Skip to main content
Log in

G23FM: a tool for meshing complex geological media

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Computational Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present G23FM, a mesh generation tool for discretizing two- and three-dimensional complex fractured geological media. G23FM includes different techniques to generate finite element grids that maintain the geometric integrity of input surfaces, and geologic data and produce optimal triangular/tetrahedral grids for flow and transport simulations. G23FM generates grid for two-dimensional cross-sections, represents faults and fractures, for three-dimensional fractured media, and has the capability of including finer grids. Different examples are presented to illustrate some of the main features of G23FM.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Berkowitz, B.: Characterizing flow and transport in fractured geological media: a review. Adv. Water Resour. 25, 861–884 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Berkowitz, B., Bour, O., Davy, P., Odling, N.: Scaling of fracture connectivity in geological formations. Geophys. Res. Lett. 27, 2061–2064 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bonnet, E., Bour, O., Odling, N.E., Davy, P., Main, I., Cowie, P., et al.: Scaling of fracture systems in geological media. Rev. Geophys. 39, 347–383 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bour, O., Davy, P., Darcel, C., Odling, N.: A statistical scaling model for fracture network geometry, with validation on a multiscale mapping of a joint network (Hornelen Basin, Norway). J. Geophys. Res. 107(B6), 2113 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Desbarats, A.J., Dimitrakopoulos, R.: Geostatistical modeling of transmissibility for two-dimensional reservoir studies. SPE Form. Eval. 5, 437–443 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dowd, P.A., Xu, C., Mardia, K., Fowell, R.J.: A comparison of methods for the stochastic simulation of rock fractures. Math. Geol. 39, 697–714 (2007)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Frey, P.: MEDIT: An Interactive Mesh Visualization Software, p. 44. User’s manual (2004)

  8. Frey, P.J., George, P.L.: Mesh Generation: Application to Finite Elements, p. 816. Hermes Science, Oxford (2000)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. Graf, T., Therrien, R.: A method to discretize non-planar fractures for 3D subsurface flow and transport simulations. Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids 56, 2069–2090 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Hoteit, H., Firoozabadi, A.: Numerical modeling of diffusion in fractured media for gas injection and recycling schemes. SPE J. 14(2), 323–337 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Karimi-Fard, M., Firoozabadi, A.: Numerical simulation of water injection in 2D fractured media using discrete fracture model. SPE Reserv. Evalu. Eng. 4, 117–126 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Matsuura, T., Tezuka, K., Tamagawa, T.: Naturally fractured reservoir modeling using static and dynamic data. Sekiyu Gijutsu Kyokaishi Journal 68(6), 479–488 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Michael, S., Riley, M.: An algorithm for generating rock fracture patterns: mathematical analysis. Math. Geol. 36, 683–702 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Mustapha, H.: Simulation numérique de l’écoulement dans des milieux fracturés tridimensionnels. Thèse de Doctorat de l’Universite de Rennes, France (2005)

  15. Mustapha, H., Mustapha, K.: A new approach to simulating flow in discrete fracture networks with an optimized mesh. SIAM J. Sci. Comput. 29(4), 1439–1459 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. Mustapha, H., Dimitrakopoulos, R.: Discretizing two-dimensional complex fractured fields for incompressible two-phase flow. Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids (2009). doi:10.1002/fld.2197

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mustapha, H., Dimitrakopoulos, R., Graf, T., Firoozabadi, A.: An efficient method for discretizing 3D fractured media for subsurface flow and transport simulations. Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids (2010). doi:10.1002/fld.2383

    Google Scholar 

  18. Reichenberger, V., Jakobs, H., Bastian, P., Helmig, R.: A mixed-dimensional finite volume method for two-phase flow in fractured porous media. Adv. Water Resour. 29, 1020–1036 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Silliman, S.E., Berkowitz, B.: The impact of biased sampling on the estimation of the semivariogram within fractured media containing multiple fracture sets 1. Math. Geol. 32, 543–560 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Maryška, J., Severýn, O., Vohralík, M.: Mixed-hybrid finite elements and streamline computation for the potential flow problem. Comput. Geosci. 18(8/3), 217–234 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hussein Mustapha.

Additional information

The code will be available at: http://cosmo.mcgill.ca/.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mustapha, H. G23FM: a tool for meshing complex geological media. Comput Geosci 15, 385–397 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-010-9210-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-010-9210-6

Keywords

Navigation