An improved simulated annealing algorithm in fracture network modeling

Fracture network modeling is a crucial step in development of hydrocarbon resources. For proposing development plan and design of stimulation operations fracture network should be known. This paper proposes a new improved simulated annealing algorithm for the problem of fracture network modeling. This algorithm improves computation performance without degrading solution quality so much by incorporating a method for estimation of the initial value of temperature-like parameter, using an adaptive Markov chain length (inner iterations) and suggesting a new fast and adaptive annealing schedule. Masihi et al. (2007) proposed an objective function for fracture network modeling based on mechanism of fracturing. We implemented this objective function through a proposed algorithm to generate models that incorporate field observations. The applicability of the methodology is assessed through a case study and the results are satisfying.