ExxonMobil SIMULIA Collaboration for Shale Gas Simulation

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ExxonMobil SIMULIA Collaboration for Shale Gas Simulation

Case study on ExxonMobil and SIMULIA joint development of advanced FEA, CFD, and fracture modeling for shale gas drilling and completion.

Published

June 4, 2026

Read time

3 min read

Source

ExxonMobil partnered with SIMULIA to extend Abaqus capabilities for subsurface extraction challenges. The collaboration produced general-purpose material models, cohesive zone and XFEM fracture methods, and coupled poro-elastoplastic workflows. These tools support drilling, hydraulic fracturing, cuttings re-injection, and wellbore integrity analysis at field scale.

Key takeaways

Co-developed CZM and XFEM methods enable solution-dependent hydraulic fracture modeling.

Fully coupled fluid-solid formulations improve prediction of fracture geometry and pore pressure.

Advanced constitutive models capture shear failure in unconsolidated sands during fracturing.

Automated workflows reduce analysis time while maintaining accuracy for commercial decisions.

Simulation now supports field-scale injection and integrity assessments previously limited to lab tests.

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