Multidimensional numerical simulation of fluid flow in fractured porous media

Isothermal flow of water in a variety of fractured systems is discussed in the context of a unified, integral framework. Three commonly used conceptualizations, namely, porous systems, fractured systems, and composite porosity systems, are analyzed. The integral equations are directly replaced by discretized expressions based on an integral finite difference scheme (IFDM). Because of the manner in which the IFDM scheme chooses to handle geometric inputs, it handles the three aforesaid conceptualizations with equal facility. Six illustrative examples are provided to give an idea of the variety of fracture-related problems that are of common interest, to identify the common denominators that unify these problems and to demonstrate the power of the IFDM.

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