Review of hybrid continuum/discontinuum methods for geomechanical modelling of hydraulic fracture growth

Abstract : This paper presents a comparison between two newly developed methods to describe Hydraulic Fracturing (HF) in petroleum industry. The first method is called Finite-Discrete Element Method (FDEM) where a combination of the FEM and DEM is considered. The second approach is based only on the FEM where a fully coupled system consisting of the standard equations of motion to model the rock matrix, and a parallel plate flow simplification (i.e. lubrication theory) to model the flow in the fracture is discussed. The evolution of fractures is tracked by using remeshing. This paper discusses, as well, the issues involved in the development of the two methods, both from a fundamental theoretical point of view along with some related algorithmic considerations essential for the efficient numerical solution of large-scale industrial problems.