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NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESSURE DRIVEN PERCOLATION AND

DEVELOPED FLUID PATHWAYS: HYDRO-MECHANICAL LATTICE MODEL

Conference Paper · June 2021

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 ECCOMAS MSF 2021 THEMATIC CONFERENCE
30 June – 2 JULY 2021, SPLIT, CROATIA

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESSURE DRIVEN PERCOLATION AND

DEVELOPED FLUID PATHWAYS: HYDRO-MECHANICAL LATTICE MODEL

Amir Shoarian Sattari1, Zarghaam Haider Rizvi2, Frank Wuttke3

1
Geomechanics and Geotechnics Group, CAU Kiel, Germany, amir.shoarian-sattari@ifg.uni-kiel.de
2
Geomechanics and Geotechnics Group, CAU Kiel, Germany, zarghaam.rizvi@ifg.uni-kiel.de
3
Geomechanics and Geotechnics Group, CAU Kiel, Germany, frank.wuttke@ifg.uni-kiel.de

Abstract
In this research, the application of the in-house developed coupled hydro-mechanical lattice model
on numerical simulation of the hydraulic fracking process and the development of flow channels in
geomaterials is investigated. The mechanical model is based on the equation of motion, known as
Newton’s second law, which is solved using Newmark-𝛽 model and Newton-Raphson Jacobian.
According to the conservation of fluid mass in the domain and with the generation of artificial cavities
on the polygonal vertices, the fluid flow is simulated. The developed hydraulic pressures on the
polygonal vertices, after the saturation of the pore volumes, are then transferred into the mechanical
model. The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion with a tension cutoff is implemented here to simulate the
fracking process. Eventually, the advantage of lattice models to account for inherent and stochastic
irregularities and heterogeneities that exist in geomaterials are depicted.

1 Introduction
During the last decade, the application of hydraulic fracking in extraction of oil and natural gases
from shale reservoirs has been extensively studied. Similarly, the artificial salt caverns have been used
for storage of various from of energy carriers. Finite Element Methods (FEM) and Phase field methods
are widely used to simulate the hydraulic fracking in geomaterials [1, 2]. During the past decade and
with the computational power growth, the application of discrete element methods in simulation of
hydraulic fracking are also begun to emerge [3]. Recently, the mechanical lattice model’s application
is extended from the static cases [4] to the dynamic models [5]. The existing hydraulic lattice models
are based on the dual lattice model, where boundaries of the polygonal cells are considered as flow
channels [6]. In the conducted study, the application of the in-house developed coupled hydro-
mechanical lattice model on the simulation of hydraulic fracking is investigated.

2 Domain Discretization
The vectorizable random lattice approach is implemented here to generate the nuclei in the domain.
The defined randomness factor (𝛼) in this approach varies from 0 to 1, where 0 results in regular
square shaped element patterns. The irregularities that exist in particles scale can be attained with the
greater randomness factor values. The Voronoi Tessellation and Delaunay Triangulation theories are
considered here to generate the polygonal shape Voronoi cells and lattice elements, respectively (Fig.
1a, Fig. 1b). The pursued mesh refinement technique around the cavities and pre-known fracking paths
reduces the computational demand of the algorithm. Additionally, with rearrangement of Voronoi
vertices of all cells surrounding the predefined fracks and cavities, smooth crack surfaces for better
visualization as well as accurate stress distribution around crack tips are generated (Fig. 1c).

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 (a) (b) (c)
Figure 1. Domain discretization: (a) generated Voronoi cells (𝛼 ≈ 1), (b) Delaunay Triangulation and
generation of lattice elements (𝛼 ≈ 1), and (c) mesh refinement and defined cavity (𝛼 ≈ 0.5)

3 Implementation of Dynamic Lattice Model

Initially, the regularization of the lattice model is carried out and a correlation between the lattice
element and the continuum properties is driven. According to the implemented regularization method,
the stored strain energy in a unit cell (𝑈cell ) is equal to the stored strain energy in the continuum (𝑈𝑅 ).
Therefore, the mesh independent results are granted.
1 𝑏=𝑁
𝑈cell = 𝑈𝑅 , 𝑈cell = ∑𝑏=1 𝑏 𝑙𝑏2  (𝑅 ′  𝑛𝑖  𝑛𝑗  𝑛𝑘  𝑛𝑚  ε𝑖𝑗  ε𝑘𝑚 ) 𝑏
(1)
2
A series of spring lattice elements between each pair of Voronoi cells are generated, where the
resistance to axial (𝑘𝑛 ), transverse (𝑘𝑠 ) and rotational (𝑘𝜙 ) displacements are defined. The dynamic
lattice model formulation is based on the equation of the motion, known as Newton’s second law. The
acceleration (𝒖̈ ), velocity (𝒖̇ ) and displacement (𝒖) of the defined constant masses on the nuclei are
solved using the Newmark-𝛽 model. The mass (M), damping (C) and stiffness matrixes (Kg) are
assembled in global coordinates.
𝑴𝒖̈ (𝑡) + 𝑪𝒖̇ (𝑡) + 𝑲𝒈 𝒖(𝑡) = 𝑓𝑒𝑥𝑡 (𝑡), 𝑡(𝑖+1) = 𝑡(𝑖) + Δ𝑡, (2)
where 𝑓𝑒𝑥𝑡 is a vector of external dynamic loads and Δ𝑡 is the timestep. The incremental formulation
of motion equation can be solved under the assumption of different γ and β parameters. For an
1 1
instance, when β = and γ = the Newmark method is unconditionally stable and implicit.
4 2
1 1 1 γ γ γ
δ𝒖̈ = δ𝒖 − 𝒖̇ − 𝒖̈ , δ𝒖̇ = δ𝒖 − 𝒖̇ + Δ𝑡 (1 − ) 𝒖̈ (3)
βΔ𝑡 2 βΔ𝑡 2β βΔ𝑡 β 2β
Eventually, to solve the system of nonlinear equations with multiple variables, the Newton-Raphson
Jacobian approach is implemented. In order to simulate the fracking process, the Mohr Coulombs
failure criterium with tension cutoff, where the mode Ι and ΙΙ failure of elements is permitted, is
implemented. The convergence of the dynamic lattice model depends on the wavelength, length of the
lattice elements and the magnitude of the timestep.

4 Development of Hydro Lattice Model

The implemented hydraulic lattice model is based on the dual lattice theory, where the boundaries
of the Voronoi cells are considered as flow channels. The vertices of the Voronoi cells are then
defined as artificial cavities, in which the fluid flows are directed. The conservation of mass theory is
implemented here to determine the fluid mass transfer in different timesteps. The assumption of
viscous laminar flow is chosen to simulate the flow rate through conduct channels using Darcy’s law.
𝑑𝑚 𝑃𝑓,𝑗 −𝑃𝑓,𝑖 −𝜌𝑓 𝑔(𝑍𝑗 −𝑍𝑖 )
𝑞= =− (4)
𝑑𝑡 𝑅ℎ
The mass transfer through each conduct channel is dependent on the length of the channel (𝑙),
cross-section length of the channel (hydraulic aperture, a), flow potential (Φ), density (𝜌), and the
viscosity of the fluid (𝜐). The cubic flow rule is considered here to determine the flow resistance (𝑅ℎ ).
𝑃𝑓,𝑗 −𝑃𝑓,𝑖 −ρ𝑓𝑔(𝑍𝑗 −𝑍𝑖 )
Δ𝑚𝑓,𝑖𝑗 = 𝑓(𝑆𝑟)  Δ𝑡, 𝑚𝑓𝑡+1 = 𝑚𝑓𝑡 + Δ𝑚𝑓 , (5)
𝑅ℎ
where 𝑓(𝑆𝑟) is a dimensionless saturation degree function defined to reduce the effective permeability
of the conduct channels. With the amount of the excessive fluid mass that flows into each cavity the

79
pore pressures are measured. The fluid pressures in each timestep are dependent on the bulk modulus
of the fluid, volume of the cavity, and the excessive fluid mass that has been rushed into the saturated
cavity.
Δ𝑚𝑓
𝑃𝑓𝑡 = 𝑃𝑓𝑡−1 + 𝐾𝑓 𝑡 if Sr 𝑡 = 1, 𝑃𝑓𝑡 = 0 if Sr 𝑡 < 1 (6)
𝜌𝑓 𝑉cav
In the 3D flow model, artificial cavities are generated between each pair of neighboring Voronoi
cells. Then, the Delaunay Triangulation approach is implemented to generate the conduct elements.
The coupling of the hydro-mechanical model is based on the weak coupling scheme, where the fluid
pressures in the cavities are transferred into the mechanical model. Afterward, the emerged hydro-
mechanical deformations are transmitted into the hydro model.

5 Numerical Studies
5.1 Crack Initiation and Propagation under Monotonic Loading
The numerical simulation of the frack propagation in a 2D domain under the constant confining
stress and zero hydraulic pressure is presented in Fig. 2. The deviatoric stress is gradually increased
(Δ𝜎𝑣 ) till the frack process initiated. The change of the displacement wave field (along x-axis) before
and after the fracking process is shown in Fig. 2b.

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 2. Crack initiation and propagation under mechanical monotonic loading: (a) boundary
condition, (b) displacement wave fields along x-axis (h) before and after fracking, and (c) crack path

5.2 Fluid Flow and Pore Pressure Diffusion

The 2D simulation of a fluid flow in the conduct elements and saturation of the defined artificial
cavities are studied and presented in Fig. 3. The flow pathways are arbitrary and dependent on the
inherent stochastic irregularity that exists in the lattice models. The saturation of the artificial cavities
(Voronoi vertices) and flow channels in three different timesteps are shown in Fig. 3b. The results
indicate the time dependent fluid flow pathways and developed fluid pore pressures.

(a) (b)
Figure 3. Fluid flow in geomaterials: (a) boundary condition, and (b) saturation of artificial cavities
and flow channels in three timesteps

5.3 Fluid Pressure Driven Percolation in Heterogenous Geomaterials

In the 3D lattice model and with definition of a heterogenous geomaterial with the embedded layering,
the generation of the crack surfaces under the coupled hydro-mechanical loading condition is

80
 simulated (Fig. 4). In the first cubic sample, the fluid injection direction is perpendicular to the
layering orientation. In the second case, the fluid injection direction is parallel to the layering
orientation. The results indicate the dependency of the fracking and flow paths on the defined
embedded layering orientation of geomaterials, like what can be found in shale and claystone.

Figure 4. The 3D hydro-mechanical lattice model and simulation of fracking surfaces (shown with
red) in a heterogenous geomaterial: fluid injection (a) perpendicular to the layering orientation, and (b)
parallel to the layering orientation. (experimental tests of Opalinus claystone [7])

6 Conclusion
The presented lattice model in this study is capable of simulating crack initiation and propagation,
pressure driven percolation and pore pressure diffusion in the coupled hydro-mechanical problems.
The inherent stochastic irregularity that exist in lattice models is ideal for simulation of the fracking in
geomaterial, as it can account for irregularities that are present in particle scale. The 3D simulation
results depict the ability of the lattice model to simulate the realistic fracking and flow paths in a
heterogenous geomaterial. Beside the qualitative studies that are presented here, a quantitative analysis
of the lattice model outcome is under development.

Acknowledgments
This research project is financially supported by research grant ‘’GeomInt2’’ provided by the Federal
Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany with a grant number of 03G0899B.

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