A new mathematical model to calculate sand-packed fracture conductivity

Li, Haitao; Wang, Ke; Xie, Jiang; Li, Ying; Zhu, Shiyan

doi:10.1016/j.jngse.2016.09.003

Cited by 33 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…However, prior to shifting to the final stable rhombohedral arrangement, proppants are likely to undergo a transitional position analogous to a hexagonal arrangement. Similar findings have been reported for spherical granular packs subjected to stress conditions by Li et al [34]. Importantly, all these findings are based on the assumption that all the proppants are spherical and equal in size.…”

Section: Effect Of Proppant Concentration On Proppant Pack Re-arrange...supporting

confidence: 88%

Grain-scale analysis of proppant crushing and embedment using calibrated discrete element models

et al. 2022

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Proppant crushing and embedment in hydraulically-induced fractures is a major drawback to the recovery of unconventional oil/gas and geothermal energy production. This study provides a grain-scale analysis of the fracture evolution mechanisms of proppant crushing, rock fracture damage during proppant embedment, the influence of realistic reservoir/fracture fluid on proppant embedment, and the behaviour of proppant packs subjected to in-situ stresses using a discrete element modelling (DEM) approach. The results of this study reveal that the selection of an appropriate proppant type based on the nature of the reservoir formation plays a vital part in quantifying the degree of proppant crushing and embedment within fractures. The utilisation of frac-sand proppants instead of ceramic proppants in shallow soft sedimentary-based siltstone formations reduces proppant embedment up to 88%. However, whatever the depth of the fracture, the injection of ceramic proppants into granite-based geothermal formations is preferred to that of frac-sand proppants due to their lower proppant embedment and greater crush resistance. DEM analysis detected rock-spalling during the proppant embedment process, which ultimately led to the initiation of tensile-dominant secondary fractures in rocks. Fracture initiation, propagation, and coalescence during proppant crushing are analysed using calibrated DEM proppant-rock assemblies. Importantly, this study reveals that the saturation of formation rocks with fracturing/reservoir fluids may cause a significant increase in proppant embedment. Furthermore, proppant crushing, embedment, and re-arrangement mechanisms in proppant packs with different proppant distributions are analysed in this comprehensive numerical study.

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Section: Effect Of Proppant Concentration On Proppant Pack Re-arrange...supporting

confidence: 88%

Grain-scale analysis of proppant crushing and embedment using calibrated discrete element models

et al. 2022

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“…Its permeability depends on the fracture properties (aperture, intensity, tortuosity, connectivity etc. ), the proppant pack properties (concentration, size and stiffness), and their interactions (proppant embedment) [28,29]. The compaction of the proppant pack under the confining stresses of the reservoir leads to a reduction in the porosity of the proppant pack.…”

Section: Proppant-pack Hydraulic Fracture Conductivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multi-Parameter Optimization Model for the Evaluation of Shale Gas Recovery Enhancement

et al. 2018

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Although a multi-stage hydraulically fractured horizontal well in a shale reservoir initially produces gas at a high production rate, this production rate declines rapidly within a short period and the cumulative gas production is only a small fraction (20-30%) of the estimated gas in place. In order to maximize the gas recovery rate (GRR), this study proposes a multi-parameter optimization model for a typical multi-stage hydraulically fractured shale gas horizontal well. This is achieved by combining the response surface methodology (RSM) for the optimization of objective function with a fully coupled hydro-mechanical FEC-DPM for forward computation. The objective function is constructed with seven uncertain parameters ranging from matrix to hydraulic fracture. These parameters are optimized to achieve the GRR maximization in short-term and long-term gas productions, respectively. The key influential factors among these parameters are identified. It is established that the gas recovery rate can be enhanced by 10% in the short-term production and by 60% in the long-term production if the optimized parameters are used. Therefore, combining hydraulic fracturing with an auxiliary method to enhance the gas diffusion in matrix may be an effective alternative method for the economic development of shale gas.

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“…However, the responses of hydraulic fractures and micro-fractures to the effective stress change are different. A lot of analytical and empirical hydraulic fracture conductivity models have been developed [7][8][9] Most empirical models depend on the experimental fittings, and the accuracy of predicting the proppant embedment and fracture conductivity may be not satisfactory in some cases. The analytical model derived with the contact mechanics give a unified description and good accuracy, such as Li's model [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Investigation on Geomechanical Response and Well Performance in Shale Condensate Gas Reservoirs

Zeng

Liu

et al. 2023

Modern Management Based on Big Data IV

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Compared with conventional reservoirs, shale gas flow is greatly affected by matrix/fracture deformation, as well as nonlinear coupled transport mechanisms. In this paper, a hydro-mechanical coupled model is presented to describe the fluid flow in deformable shale formation. A unified compositional model is developed for modeling of multiphase fluid flow with phase transition. A series of mechanisms, including Knudsen diffusion, multi-component adsorption, confined phase behavior and molecular diffusion, are considered for accurate description of fluid flow in shale reservoirs. Matrix deformation is based on the linear poroelasticity theory. The fractures with complex geometry are modeled with the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM). The mechanical responses of fractures are handled by different constitutive models, which are implemented into the coupled model. The flow and geomechanical models are spatially discretized using finite volume method (FVM) and finite element method (FEM), and the sequentially iterative approach is applied for solving the coupled model. Then the impacts of fracture orientation, in-situ stress condition, and bottom hole pressure on the mechanical deformation and gas production are investigated through sensitivity analysis. With multiple mechanisms and dynamic fracture behavior incorporated, the geomechanical response and well performance in shale condensate gas reservoirs can be accurately captured.

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A new mathematical model to calculate sand-packed fracture conductivity

Cited by 33 publications

References 13 publications

Grain-scale analysis of proppant crushing and embedment using calibrated discrete element models

Grain-scale analysis of proppant crushing and embedment using calibrated discrete element models

A Multi-Parameter Optimization Model for the Evaluation of Shale Gas Recovery Enhancement

Numerical Investigation on Geomechanical Response and Well Performance in Shale Condensate Gas Reservoirs

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