Methodology for geomechanically controlled transmissibility through active natural fractures in reservoir simulation

Various case studies indicate the efficiency and accuracy of the EDFM method in a commercial simulator. In order to demonstrate the accuracy of the method, studies were performed in five spot models, comparing the results to those with a rigorously refined fracture representation. In order to highlight the applicability of the methodology at a field-scale, three reservoir simulation case studies are presented: one comparison with the dual permeability method, one simulation of a giant field, and one simulation coupled with a geomechanical simulator. The results show that the representation of natural fractures in reservoir models may drastically change the production forecast, especially in terms of water production.