A methodology for the characterization of flow conductivity through the identification of communities in samples of fractured rocks

摘要

Graph theory is a most versatile instrument that can lend its help to many scientific fields, from biology to economics to computer science. In this paper, it is the petroleum industry that benefits from its power: graph theory is used here to study how crude oil diffuses in beds of fractured rocks. Rock fractures are treated as edges, and nodes are where several fractures meet. The idea is simple and genial, does not push as far as where to actually aim the drill, but certainly predicts the most promising sectors of an oil field.