Abstract: In order to study the distribution of proppant in the perforation cluster and analyze the principle of proppant settlement along the horizontal wellbore, an indoor experimental simulation device was established to analyze the influence of the factors above on the distribution of proppant in the perforation cluster by changing the parameters of proppant pumping displacement, particle size, sand ratio, etc. The results of the study show that under the low pumping displacement, with the increase of sand ratio, the distribution of 20/40-mesh quartz sand mainly changed from the 2ndand 3rd perforation clusters to the 1st and 2nd perforation clusters, and 40/70-mesh quartz sand mainly concentrated in the 1st perforation cluster; under the high pumping displacement, the distribution of 20/40-mesh quartz sand was similar to the low pumping displacement, and 40/70-mesh quartz sand was influenced by the high speed fluid and migrated at a speed far beyond the critical deposition rate, and mainly deposited at the 3rd perforation cluster.Under the same sand ratio, the impact of fluid on small-sized quartz sand is weaker, so the proppant was easily deposited nearby, while the impact on large-sized quartz sand is stronger and more easily deposited far away; with the increase of sand ratio, the mass proportion of proppant in the 1st perforation cluster gradually increases, and significantly decreased in the 3rd perforation cluster. This study provides a strong support for the optimization of perforation clusters for horizontal well staged fracturing and improvement of the stimulation effect.

Key words: fracturing, shale gas, horizontal well, perforation cluster, proppant, pumping displacement, sand ratio