PySimFrac: A Python Library for Synthetic Fracture Generation, Analysis, and Simulation

TL;DR

PySimFrac is an open-source Python library that enables the generation, analysis, and simulation of 3D synthetic fractures, facilitating fluid transport studies in geologic media with customizable techniques and integration options.

Contribution

This work introduces PySimFrac, a versatile Python library for synthetic fracture modeling, analysis, and integration with fluid simulators, enhancing accessibility and reproducibility in geoscience research.

Findings

Supports three fracture generation techniques: Box, Gaussian, Spectral

Includes statistical analysis tools for fracture surfaces and apertures

Provides integration examples with pore-scale and discrete fracture network simulators

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce Pysimfrac, a open-source python library for generating 3-D synthetic fracture realizations, integrating with fluid simulators, and performing analysis. Pysimfrac allows the user to specify one of three fracture generation techniques (Box, Gaussian, or Spectral) and perform statistical analysis including the autocorrelation, moments, and probability density functions of the fracture surfaces and aperture. This analysis and accessibility of a python library allows the user to create realistic fracture realizations and vary properties of interest. In addition, Pysimfrac includes integration examples to two different pore-scale simulators and the discrete fracture network simulator, dfnWorks. The capabilities developed in this work provides opportunity for quick and smooth adoption and implementation by the wider scientific community for accurate characterization of fluid transport in geologic media. We present Pysimfrac along with integration examples and discuss the ability to extend Pysimfrac from a single complex fracture to complex fracture networks.