The influence of proppant breakage, embedding, and particle migration on fracture conductivity

Wang, Jie; Huang, Yixiao; Zhou, Fujian; Liang, Xingyuan

doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2020.107385

Cited by 21 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“… For a standard API cell, L = 12.7 cm and w = 3.81 cm are substituted into eq 4 , and the simplified calculation formula is eq 5 . 17 , 20 where kW f is the conductivity of the proppant pack, μm 2 ·cm; Q is the flow rate, mL/min; and Δ p is the pressure difference between upstream and downstream, kPa.…”

Section: Experimental Design and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The conductivity of the proppant is defined as the product of the width of the proppant pack and its permeability. The calculation formula at Darcy flow conditions is shown by eq . For a standard API cell, L = 12.7 cm and w = 3.81 cm are substituted into eq , and the simplified calculation formula is eq . , where kW f is the conductivity of the proppant pack, μm 2 ·cm; Q is the flow rate, mL/min; and Δ p is the pressure difference between upstream and downstream, kPa.…”

Section: Experimental Design and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the same time, it is also found that in the actual production, the particle size difference in the mixed proppant is too large, which is easier to aggravate the pore plugging effect caused by the migration of small particles. 7 , 19 , 20 The research on mixing ceramic and sand shows that even a 1:1 mixture is dominated by the lower conductivity of sand and small amounts of 100 mesh (5%) by weight would result in above 25% reductions in permeability. 21 Furthermore, by testing the fracture conductivity at various ratios of the mixed proppant with different sizes, the potential effect of the mixed proppant sizes relative to fracture conductivity has been understood in hybrid completion designs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The adverse effect induced by proppant size difference has been revealed that, as illustrated in Figure , when some different size proppants are mixed, small proppants will fill into the pores formed by large proppants, thus reducing the fracture conductivity, which is very similar to the mechanism of the decrease of conductivity caused by the crushing of proppant particles. At the same time, it is also found that in the actual production, the particle size difference in the mixed proppant is too large, which is easier to aggravate the pore plugging effect caused by the migration of small particles. ,, The research on mixing ceramic and sand shows that even a 1:1 mixture is dominated by the lower conductivity of sand and small amounts of 100 mesh (5%) by weight would result in above 25% reductions in permeability . Furthermore, by testing the fracture conductivity at various ratios of the mixed proppant with different sizes, the potential effect of the mixed proppant sizes relative to fracture conductivity has been understood in hybrid completion designs .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental Investigation on the Fracture Conductivity Behavior of Quartz Sand and Ceramic Mixed Proppants

Xu²,

Zhou

et al. 2022

ACS Omega

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In this paper, a series of fracture conductivity experiments were designed and conducted by an American Petroleum Institute (API) standard fracture conductivity evaluation system. The mixing proportion of quartz sand and ceramic was optimized. By the evaluation of the proppant breakage rate and sphericity analysis of mixed proppant with different sand volume proportions ( P S ), the proppant mixture conductivity evolution behavior was analyzed. Results of this study showed that the conductivity of mixed proppant was between that of pure ceramic proppant and pure quartz sand proppant under the same conditions. For 20/40 mesh mixed proppant, a small amount of ceramic (25%) in mixed proppant could obtain 1.27–3 times higher conductivity than pure sand, while 40/70 mesh mixed proppant required the addition of 50% or more ceramic. The crushing resistance of mixed proppant determined the decrease of conductivity with the increase of effective closure stresses. A logarithmic empirical model was further derived from the results, which could be used to forecast the performance of fracture conductivity at different effective closure stresses and sand volume proportions.

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Section: Experimental Design and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Design and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental Investigation on the Fracture Conductivity Behavior of Quartz Sand and Ceramic Mixed Proppants

Xu²,

Zhou

et al. 2022

ACS Omega

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“…Coated proppants, which are made by coating a polymer resin on the aggregate body of traditional proppants, − are characterized by low relative density, high strength, low crushing rate, , good roundness, sphericity, , chemical inertness, and consolidation at low temperature in the downhole . Coated proppants are widely used in oilfield fracturing , and sand control and help increase the proppant concentration, reduce the fracturing fluid volume, prevent proppant backflow, − mitigate proppant embedment, improve the fracture conductivity, , and extend the effective fracturing period. The promotion of coated proppants is conducive to increasing oil production and reducing water production , and is of great significance to solving the problems in the development of a low-permeability oilfield. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Coated Proppant Unconventional Performance

Guo

Wang

et al. 2021

Energy Fuels

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Fracturing is a key stimulation measure in hydrocarbon exploration and development. The proppant, which is the core material in fracturing, is the key in improving the fracturing success rate and the stimulation effect. The coated proppant is made by coating a polymer resin on the aggregate body of the traditional proppant. The coated proppant has the low density, high strength, and low crushing rate and is widely used in reservoir fracturing and sand control. Nevertheless, the standards for evaluating coated proppant performance have not been presented. Especially, experiments on the effect of temperature on the conductivity of the fracture filled with coated proppants and the migration and settlement of the coated proppants within the fractures have rarely been reported. In this study, the solubility in alkali, wettability, and high-temperature (HT) deformation property of the coated proppant were tested, and the dynamic migration and settlement physical simulation were performed to evaluate the unconventional performance and the applicability of the coated proppant. The experiment on HT deformation of the coated proppant was performed in a HT seepage simulator, and the proppant migration and settlement physical simulation was performed in a large-scale visual plate simulator of proppant migration. Both devices have been independently designed and manufactured by China University of Petroleum (UPC). The results show that the coated proppant solubility in alkali gradually increases with an increase in pH and temperature of the fracturing fluid, and all three types of coated proppant are water-resistant and oil wet. At high temperature and under high pressure (150 °C and 30 MPa), the coated proppant deforms and melts significantly, and the particles adhere mutually and are crushed, causing a reduction of 2 orders of magnitude in the permeability of the fracture filled with proppants. The migration capacity of the ultralow-density (ULD)-coated proppant is significantly better than that of the medium-density (MD)-coated proppant and conventional-density (CD) proppant in the major and branch fractures. The bank height of the ULD-coated proppants is obviously lower than those of the MD-coated proppants and the CD proppants, and the bank heights of the MD-and CD-coated proppants are 5.6 times and 6.7 times that of the ULD-coated proppants, respectively. The ULD-coated proppants are more easily carried by the fracturing fluid and migrate to the far end of the fracture.

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Effects of CaO addition on the properties and microstructure of low-grade bauxite-based lightweight ceramic proppant

et al. 2023

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The influence of proppant breakage, embedding, and particle migration on fracture conductivity

Cited by 21 publications

References 11 publications

Experimental Investigation on the Fracture Conductivity Behavior of Quartz Sand and Ceramic Mixed Proppants

Experimental Investigation on the Fracture Conductivity Behavior of Quartz Sand and Ceramic Mixed Proppants

Evaluation of Coated Proppant Unconventional Performance

Effects of CaO addition on the properties and microstructure of low-grade bauxite-based lightweight ceramic proppant

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