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FLAC, FLAC3D, & UDEC for Geomechanics & Reservoir Engineering

The main objective of this course is demonstrating the implementation of numerical modeling and geomechanics simulation in reservoir engineering. The course focuses on the practical applications of numerical modeling for simulation and analysis of geomechanics problems such as wellbore stability, geothermal analysis, flow analysis, and hydraulic fracturing.

January 1, 2026 to February 28, 2026 | Fees: $1,390
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Course Schedule

• Course Start Date: January 1, 2026

• Course End Date: February 28, 2026

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

• Live Q&A Session 2: February 14, 2026 1:00 pm CT

• Exam Return Due: March 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
UDEC: 2D Distinct Element Analysis

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. 

Course Outline

Several topics including elasticity and plasticity of the rock medium, constitutive models, stress distribution, and permeability considerations will be discussed. The simulation procedure of isotropic and transversely isotropic medium and faults and discontinuities will be presented. Commercial programs for geomechanics modeling will be introduced, and finite difference, finite element, and distinct element methods for numerical modeling will be described. Different software tools including FLAC, FLAC3D, and UDEC will be considered for conducting simulations.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to numerical modeling in geomechanics
• Introduction to finite element, finite difference, and distinct element modeling using FLAC, FLAC3D, UDEC, and 3DEC
• Constitutive models used for conventional and unconventional reservoirs
• Practical application of two-dimensional stress/strain wellbore stability analysis using FLAC
• Practical application of three-dimensional stress/strain wellbore stability analysis using FLAC3D
• Three-dimensional modeling and analysis of inclined wellbores using FLAC3D
• Wellbore stability analysis under drilling mud pressure using FLAC
• Flow analysis and permeability considerations
• Practical application of hydraulic fracturing and fluid injection into porous medium using UDEC
• Discontinuity and faults modeling in underground reservoirs
• Geothermal analysis of underground reservoirs using FLAC

Testimonials

Bela S., Reservoir Engineer, Germany

"It was really helpful to learn about the usage of the widely used numerical software packages in the industry and how they can handle praxis-oriented geomechanical problems on a theoretical basis."

Markus H., Geomechanics Engineer, Germany

"Anyone with solid background and knowledge, looking for practical experience in geomechanical modelling, will find the courses and materials very robust and usefull."

Ahmed A., Petroleum Engineering Ph.D. Student, USA

"As a beginner in FLAC3D I found the course content and the examples explained very helpful. The course materials and lectures were made accessible at all times during the course."

Itasca Training Partner

Mohr Academy is an Itasca Training Partner, providing a variety of courses on FLAC, FLAC3D, UDEC, 3DEC, Griddle, PFC, and XSite programs in different disciplines. As a training partner we provide temporary Itasca software licenses to our course participants through Itasca International Inc.  

A Glance at the Lecture

Course Introduction and Notes

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

Section 1. Introdcution to Numerical Modeling in Geomechanics

Section 1 Outline
Preview
Section 1 Lecture
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Handout - Section 1 Introduction.pdf
Preview

Section 2. Numerical Methods and Tools

Section 2 Outline
Preview
Section 2-1 Lecture
Section 2-2 Lecture
Handout - Section 2 Numerical Tools.pdf

Section 3. Finite Difference Modeling Using FLAC

Section 3 Outline
Preview
Section 3-1 Lecture
Section 3-2 Lecture
Section 3-3 Lecture
Section 3-4 Lecture
Handout - Section 3 FLAC.pdf
Example 3.1.txt

Section 4. Finite Difference Modeling Using FLAC3D

Section 4 Outline
Preview
Section 4-1 Lecture
Section 4-2 Lecture
Section 4-3 Lecture
Section 4-4 Lecture
Section 4-5 Lecture
Section 4-6 Lecture
Section 4-7 Lecture
Handout - Section 4 FLAC3D.pdf
Example 4.1.txt
Example 4.2.txt
Example 4.3.txt
Example 4.4.txt
Example 4.5.txt

Section 5. Flow Analysis

Section 5 Outline
Preview
Section 5-1 Lecture
Section 5-2 Lecture
Section 5-3 Lecture
Section 5-4 Lecture
Section 5-5 Lecture
Handout - Section 5 Flow.pdf
Example 5.1.txt
Example 5.2.txt

Section 6. Distinct Element Modeling Using UDEC

Section 6 Outline
Preview
Section 6-1 Lecture
Section 6-2 Lecture
Section 6-3 Lecture
Section 6-4 Lecture
Section 6-5 Lecture
Handout - Section 6 UDEC.pdf
Example 6.1.txt
Example 6.2.txt

Section 7. Geothermal Analysis and Introduction to FISH Programing Language

Section 7 Outline
Preview
Section 7-1 Lecture
Section 7-2 Lecture
Section 7-3 Lecture
Section 7-4 Lecture
Handout - Section 7 Geothermal and FISH.pdf
Example 7.1.txt

Section 8. Question and Answer Sessions

Section 8_1.mp4
Section 8_2.mp4
Section 8_3.mp4
Zone Relax Command.mp4

FLAC, FLAC3D, and UDEC Manuals

FLAC Version 7 Manual.zip
FLAC3D Version 5 Manual.zip
FLAC3D Version 6 Manual.pdf
UDEC Version 7 Manual.zip

Final Notes, Certificate, and Exam

Thank you for taking the course!
Certificate and Exam Notes
Exam Questions
CGRE Exam File.docx