Research for Integrative Numerical Geology

Researches on fractures led to the developement of several tools.

Here is an exhaustive list of modules and project developed at RING for Fracture Network characterization and stochastic simulation.

Contact: Francois Bonneau

OpenGeode based Tools:

OpenGeode-FractModel: Expands the OpenGeode data model to manage Fractures, Fracture Sets and Fracture Networks.

OpenGeode-FractCar:

• Characterization tools for natural fracture Networks:
  • Classical Characterization metrics.
  • Connectivity analyzer
  • Extract Marked Point process from fractured models.
• Stochastic simulation rules for Discrete Fracture Network modeling
• Validation and building tools to create fractured models

RINGPointProcess:

• Stochastic simulation of Points and Segment Point Processes
• First and Second order Characterization tools.

Trainings on OpenGeode based tools

Skua Gocad based Tools:

FractCar: Plugin for the Skua-Gocad software providing:

• The data model to represent Fractures, Fracture sets, and Fracture Networks.
• The possibility to represent fractures with a pipe network and run some connectivity analysis.
• Several geomechanical tools in order to describe the natural fracture network parameters... Learn more in papers:
  • 3D Fracture Characterization Based on Geomechanics and Geologic Data Uncertainties
  • 3D Fracture Modeling Integrating Geomechanics and Geologic Data
• Discrete Fracture Simulation Tools:
  • Classical Marked Point Process simulation with planar fractures. It samples fracture density maps (with a Poisson point process) and fracture parameters distribution laws (with Monte Carlo sampling). Discrete fractures are hierarchically organized in fracture families that allow to reproduce the chronology of fracturing events.
  • Data conditionning Inclusion de données indirectes dans la simulation de réseaux de fractures discrets
  • Sequential seeding of fracture: Instead of simulating every fractures independently in the DFN. We proposed to do it sequentially. Fractures are simulated by decreasing size and the impact of objects on the surrounding rock is taken into account to simulates later fractures. We have show the chronology of fracture seeding have an impact on the fractal dimention of the network. Impact of a stochastic sequential initiation of fractures on the spatial correlations and connectivity of discrete fracture networks
  • Fracture growth and interactions: Fractures are not planar objects... We tests an algorithm the progressively grow fractures and compute the reoriention of objects due to their interacton. It allows to produce Hooked shape and definitly impact the connectivity of DFNs.A methodology for pseudo-genetic stochastic modeling of discrete fracture networks

Trainings on FractCar 

They did their PhD about fractures at RING:

• 2006 - Laetitia Mace : Caractérisation et modélisation numériques tridimensionnelles des réseaux de fractures naturelles : application au cas des réservoirs
• 2011 - Vincent Henrion : Approche pseudo-génétique pour la simulation stochastique de la géométrie 3D de réseaux fracturés et karstiques
• 2014 - Francois Bonneau : Inclusion de données indirectes dans la simulation de réseaux de fractures discrets