An Integrally Embedded Discrete Fracture Model with a Semi-Analytic Transmissibility Calculation Method

The embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) combines the advantages of previous numerical models for fractured reservoirs, achieving a good balance between calculation cost and simulation accuracy. In this work, an integrally embedded discrete fracture model (iEDFM) is introduced to further improve the simulation accuracy and expand the application of the model. The iEDFM has a new gridding method that can arbitrarily grid the fractures according to the requirements rather than finely subdividing fracture elements. Then, with a more precise pressure distribution assumption inside the matrix blocks, we are able to obtain a semi-analytic calculation method of matrix-fracture transmissibility applied to iEDFM. Several case studies were conducted to demonstrate the advantage of iEDFM and its applicability for intersecting and nonplanar fractured reservoirs, and a 3D case with a modified dataset from a reported seismic survey could be used to demonstrate the potential application of the iEDFM in real field studies.