Differences in the permeability assessment of the fractured reservoir rocks using the conventional and the rough discrete fracture network modeling

Permeability assessment of naturally fractured rocks and fractured rocks after fracturing is critical to the development of oil and gas resources. In this paper, based on the discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling method, the conventional discrete fracture network (C-DFN) and the rough discrete fracture network (R-DFN) models are established. Through the seepage numerical simulation of the fractured rocks under different DFN, the differences in permeability of the fractured rocks under different parameters and their parameter sensitivity are analyzed and discussed. The results show that unconnected and independent fractures in the fracture network may weaken the seepage capacity of the fractured rocks. The fractured rock permeability increases with increase in connectivity and porosity and decreases with increase in maximum branch length and fracture dip. The use of C-DFN to equate the fracture network in the fractured rocks may underestimate the connectivity of the fracture network. For the more realistic R-DFN, the promotion of gas flow by connectivity is dominant when connectivity is high, and the hindrance of gas flow by fracture roughness is dominant when connectivity is low or when it is a single fracture. The permeability of the fractured rocks with R-DFN is more sensitive to the parameters than that of the fractured rocks with C-DFN. The higher the connectivity and porosity of the fractured rocks, the more obvious the difference between the permeability of the fractured rocks evaluated by C-DFN and R-DFN.

Automated summary

Permeability assessment of naturally fractured rocks and fractured rocks after fracturing is critical to the development of oil and gas resources. This paper establishes conventional discrete fracture network (C-DFN) and rough discrete fracture network (R-DFN) models based on the discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling method. Through the seepage numerical simulation of the fractured rocks under different DFN, the differences in permeability of the fractured rocks under different parameters and their parameter sensitivity are analyzed and discussed. The results show that unconnected and independent fractures in the fracture network may weaken the seepage capacity of the fractured rocks. The use of C-DFN to equate the fracture network in the fractured rocks may underestimate the connectivity of the fracture network. For the more realistic R-DFN, the promotion of gas flow by connectivity is dominant when connectivity is high, and the hindrance of gas flow by fracture roughness is dominant when connectivity is low or when it is a single fracture. The permeability of the fractured rocks with R-DFN is more sensitive to the parameters than that of the fractured rocks with C-DFN. The higher the connectivity and porosity of the fractured rocks, the more obvious the difference between the permeability of the fractured rocks evaluated by C-DFN and R-DFN.