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Advanced FLAC & FLAC3D for Geomechanics & Reservoir Engineering

December 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026 | Fees: $1,390
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The main objective of this course is the implementation of numerical modeling and geomechanics simulation in reservoir engineering. The course focuses on the advanced and practical applications of numerical modeling for simulation and analysis of geomechanics problems such as wellbore stability, geothermal analysis, and flow analysis. Complex geometry development of reservoirs will be discussed in the course. 

Course Schedule

• Course Start Date: December 1, 2025

• Course End Date: January 31, 2026

• Live Q&A Session 1: December 13, 2025 1:00 pm CT

• Live Q&A Session 2: January 17, 2026 1:00 pm CT

• Exam Return Due: February 15, 2026 (only for participants seeking certificate)

• One year full access to the course materials from the course start date

Course Highlights

• Full access to 18 hours of lecture videos
• Full access to lecture notes
• Solved practical examples
• Live question and answer sessions
• Lifetime membership of LinkedIn private computational geomechanics group
• Certificate and 18 PDH credits

Itasca Software

Demo and educational versions (with limits on the number of elements in the model) of FLAC and FLAC3D will be used during the course. Guidelines will be provided to students for installing and using the programs.

Certificate

Certificates will be awarded to the participants upon successful completion of the course requirements and passing the course exam. The certificate includes 18 PDH credits.

Tools Used

FLAC: 2D Finite Difference Analysis
FLAC3D: 3D Finite Difference Analysis
Griddle plug-in and Rhino

Instructor

 Siavash Zamiran, Ph.D., P.E.
Dr. Zamiran is a geotechnical and geomechanics engineer with over than 15 years of industry and academic experience in different geotechnical and petroleum engineering disciplines. Currently, Dr. Zamiran is a geotechnical/geomechanics consultant, founder and instructor at Mohr Academy, and Senior Lecturer at University of Houston. Dr. Zamiran is a member of ASCE Geo-Institute Computational Geotechnics Committee. He was the winner of national ASCE Edmund Friedman Award in 2019 and ASCE St. Louis Young Engineer Award in 2018. 

A Glance at the Lecture

Course Outline

Several topics including elasticity and plasticity of the rock medium, constitutive models, stress distribution, and permeability considerations will be discussed. Several advanced topics on geometry development and model analysis of reservoir models will be discussed. Detailed topics covered in the course include:

• Introduction to numerical modeling in geomechanics
• Numerical methods and tools
• Finite difference modeling using FLAC
• Finite difference modeling using FLAC3D
• Meshing tools and options
     -Structured meshes
     -Unstructured meshes
• Octree meshing for developing irregular horizons and fault systems
• Model analysis in FLAC and FLAC3D
     -Introduction to FISH programing language
     -Using FISH for introducing model variables
     -Nonlinear distribution of model properties using FISH
     -Initial stress analysis
     -Boundary conditions
     -Grid size and boundary distances
     -Unbalance forces
     -Evaluating equilibrium in an analysis
     -History monitoring in FLAC
     -Assigning properties to a model from field database using FISH
• Geometry development and meshing using Griddle and Rhino
     -Introduction to Rhino and Griddle
     -Basic geometry modeling in Rhino and Griddle: Single cylinder example
     -Irregular surface modeling in Rhino and Griddle
     -Generating surface mesh using point coordinates
     -Using Grasshopper-Rhino to develop topography surfaces from datapoints
     -Polygon mesh generated in STL format
• Fluid and pore pressure modeling
     -Fluid modeling in FLAC3D
     -Pore pressure initialization: Non-fluid and fluid configuration
     -Properties and units
     -Biot coefficient and Biot modulus
     -Permeability models
     -Fluid-flow boundary conditions
     -Flow analysis approaches
     -Flow-mechanical wellbore stability analysis
     -Under-balanced vs. overbalanced drilling
     -Fluid modeling codes
     -Zone-based pore pressure distribution from field data
     -Pore pressure modeling and optimal BHFP for stable vertical well
• Interface and fault modeling
     -Introduction to Interface in FLAC3D
     -Interface constitutive model and characteristics
     -Flow and pore pressure in interfaces
     -Interface modeling
     -Example: using interface for fault modeling
• Constitutive models
     -Isotropic elastic model
     -Anisotropic (transversely) elastic model
     -Orthotropic elastic model
     -Mohr-Coulomb model
     -Strain softening/hardening model
     -Ubiquitous-joint model
     -Hoek-Brown model
     -Modified-cam-clay model
     -Anisotropic-elasticity ubiquitous-joint model
     -Creep constitutive models 
     -User-defined models
     -Modeling of anisotropic and unconventional reservoirs
     -Principle stresses in arbitrary directions
     -Hysteretic damping

Contents

Course Introduction and Notes

Welcome to the course!
    Course Agreement
      Course Format
        Software Notes and Installation

          Handouts

          Handout - Section 1 Introduction.pdf
          • 689 KB
          Handout - Section 2 Numerical Tools.pdf
          • 4.22 MB
          Handout - Section 3 FDM Using FLAC.pdf
          • 1.11 MB
          Handout - Section 4 FDM Using FLAC3D Part 1.pdf
          • 2.56 MB
          Handout - Section 5 Meshing Tools and Options.pdf
          • 10.7 MB
          Handout - Section 6 Octree Meshing.pdf
          • 1020 KB
          Handout - Section 7.1 Model Analysis.pdf
          • 868 KB
          Handout - Section 7.2 Model Analysis.pdf
          • 1.58 MB
          Handout - Section 7.3 Model Analysis.pdf
          • 1.05 MB
          Handout - Section 7.4 Model Analysis.pdf
          • 1.05 MB
          Handout - Section 8.1 Griddle & Rhino.pdf
          • 5.22 MB
          Handout - Section 8.2 Griddle & Rhino.pdf
          • 1.04 MB
          Handout - Section 9.1 Fluid Modeling.pdf
          • 1.18 MB
          Handout - Section 9.2 Fluid Modeling.pdf
          • 2.24 MB
          Handout - Section 10.1 Interface Modeling.pdf
          • 1020 KB
          Handout - Section 10.2 Interface Modeling.pdf
          • 1.45 MB
          Handout - Section 11.1 Constitutive Models.pdf
          • 2.75 MB

          Section 1. Introduction

          Preface.mp4
          • 5 mins
          • 20 MB
          Section 1 Introduction.mp4
          • 29 mins
          • 90.8 MB

          Section 2. Numerical Methods and Tools

          Section 2.1 Numerical Methods.mp4
          • 19 mins
          • 58.4 MB
          Section 2.2 Numerical Methods.mp4
          • 25 mins
          • 90 MB
          Section 2.3 Numerical Methods.mp4
          • 22 mins
          • 52 MB
          Section 2.4 Numerical Methods.mp4
          • 27 mins
          • 87.5 MB
          Section 2.5 Numerical Methods.mp4
          • 15 mins
          • 71.3 MB

          Section 3. FDM Using FLAC

          Section 3.1 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 26 mins
          • 52.5 MB
          Section 3.2 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 20 mins
          • 38.3 MB
          Section 3.3 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 15 mins
          • 44 MB
          Section 3.4 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 28 mins
          • 98.7 MB
          Section 3.5 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 17 mins
          • 58.3 MB
          Section 3.6 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 16 mins
          • 50.9 MB
          Section 3.8 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 24 mins
          • 51.7 MB
          Section 3.7 FDM Using FLAC.mp4
          • 20 mins
          • 51 MB

          Section 4. FDM Using FLAC3D

          Section 4.2 FDM Using FLAC3D.mp4
          • 10 mins
          • 16 MB
          Section 4.1 FDM Using FLAC3D.mp4
          • 16 mins
          • 50.9 MB
          Section 4.3 FDM Using FLAC3D.mp4
          • 21 mins
          • 52.2 MB

          Section 5 Introduction to Meshing

          Section 5.2 Introduction to Meshing.mp4
          • 16 mins
          • 98.1 MB
          Section 5.1 Introduction to Meshing.mp4
          • 23 mins
          • 154 MB

          Section 6 Octree Meshing

          Section 6.1 Octree Meshing.mp4
          • 36 mins
          • 287 MB
          Section 6.2 Octree Meshing.mp4
          • 24 mins
          • 182 MB
          Section 6.3 Octree Meshing.mp4
          • 12 mins
          • 113 MB
          Octree Meshing Files.zip
          • 5.39 MB

          Section 7 Model Analysis

          Section 7.1 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 19 mins
          • 95.2 MB
          Section 7.2 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 23 mins
          • 169 MB
          Section 7.3 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 17 mins
          • 48.8 MB
          Section 7.4 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 22 mins
          • 147 MB
          Section 7.5 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 20 mins
          • 152 MB
          Section 7.6 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 9 mins
          • 47.1 MB
          Section 7.7 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 29 mins
          • 156 MB
          Section 7.8 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 22 mins
          • 158 MB
          Section 7.9 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 41 mins
          • 301 MB
          Section 7.10 Model Analysis.mp4
          • 24 mins
          • 207 MB
          Property Assignment Files (Section 7.10)
          • 9.53 KB

          Section 8 Rhino and Griddle

          Section 8.1 Rhino and Griddle.mp4
          • 17 mins
          • 127 MB
          Section 8.2 Rhino and Griddle.mp4
          • 7 mins
          • 54.2 MB
          Section 8.3 Rhino and Griddle.mp4
          • 21 mins
          • 199 MB
          Section 8.4 Rhino and Griddle.mp4
          • 18 mins
          • 310 MB
          Section 8.5 Rhino and Griddle.mp4
          • 24 mins
          • 324 MB
          Section 8.6 Rhino and Griddle.mp4
          • 32 mins
          • 192 MB
          Irregulare Surface Modeling.zip
          • 776 KB
          Rhino Tutorial.pdf
          • 31.9 MB

          Section 9 Fluid Modeling

          Section 9.1 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 16 mins
          • 53.2 MB
          Section 9.2 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 23 mins
          • 108 MB
          Section 9.3 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 24 mins
          • 162 MB
          Section 9.4 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 15 mins
          • 109 MB
          Section 9.5 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 23 mins
          • 126 MB
          Section 9.6 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 16 mins
          • 109 MB
          Section 9.7 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 11 mins
          • 59.6 MB
          Section 9.8 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 22 mins
          • 177 MB
          Section 9.9 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 24 mins
          • 211 MB
          Section 9.10 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 22 mins
          • 186 MB
          Section 9.11 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 4 mins
          • 18.1 MB
          Section 9.12 Fluid Modeling.mp4
          • 34 mins
          • 224 MB
          Fluid Modeling Examples.zip
          • 57.1 MB

          Section 10. Interface Modeling

          Section 10.1 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 14 mins
          • 67 MB
          Section 10.2 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 24 mins
          • 120 MB
          Section 10.3 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 8 mins
          • 46.8 MB
          Section 10.4 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 22 mins
          • 136 MB
          Section 10.5 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 25 mins
          • 180 MB
          Section 10.6 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 34 mins
          • 261 MB
          Section 10.7 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 14 mins
          • 112 MB
          Section 10.8 Interface Modeling.mp4
          • 44 mins
          • 297 MB
          Interface Modeling Examples.zip
          • 46.8 KB

          Section 11. Constitutive Models

          Section 11.1 Constitutive Models.mp4
          • 26 mins
          • 148 MB
          Section 11.2 Constitutive Models.mp4
          • 15 mins
          • 80 MB
          Section 11.3 Constitutive Models.mp4
          • 27 mins
          • 179 MB
          Section 11.4 Constitutive Models.mp4
          • 7 mins
          • 27.3 MB
          Section 11.5 Constitutive Models.mp4
          • 34 mins
          • 177 MB
          Section 11.6 Constitutive Models.mp4
          • 6 mins
          • 27.5 MB
          Section 11.7 Constitutive Models.mp4
          • 23 mins
          • 83.7 MB
          Mohr-Coulomb Model.pdf
          • 1.62 MB

          Section 12. Additional Notes

          Zone Relax Command.mp4
          • 9 mins
          • 84.4 MB

          Final Notes, Certificate, and Exam

          Thank you for taking the course!
            Preview
            FLAC Advanced GMC Exam File.docx
            • 60.4 KB
            Preview