Coupled HTM modelling of fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs during cold water injection

This paper presents a numerical modelling approach for analysing the coupled hydro-thermo-mechanical (HTM) behaviour of fractured reservoirs. The coupled HTM approach is applied to models of five-spot reservoirs. The presence of fractures has important effects on the injectivity and sweep efficiency of the reservoir models. Due to high fluid velocities along fractures, some local areas particularly close to intersections of fractures cannot be saturated with cold water. The volume of oil by-passed by the displacing water was generally larger if the fracture conductivity enhancement due to mechanical deformation is taken into consideration. Another important result obtained from the study is the possibility of creating secondary tensile fracturing close to existing fractures.