Automatic Meshing and Construction of a 3D Reservoir System: from Visualization Towards Simulation

Abstract

Finite Element Method (FEM) Geocomputing is increasingly important in analysing and evaluating enhanced geothermal reservoirs. Due to the complexity of geological objects, it is difficult to build a reasonable mesh for FEM. The development of digital 3D geological modelling tools and applications (such as GeoModeller and GoCad) makes it possible to establish geometric models for 3D geological objects. Our work focuses on constructing a geothermal reservoir system which transforms geometric models used in 3D geological visualization into FEM models. A 3D Geological model for visualization is used as input here, and the transformation processes are implemented following: (1) generating a tetrahedral mesh by 3D Delaunay triangulation methods; (2) abstracting boundaries of different geological objects; (3) building a well model by tetrahedral mesh refinement, which will be used in future FEM-based simulations.