employ discrete fracture models (DFM) and embedded discrete fracture models (EDFM) for flow simulation in fractured reservoirs. However, a generic projection-based embedded discrete fracture model (pEDFM), which outperforms both DFM and EDFM in any flow scenario, has not yet been integrated into these simulators. In this paper, we introduce a pioneering development of a novel numerical simulation approach specifically tailored for generic pEDFM, designed to enhance gas injection energy in shale gas-condensate reservoirs. This method is the first of its kind to seamlessly integrate pEDFM with a widely used commercial simulator, Computer Modeling Group. By doing so, we ensure not only the practical applicability of the generic pEDFM simulation in the field but also address the challenges associated with developing additional high-performance nonlinear solvers. Three numerical examples demonstrate the advantages of this novel method: compared to DFM, it does not require the generation of grids that match the morphology of the fracture network, thereby reducing computational costs and convergence difficulties; compared to EDFM, it can simulate with much higher accuracy the impact of high- and low-conductivity fractures on compositional flow; and compared to local grid refinement, it can handle more complex fracture patterns. Theoretically, this method is the optimal numerical simulation tool in terms of comprehensive computational performance for research on gas injection energy supplementation in fractured gas-condensate reservoirs.