The InFress 2.0
The Integrated Fracture Evaluation System and Software
More about InFress
InFress 2.0 project has developed an integrated geological fracture network analysis and modeling system, supported by scientific computer simulation, capable of simulating fracture behaviour and properties in a geological medium.
The product simulates a 3D fracture model based on numerical data generation of fracture characteristics from image information representing the rock, and then calculates the derived parameters and fits them to the flow modeling system. It can support the work of geologists, mining engineering researchers and contractors and companies interested in reservoir geology, hydrogeology, geothermal, environmental geology, waste disposal, tunneling, etc., dealing with fractured rock masses.
The InFress 2.0 system is a development based on novel processes optimized for the environment of common processes and applications in industry. In addition to solving applied geological problems, the analytical system is also ideally suited for solving basic geological science problems. It can provide significant results compared to industrial applications that are complex but with significant modeling and computational simplifications.
Areas of Application
According to the research institute Allied Market Research, by the end of our project's lifetime, the market size will grow from an initial value of 4.6 billion USD in 2018 to 6.8 billion USD by the end of 2026. Experts estimate that in this innovation-intensive industry, companies spend at least one third of their revenues on research and development, but in many cases this figure is more than 50%. The target market of our solution, in addition to multinational companies (Mitsubishi, Ansaldo, GE), is also medium-sized or large companies in Hungary that cannot afford a large research and simulation environment, e.g. MOL Nyrt., Mecsekérc Zrt., PannErgy Nyrt., Manvit Kft., O&G Development Kft., TDE Services Kft.
Other target areas include companies involved in the design, construction, and operation of geologically sealed environmental facilities (hazardous or radioactive waste disposal) and methane production by tapping unconventional coal deposits. In general, we also include all companies involved in the civil engineering and mining industries that from time to time need an analytical and modeling system that the user can use with his own data for fracture network modeling as a system-level service, from geological information to reservoir-scale inputs of derived hydrodynamic parameters.
According to a previous estimate (https://www.bccresearch.com/market-research/environment/radioactive-waste-management-global-markets-report.html), the market for radioactive waste management has an annual growth rate of 2.5% and will exceed 20 Billion USD by today. In this segment, we are targeting mainly local waste management operators in the countries concerned, such as Radioactive Waste Management Ltd., that we currently have a contractual relationship with.
Also according to Allied Market Research (https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/coal-bed-methane-CBM-market), the global market for methane gas production embedded in coal mines will grow from 9 M USD in 2016 to nearly 18 M USD by 2023, at a growth rate of 9% per year.
The third target area - given the academic nature of the research - is academic and research workshops that are specifically dedicated to cracked rock tests and simulation. Our solution gives them the opportunity to use the services available in InFress 2.0, using modern technology, even without investment. The main centers of geoscience and engineering education in Hungary, besides the University of Szeged, are the University of Miskolc, the University of Pécs, ELTE, BME, and the Montanuniversität Leoben and Technische Universität München in Europe.