A numerical study of fluid flow in a deformable, naturally fractured reservoir: The influence of pumping rate on reservoir response

This paper describes a numerical study of fluid flow in a deformable, naturally fractured reservoir. The objective of the study is to determine how different pumping rates affect the response of the reservoir to fluid injections. The initial conditions in the reservoir are such that dilatant slip is triggered soon after the injections begin. The study shows that the peak response (peak fluid pressure, peak joint opening, peak joint aperture, and peak slippage) is less intense for lower pumping rates than for higher pumping rates when equal volumes of fluid have been injected at different rates.