Special Oil & Gas Reservoirs ›› 2023, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 146-155.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-6535.2023.04.018

• Drilling & Production Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of Proppant Placement in Fractures Dynamically Coupled between Fracture Propagation and Sand Transport

Li Xiaogang1, He Jiangang1,2, Huang Yanhong3, Yi Liangping1,4, Zhang Jingqiang1, Du Bodi1, Huang Liuke4,5   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China;
    2. PetroChina Tarim Oilfied Campany, Korla, Xinjiang 841000, China;
    3. PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay, Xinjiang 834000, China;
    4. Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500;
    5. Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Received:2022-05-18 Revised:2023-05-09 Online:2023-08-25 Published:2023-09-18

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Abstract: The dynamic coupling of fracture propagation and proppant migration is one of the challenges in terms of hydraulic fracturing numerical simulation technology. In order to investigate the characteristics of proppant placement in shale dynamic fractures, based on the three-dimensional discrete element method, a dynamic coupling numerical model of fracture propagation and proppant migration in shale reservoirs considering bedding was established, and the laws of fracture propagation and proppant placement under different proppant particle sizes, proppant density, fracturing fluid viscosity and proppant injection methods were analyzed. The study shows that: The smaller the particle size, the wider the proppant placement range and the more uniform placement.The placement area and placement efficiency of the proppant with a particle size of 150 μm are 1.8 times that of the proppant with a particle size of 600 μm; the proppant density was not the main factor affecting fracture propagation and proppant migration; the higher the viscosity of fracturing fluid, the smaller the fracture area and placement area, and the higher placement efficiency, the viscosity increased from 1 mPa·s to 15 mPa·s, and the fracture area decreased by 45%, and the placement area reduced by 34%, and the placement efficiency increased by 12%.When the proppant injection method is step injection, the fracturing fluid has the best effect on fracture creation and sand carrying. The study results can provide theoretical guidance for effective modification of shale reservoirs.

Key words: shale, bedding, fracture propagation, proppant, placement characteristics, dynamic coupling, discrete element

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