Structural dynamics branch research and accomplishments to FY 1992

This publication contains a collection of fiscal year 1992 research highlights from the Structural Dynamics Branch at NASA LeRC. Highlights from the branch's major work areas--Aeroelasticity, Vibration Control, Dynamic Systems, and Computational Structural Methods are included in the report as well as a listing of the fiscal year 1992 branch publications

Characterization and Simulation of Discrete Fracture Networks in Unconventional Shale Reservoirs

Fracture characterization and simulation of complex fracture networks are investigated with the emphasis on better and faster approaches to generate fractures by conforming to available data resources, and on accurate, robust, and efficient techniques to grid and discretize complex fracture networks. Three fracture characterization techniques such as fractal-based, microseismic-constrained, and outcrop-based are presented. Natural fractures are generated either stochastically from fractal-based theory, or constrained by microseismic information, or from outcrop maps. Hydraulic fractures are computed from a fast proxy model for fracture propagation that incooperates material balance and lab-measured conductivity data. Then, optimization-based unstructured gridding and discretization technique is developed to handle complex fracture networks with extensively fracture clustering, nonorthogonal and low-angle fracture intersections, and nonuniform fracture aperture distributions. Moreover, through fracture simulation, sensitivity analysis of natural fracture related parameters, nonuniform fracture aperture, and unstructured gridding related parameters on well production performance are investigated, which are followed by well testing behaviors and CO2 EOR of complex fracture networks. This work presents an integrated workflow to model discrete fractures in unconventional shale reservoirs, together with detailed illustrations of each critical component using both synthetic and field application examples