Coupled 3-d numerical simulation of proppant transport and fluid flow in hydraulic fracturing

Abstract

Coupled 3-D Numerical Simulation of Proppant Transport and Fluid Flow in Hydraulic Fracturing By Bing Kong Hydraulic fracturing is one of the most common and important stimulation techniques used in oil and gas industry to create high conductivity flow paths for hydrocarbons to flow from the reservoir matrix to the wellbore. Hydraulic fracturing is a complex process including different physical and chemical phenomena. It involves rock mechanics for the part of fracture propagation and involves fluid mechanics for the part of slurry injection, fluid flow, fluid leakoff, proppant transport, proppant settling and interaction between fluid and proppant particles. In this study, the focus is on fluid and proppant motion within hydraulic fractures. The effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing treatment is highly dependent on the fracture geometry and conductivity after flow back. Fracture geometry is a function of proppant placement while fracture DEDICATION To my parents v TABLE OF CONTENTS