Analysis on Key Influencing Factors of Proppant Migration in Tortuous Fractures Based on CFD-DEM Method

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-6535.2022.06.019

Abstract

Abstract: The migration and displacement of proppant in fractures is the key to maintain fracture opening and enhance fracture conductivity, but the mechanism of proppant migration in tortuous fractures remains unclear. According to the principle of computational fluid dynamics, a numerical model of proppant migration in tortuous fractures was established by the discrete unit method to study the effects of proppant-carrying fluid injection rate, fracturing fluid-proppant ratio, proppant particle size and other factors on the migration and displacement of proppant in tortuous fractures. The result shows: The greater the tortuosity of the fracture, the shorter the proppant displacement distance and the greater the flow rate loss; at 20 mm from the fracture entrance, the flow rate loss rate in the fracture with tortuosity of 1.2, 1.5 and 2.0 was increases by 2.2, 3.7 and 4.5 times compared with that in the fracture with tortuosity of 1.0; the proppant displacement distance in the tortuous fracture increased with the increase of proppant injection rate, and decreased with the increase of fracturing fluid-proppant ratio and proppant particle size. This study can theoretically guide the study of proppant migration in tortuous fractures.

Key words: Tortuous fractures, proppant, proppant-carrying fluid, fracturing, CFD-DEM method, flow-solid coupling

CLC Number:

TE357.1

Wang Xuefei, Wang Suling, Hou Feng, Wang Ming, Li Xuemei, Sun Dandan. Analysis on Key Influencing Factors of Proppant Migration in Tortuous Fractures Based on CFD-DEM Method[J]. Special Oil & Gas Reservoirs, 2022, 29(6): 150-158.

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