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An Equivalent Pipe Network Modeling Approach for Characterizing Fluid Flow through Three-Dimensional Fracture Networks: Verification and Applications

Authors :
Jing Zhang
Richeng Liu
Liyuan Yu
Shuchen Li
Xiaolin Wang
Ding Liu
Source :
Water; Volume 14; Issue 10; Pages: 1582
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

The equivalent pipe network (EPN) model is an effective way to model fluid flow in large-scale fractured rock masses with a complex fracture network due to its straightforwardness and computational efficiency. This study presents the EPN model for characterizing fluid flow through three-dimensional fracture networks using the Monte-Carlo method. The EPN model is extracted from an original three-dimensional discrete fracture network (DFN) model and is used to simulate the fluid flow processes. The validity of the proposed EPN modeling approach is verified via the comparisons of permeability (k) with analytical solutions and simulation results reported in the literature. The results show that the numerically calculated k using EPN models agrees well with the analytical values of simplified DFN models and the simulation results of complex DFN models. The k increases following an exponential function with the increment of mean length of exponentially distributed fractures (u), which is strongly correlated with fracture density (P32) and average intersection length (Li). The P32 increases in an exponential way with the increment of u. The Li increases as u increases, following a power-law function. The increment of u leads to the increment of a number of long fractures in three-dimensional DFN models. A larger u results in a denser fracture network and a stronger conductivity when the number and length distribution range of fractures remain the same. The representative elementary volumes (REVs) of three-dimensional DFN models with u = 9 m and P32 = 0.4 m2/m3 are determined as 2.36 × 104 m3, 9.16 × 103 m3, and 1.26 × 104 m3 in 3 flow directions, respectively.

Details

ISSN :
20734441
Volume :
14
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Water
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....c80c55d9054d7edac8e95571171f5325
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/w14101582