RockWare PetraSim 2026.1 – Advanced Geological Simulation Software

PetraSim is the graphical interface for the TOUGH2 family of simulators, developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. TOUGH2 and its derivatives are recognized for their powerful simulation capabilities for fluid flow and heat transfer in porous and fractured media, with applications spanning from Yucca Mountain groundwater flow to multi-component environmental remediation.

PetraSim makes the power of TOUGH2 accessible to modelers through an interactive 3D environment that includes mesh generation, parameter definition, and display of results. The software significantly lowers the barriers to TOUGH2 use by automatically handling the complex details of TOUGH2 input and output files, freeing the analyst to focus on the model itself.

PetraSim 2026.1 is the latest release of RockWare’s flagship subsurface modeling platform. It includes packaged executables for legacy TOUGH2 (version 2), T2VOC, TMVOC, and TOUGHREACT (version 1.2). For more advanced simulators—including TOUGH2 v2.1, TOUGH3 v1.1, TOUGHREACT v2.0, and TOUGHREACT v3.32—users must purchase separate licenses through Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) and configure them for use with PetraSim.

Primary Users

PetraSim 2026.1 is designed for hydrogeologists, reservoir engineers, environmental scientists, and geoscientists who specialize in modeling subsurface fluid flow and heat transfer. It serves professionals who:

• Simulate geothermal systems, CO₂ sequestration, and multiphase contaminant transport in porous and fractured media

• Need to build, run, and visualize complex TOUGH2 models without manually handling input/output file formats

• Work on large-scale or computationally demanding projects requiring robust and efficient simulators

• Conduct reactive transport modeling for environmental remediation and geochemical applications

• Collaborate with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) TOUGH code developers and researchers

Key Features & Capabilities

Simulator Support and Licensing

PetraSim 2026.1 supports the following TOUGH family simulators:

Interactive Modeling Environment

• Mesh Generation: Create structured and unstructured grids for 2D and 3D models

• Parameter Definition: Assign material properties, initial conditions, and boundary conditions through an intuitive interface

• Result Visualization: Display simulation results including pressure, temperature, saturation, and concentration fields in 3D

• Export Capabilities: Output results in various formats for further analysis and reporting

Supported Simulators

• TOUGH2: Multi-dimensional multiphase flow and heat transfer in porous and fractured media

• T2VOC: Three-component (water, air, NAPL) three-phase flow for VOC contamination problems

• TMVOC: Multi-component VOC transport in three-phase systems

• TOUGHREACT: Reactive geochemical transport with equilibrium and kinetic reactions

Advanced Simulator Support (Separate License Required)

• TOUGH2 v2.1: Updated version with enhanced capabilities and bug fixes

• TOUGH3 v1.1: Next-generation TOUGH simulator consolidating serial and parallel implementations; features PETSc parallel linear solvers for superior performance on large-scale problems

• TOUGHREACT v2.0: Enhanced reactive transport capabilities

• TOUGHREACT v3.32: Latest version with advanced geochemical reaction modeling

Professional Training and Support

• PetraSim Workshops: One-day hands-on workshops offered in conjunction with the TOUGH Symposium in Berkeley, CA

• Example Problems: Extensive library of TOUGH and TOUGHREACT exercises, including CO₂ disposal in saline aquifers and aqueous transport with adsorption and decay

What’s New in PetraSim 2026.1

The 2026.1 release continues RockWare’s commitment to supporting the latest developments in the TOUGH simulator ecosystem:

Expanded Simulator Compatibility

• Official support for TOUGH3 v1.1 (license through LBL), the new efficient version that consolidates serial (TOUGH2 V2.1) and parallel (TOUGH2-MP V2.0) implementations

• Limited support for TOUGHREACT v3.32, with dedicated example problems available for this version

Enhanced TOUGHREACT Workflows

• Updated example problems for TOUGHREACT v3.32 and v4.13, including CO₂ disposal in saline aquifers and aqueous transport with adsorption and decay

TOUGH3 Integration

• PETSc Linear Solver Support: PetraSim can now interface with models using TOUGH3’s PETSc solvers, which deliver significantly better performance than the legacy Aztec solvers

• Serial and Parallel Execution: Run models on both desktop computers and supercomputers using a single TOUGH3 code