An efficient boundary integral formulation for flow through fractured porous media (Q1287184)

We present a model for flows in fractured porous media. We formulate our model in terms of a coupled system of boundary integral equations, and present a procedure for solving the equations using the boundary element method. The flow in the matrix is governed by Darcy law for porous media, with fractures being treated as planar sources embedded in the matrix. The flow in an individual fracture is governed by a two-dimensional Darcy law (as in a Hele-Shaw cell), with an associated planar sink distribution. The essential feature of this approach is that the fractures are treated as special planes rather than narrow-gap voids. Numerical examples illustrate how the model can be used to model flows in a reservoir.