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Impacts of T-type Intersections on the Connectivity and Flow in Complex Fracture Networks
  • +2
  • Weiwei Zhu,
  • Zhiqiang Chen,
  • Yafan Yang,
  • Wenbo Gong,
  • Moran Wang
Weiwei Zhu
Tsinghua University
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Zhiqiang Chen
Tsinghua University
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Yafan Yang
China University Of Mining And Technology, Xuzhou
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Wenbo Gong
China University of Mining & Technology
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Moran Wang
Tsinghua University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

T-type intersections are commonly observed in natural fracture networks. Their impacts on the connectivity and flow results in complex fracture networks are rarely investigated. In this work, we implement the discrete fracture network method to construct complex fracture networks, denoted as original fracture networks. By implementing the rule-based fracture growth algorithm, we generate the corresponding kinematic fracture networks with a substantial proportion of T-type intersections. The connectivity and flow results of both the single-phase and two-phase flow simulations in these two types of fracture networks are systematically investigated. The results show that kinematic fracture networks tend to connect more fractures with fewer intersections and yield better connectivity than the original ones. Most kinematic fracture networks have larger permeability in the single-phase flow simulation and higher cumulative gas production in the two-phase flow simulation than original fracture networks under the same boundary conditions. The proportions of permeability and production enhancement are 68\% and 77\%, respectively. Flow results, like the permeability and production, have strong positive correlations with the connectivity of the fracture networks, but they are nonequivalent and strongly impacted by the number of inlets and outlets.