Delft Advanced Research Terra Simulator

Abstract

Numerical simulation is based on space and time discretization providing a trade-off between accuracy and computational performance. The operator-based Linearization (OBL) approach introduces an additional discretization domain for the physical description of fluid and rock. Delft Advanced Research Terra Simulator (DARTS) is a general-purpose reservoir simulation platform entirely built around the OBL approach. DARTS provides unique flexibility capabilities, allowing to customize physical description and control simulation process using the high-level Python programming language. Fully Implicit Method provides unconditional simulation stability, while the partial derivatives required for Jacobian assembly are computed analytically through OBL. At the same time, DARTS ensures exceptional simulation performance addressing it at three levels. Inexpensive linearization combined with a reduction in the nonlinearity is controlled by OBL discretization resolution form algorithmic level. Efficient C++ backend for critical kernels and state-of-the-art linear solver with two-stage CPR preconditioner composes the software level. Finally, the ability to perform the entire simulation loop on the GPU platform owing to the OBL approach constitutes the hardware level. The DARTS framework has already served as a platform for several academic and industrial research projects for different geo-energy applications including geothermal, CO2 sequestration and petroleum.