Abstract
Discrete fracture networks (DFNs) are commonly created as stochastic models of fractures in a rock mass. Most existing computer codes for creating DFNs generate fracture centroid locations randomly (with a Poisson process) and draw orientation independently of location. The resulting fracture networks do not have realistic spatial properties compared to the natural fracture networks they intend to model. DFNs generated in this manner commonly show fractures that are unrealistically close together and may have many more fracture intersections than are expected. This paper presents a new approach to DFN simulation that results in DFNs that are more geologically realistic in that target spatial statistics such as local fracture spacing, deviation in local fracture orientation and the number of fracture intersections are honored. The proposed algorithm relies on generating more fractures than are required and iteratively adding or removing fractures to find a subset that matches target input fracture network statistics.
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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Niven, E.B., Deutsch, C.V. (2012). Non-random Discrete Fracture Network Modeling. In: Abrahamsen, P., Hauge, R., Kolbjørnsen, O. (eds) Geostatistics Oslo 2012. Quantitative Geology and Geostatistics, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4153-9_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4153-9_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-4152-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-4153-9
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