# Multi-fidelity Fourier Neural Operator for Fast Modeling of Large-Scale Geological Carbon Storage

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.09113 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.09113/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 13 of its 21 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 17 Aug 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Adam: A Method for Stochastic Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1412.6980/) (2014)
- [Fourier Neural Operator for Parametric Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.08895/) (2020)
- [Bayesian Deep Convolutional Encoder-Decoder Networks for Surrogate Modeling and Uncertainty Quantification](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1801.06879/) (2018)
- [Deep convolutional encoder-decoder networks for uncertainty quantification of dynamic multiphase flow in heterogeneous media](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1807.00882/) (2018)
- [Real-time high-resolution CO2 geological storage prediction using nested Fourier neural operators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.17051/) (2022)
- [Incremental Spatial and Spectral Learning of Neural Operators for Solving Large-Scale PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.15188/) (2022)
- [Transfer Learning on Multi-Fidelity Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.00856/) (2021)
- [A Deep Learning-Accelerated Data Assimilation and Forecasting Workflow for Commercial-Scale Geologic Carbon Storage](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.09468/) (2021)
- [CCSNet: a deep learning modeling suite for CO2 storage](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.01795/) (2021)
- [Use of Multifidelity Training Data and Transfer Learning for Efficient Construction of Subsurface Flow Surrogate Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.11138/) (2022)
- [A Robust Deep Learning Workflow to Predict Multiphase Flow Behavior during Geological CO2 Sequestration Injection and Post-Injection Periods](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.07274/) (2021)
- [Multi-fidelity prediction of fluid flow and temperature field based on transfer learning using Fourier Neural Operator](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.06972/) (2023)
- [Deep Learning-Accelerated 3D Carbon Storage Reservoir Pressure Forecasting Based on Data Assimilation Using Surface Displacement from InSAR](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.08543/) (2022)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Time Series Predictions in Unmonitored Sites: A Survey of Machine Learning Techniques in Water Resources](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.09766/) (2023)
- [PICore: Physics-Informed Unsupervised Coreset Selection for Data Efficient Neural Operator Training](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.17151/) (2025)
- [COMPOL: A Unified Neural Operator Framework for Scalable Multi-Physics Simulations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.17296/) (2025)
- [Causal Multi-fidelity Surrogate Forward and Inverse Models for ICF Implosions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.05510/) (2025)
- [A Trainable-by-Parts Operator Learning Framework: Bridging DeepONet and Karhunen-Loeve Expansions for Large-Scale Applications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.28519/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Deep learning-based surrogate models have been widely applied in geological carbon storage (GCS) problems to accelerate the prediction of reservoir pressure and CO2 plume migration. Large amounts of data from physics-based numerical simulators are required to train a model to accurately predict the complex physical behaviors associated with this process. In practice, the available training data are always limited in large-scale 3D problems due to the high computational cost. Therefore, we propose to use a multi-fidelity Fourier neural operator (FNO) to solve large-scale GCS problems with more affordable multi-fidelity training datasets. FNO has a desirable grid-invariant property, which simplifies the transfer learning procedure between datasets with different discretization. We first test the model efficacy on a GCS reservoir model being discretized into 110k grid cells. The multi-fidelity model can predict with accuracy comparable to a high-fidelity model trained with the same amount of high-fidelity data with 81% less data generation costs. We further test the generalizability of the multi-fidelity model on a same reservoir model with a finer discretization of 1 million grid cells. This case was made more challenging by employing high-fidelity and low-fidelity datasets generated by different geostatistical models and reservoir simulators. We observe that the multi-fidelity FNO model can predict pressure fields with reasonable accuracy even when the high-fidelity data are extremely limited. The findings of this study can help for better understanding of the transferability of multi-fidelity deep learning surrogate models.
