Abstract
: A fully implicit method for coupled fluid flow and geomechanical deformation in fractured porous media is presented. Finite-volume and finite-element discretization schemes are used, respectively, for the flow and mechanics problems. The discrete flow and mechanics problems share the same conformal unstructured mesh. The network of natural fractures is represented explicitly in the mesh. The behavior of the fractured medium due to changes in the fluid pressure, stress, and strain fields is investigated. The methodology is validated using simple cases for which analytical solutions are available, and also using more complex "realistic" test cases.
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2014. American Rock Mechanics Association
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