Patent · US Active

Method implemented in a computer for the numerical simulation of a porous medium

US10571603B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
12Claims
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Key dates

Filing dateFeb 18, 2015
Grant dateFeb 25, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 9, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F17/16
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The object of the invention is a method implemented in a computer for the numerical simulation of a porous medium that may comprise multiple interacting hydraulic fractures in continuous or naturally fractured medium. The method calculates numerically the propagation of a crack, or set of cracks, for instance under the fluid pressure imposed artificially through a well or perforation in a rock mass. This is accomplished by using the Finite Element Method and the special elements named zero-thickness interface or joint elements in the specialized literature, which are pre-inserted along all potential crack paths in the rock mass (pre-existing natural and artificial fractures plus main potential new fracture paths).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.