pySimFrac: A Python library for synthetic fracture generation and analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce pySimFrac , an 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.