Analysis and Visualization of Discrete Fracture Networks Using a Flow Topology Graph

• Published in: IEEE transactions on visualization and computer graphics Vol. 23; no. 8; pp. 1896 - 1909
• Main Authors: Aldrich, Garrett, Hyman, Jeffrey D., Karra, Satish, Gable, Carl W., Makedonska, Nataliia, Viswanathan, Hari, Woodring, Jonathan, Hamann, Bernd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.08.2017; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Analytical models; Computational modeling; Computer simulation; Contaminants; Data visualization; discrete fracture network; flow in fractured rock; flow topology graph; Fracture network flow analysis and visualization; Fractures; Geometry; Network topology; Scientists; Spent nuclear fuels; Statistical distributions; topological path analysis; topological trace clustering; Topology; Trajectory; Transport phenomena; Visualization
• ISSN: 1077-2626; 1941-0506
• DOI: 10.1109/TVCG.2016.2582174

We present an analysis and visualization prototype using the concept of a flow topology graph (FTG) for characterization of flow in constrained networks, with a focus on discrete fracture networks (DFN), developed collaboratively by geoscientists and visualization scientists. Our method allows users to understand and evaluate flow and transport in DFN simulations by computing statistical distributions, segment paths of interest, and cluster particles based on their paths. The new approach enables domain scientists to evaluate the accuracy of the simulations, visualize features of interest, and compare multiple realizations over a specific domain of interest. Geoscientists can simulate complex transport phenomena modeling large sites for networks consisting of several thousand fractures without compromising the geometry of the network. However, few tools exist for performing higher-level analysis and visualization of simulated DFN data. The prototype system we present addresses this need. We demonstrate its effectiveness for increasingly complex examples of DFNs, covering two distinct use cases - hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional resources and transport of dissolved contaminant from a spent nuclear fuel repository.