Linear Thermo-Poroelasticity and Geomechanics

Most engineering applications estimate the deformation induced by loads by using the linear elasticity theory. The discretization process starts with the equilibrium equation and then develops a displacement formulation that employs the Hooke’s law. Problems of practical interest encompass designing of large structures, buildings, subsurface deformation, etc. These applications require determining stresses to compare them with a given failure criteria. One often tackles this way a design or material strength type of problems. For instance, Geomechanics applications in the oil and gas industry assess the induced stresses changes that hydrocarbon production or the injection of fluids, i.e., artificial lift, in a reservoir produce in the surrounding rock mass. These studies often include reservoir compaction and subsidence that pose harmful and costly effects such as in wells casing, cap-rock stability, faults reactivation, and environmental issues as well. Estimating these stress-induced changes and their consequences require accurate elasticity simulations that are usually carried out through finite element (FE) simulations. Geomechanics implies that the flow in porous media simulation must be coupled with mechanics, which causes a substantial increase in CPU time and memory requirements.