Amongst the numerous existing methods to characterize fractured media,
previous work has demonstrated that geoelectrical measurements, acquired
either along the Earth's surface or in boreholes, may provide important
information regarding fracture network properties. However, the lack of
numerical approaches adapted to the strong contrast in geometrical and
electrical properties between the fractures and the rock matrix prevents
us from systematically exploring the links between geoelectrical
measurements and fractured rock properties. To address this issue, we
present a highly computationally efficient methodology for the numerical
simulation of geoelectrical data in 2.5-D complex fractured domains. Our
approach is based upon a discrete-dual-porosity formulation, whereby the
fractures and rock matrix are treated separately and coupled through the
exchange of electric current between them. Our methodology is validated
against standard analytical and finite-element solutions and used to
simulate geoelectrical data for a variety of different fracture
configurations. This results in demonstrating the sensitivity of these
data to important parameters such as the fracture density, depth, and
orientation, and in opening new perspectives in terms of the inversion
of geoelectrical data in order to characterize fractured rocks.