ANALYSIS OF FRACTURE NETWORK CONNECTIVITY USING PERCOLATION THEORY

Connectivity aspects of fracture networks are analyzed in terms of per colation theory. These aspects are of fundamental importance in charac terization, exploitation, and management of fractured formations. Gene ral connectivity and power law relationships are determined that chara cterize the density of fractures and average number of intersections p er fracture necessary to ensure network connectivity, the likelihood o f a fractured formation being hydraulically connected, and the probabi lity that any specific fracture is connected to the conducting portion of the network. Monte Carlo experiments with a two-dimensional fractu re network model confirm the percolation theory predictions. These rel ationships may prove useful in formulating theoretically tractable app roximations of fracture networks that capture the essential system pro perties.