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

Bandara, K.M.A.S.; Ranjith, P.G.; Zheng, Wenbo; Tannant, Dwayne D.; Silva, V.R.S. De; Rathnaweera, T.D.

doi:10.1007/s11440-022-01575-9

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Deng studied the effects of crack opening, shale Young's modulus, and average proppant size under different stress [9]. Bandara Tang also studied the transport behaviors in lled hydraulic fracture [10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyclic loading tests on proppant in hydraulic fracture by discrete element method

Fang

Liu

Yang

et al. 2023

Preprint

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In this paper, discrete element method (DEM) is used to generate randomly stacked proppant layer, and the particle size distribution, Young's modulus and initial stacking of proppant are considered. Based on these discrete stacking structures, cyclic uniaxial compression tests (ucts) were carried out, and mechanical and seepage analysis of the proppant layer was carried out. Larger particle size and larger Young's modulus will make the equivalent elastic modulus of particle combination larger. The particle distribution has a certain effect on the permeability coefficient of the whole combination in given condition.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyclic loading tests on proppant in hydraulic fracture by discrete element method

Fang

Liu

Yang

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…Through volumetric fracturing, efficient extraction from low-permeability oil and gas formations is achieved by fracturing the reservoir, enhancing the fracture complexity, and increasing both the seepage area and the flow conducting capacity [15][16][17][18][19]. However, increases in in situ stresses can induce the closure of intricate fracture networks formed through volumetric fracturing, leading to reduced oil and gas production [20][21][22][23][24]. To overcome these limitations, proppants have been applied to prevent the closure of reservoir fractures to maintain their conductivity [25][26][27][28][29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proppant Migration Law Considering Complex Fractures

Kong,

Yang,

Guo

et al. 2023

Processes

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The placement of proppant within fractures is critical to the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing. To elucidate the migration and placement patterns of proppant within multi-branched fractures during hydraulic fracturing, we conducted simulation experiments under both single-fracture and multi-branched-fracture conditions, varying injection rates and proppant sizes. The results of the research indicate that increasing the injection rate effectively increases the magnitude of vortex formation at the leading edge of sandbars and the drag forces acting on the proppant particles, resulting in increased particle migration distances. However, effective proppant packing near the wellbore entrance is not achieved at higher injection rates, leaving the fractures susceptible to closure under in situ stress, thereby reducing overall fracture conductivity. In addition, increasing the proppant size results in higher settling velocities and weakens the vortex’s ability to entrain the proppant particles. This results in shorter proppant placement distances, and the proppant cannot effectively reach the distant branched fractures. In addition, the diversionary effect of the branched fractures gradually reduces the flow rate in the distant branches, resulting in poorer proppant placement efficiency. Based on these findings, we recommend an approach that initially increases injection rates while reducing proppant size to ensure proppant placement in distant wellbore fractures and branched fracture networks. Subsequently, larger proppants can be used to effectively fill fractures close to the wellbore.

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Dynamics of granular debris flows against slit dams based on the CFD–DEM method: effect of grain size distribution and ambient environments

et al. 2023

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Earth surface flows in nature, like debris flows and rock avalanches, have threatened people’s safety and infrastructure during past decades. Though grain size distribution (GSD) has been acknowledged as a crucial characteristic in granular material behaviour, its coupled effects associated with environments on engineering structures such as the slit dam remain unclear. To bridge the gap, this paper reveals the coupled effect of the GSD and ambient environments (i.e. slope angles and saturation conditions) on avalanche/debris flows’ impact on the slit dam using a Computational Fluid Dynamics/Discrete Element Method (CFD–DEM) model. To describe strain-dependent rheological characteristics of debris fluids, the Herschel–Bulkley–Papanastasiou model is implemented in the finite volume method framework. A power grain size distribution law is considered to quantify GSDs, in which a fractal parameter takes charge of GSD types. After model verification with experimental/theoretical results, the impact force against slit dams, granular dynamics and final deposit patterns under a series of ambient circumstances are presented. Taking advantage of the CFD–DEM method, the impact force and kinetic energy induced by fluid and solid phases are discriminated. The contribution of solid and fluid phases to both impact force and dynamics appears to be dependent on GSDs. Accordingly, compared with saturated avalanche flows (i.e. debris flows), slit dams result in higher retaining efficiency when confronted with dry avalanche flows. Regarding a narrow diameter range used in analyses, the grain diameter ratio is then enlarged up to eight to reveal the potential size effect. As for the coupled role of GSDs and slope angles, in contrast to slope angles, the influence of GSD on avalanche flow interaction with slit dams is much smaller. Additionally, provided a narrow diameter range, the effect of GSDs on impact force can be partially attributed to the change in average grain diameter. After presenting the significance of ambience and GSDs to avalanche/debris flows, a series of parametric studies around the effect of fluid grid size, particle shape and the initial porosity of granular samples are discussed, aiming to advance the understanding of their influence in the interactions between debris flows and the slit dam. Please confirm the corresponding affiliation is correctly identified. The corresponding author has changed his affiliation this year but most of this work was conducted in Tongji University. The email address has been changed to the current one because the previous one has been disabled. Please check edit made in the article title. Thanks for kind reminder.

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

Cited by 8 publications

References 66 publications

Cyclic loading tests on proppant in hydraulic fracture by discrete element method

Cyclic loading tests on proppant in hydraulic fracture by discrete element method

Proppant Migration Law Considering Complex Fractures

Dynamics of granular debris flows against slit dams based on the CFD–DEM method: effect of grain size distribution and ambient environments

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