TightFlow allows applying reservoir simulation on realistic geologic network of fractures obtained after hydraulic fracturing in naturally fractured formations. It is now well admitted that the number of fractures affecting the formation is huge. TightFlow benefits from the uncompromised description of natural fractures in a Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) with thousands of 3D fractures augmented by propagating fractures related to the stress and frac jobs along the well. Practical and robust modelling technics are applied to offer the best compromise between performance and precision.

The simulation of the hydraulic fracturing process aims to match observed in-situ bottom-hole pressures and microseismic cloud extension and orientation. The calibration is realized thanks to a monophasic hydrodynamic simulation in the DFN under stress conditions. Fractures behavior is controlled by geomechanical laws. Rock parameters (cohesion, friction angle, elasticity and plastic models values), and fractures dynamic parameters are deduced and reused in other stages to fulfill the construction of a DFN representing the full Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV). Proppant effects on fluid flow and well bore pressure are faithfully reproduced.

TightFlow benefits from the know-how of the PumaFlow multi-purpose reservoir simulator. Three- phase simulation with matrix and fractures flow in an unstructured grid with several hundreds of thousands nodes is performed to predict production forecast. Realistic- and physic-based results can be obtained along a multidisciplinary workflow assuring the consistency of the results. Gas adsorption, geomechanical law controlling aperture and conductivities can be triggered in the simulations.