Simulation of Hydraulic Fracture Networks in Three Dimensions Utilizing Massively Parallel Computing Resources

This paper describes verification of a fully three-dimensional, massively parallel, finite element based simulation framework (GEOS) for addressing the fully coupled, hydro-mechanical behavior of jointed and fractured unconventional reservoirs to hydraulic stimulation. Unlike many common engineering tools, GEOS is not restricted to planar or single fracture propagation or to simple models of material behavior, making it appropriate for simulation of a wide range of problems that require a general treatment. Additionally, the massively parallel nature of the calculations allows the code to address problems up to reservoir scale on large-scale computer clusters. The code is shown here to reproduce analytical solutions for radial and lateral fracture propagation. An example is also given to demonstrate the interplay between the propagation of multiple hydraulically driven radial fractures and the accompanying changes in the stress orientation that moderate their growth.