Characterization of karstic networks by automatic extraction of geometrical and topological parameters: comparison between observations and stochastic simulations

Abstract Although karstic networks may have a major impact on fluid flow in reservoir characterization, they exhibit great intrinsic heterogeneity that makes their characterization very complex. This work proposes an integrated workflow to study and stochastically simulate karstic networks. This approach is based on the study of outcropping caves. Topological and geometrical parameters are automatically extracted from cave surveys. The extracted geometrical parameters are used to determine the input parameters of the stochastic simulations. These simulations utilize a structure-based, pixel-based and geostatistical approach. To check for consistency, a procedure is proposed to compare the topological and geometrical parameters of observed and simulated karst networks using multivariate analyses. The proposed integrated workflow has been successfully applied to a real case study involving karsts in Jurassic limestone from the south of France. The obtained karstic networks reproduce observed topological and geometrical parameters even when the employed simulation approach relies solely on geometrical parameters.

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