Abstract
This paper presents a numerical model for simulating fluid flow and production from naturally fractured reservoir based on a flux continuous control volume mixed finite element approach. The main features of the present model are that it accounts for the heterogeneity of the fractured media by applying effective permeability tensor in each grid block and allows the direct calculation of fluid flow velocity. Flux continuous control volume mixed finite element technique is used to simultaneously solve two coupled partial differential equations for fluid pressure and velocity. Effective permeability tensor represents directional permeability in fractured media. Thus the model overcomes the existing problems in previous models in relation to irregular fracture patterns, flow interactions between matrix and fractures and effects of fracture characteristics (dimension, density and orientation). The model is validated against data published in literature and applied to a typical naturally fractured reservoir, where the fracture network was characterized by a hybrid object-based fracture characterization technique.
