Numerical simulation of multi-cluster fracture competitive propagation and proppant placement
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In the fracturing process, the effective support of fractures is the key factor affecting the fracturing effect of horizontal wells. To improve the production efficiency of tight oil and gas fracturing, it is necessary to further clarify the migration and placement law of proppant during complex fracture propagation. The three-dimensional fracture model and proppant migration integrated calculation model were established to simulate the competitive expansion state of multiple clusters of fractures in horizontal wells, and the effects of different construction parameters on the placement of proppant in fractures were compared and analyzed to further optimize the digital fracturing process parameters. The results show that, branch fractures have a shunt effect, which reduces the flow rate of main fractures, the proppant is easy to accumulate in the smaller seam width due to the effect of the seam width, the proppant distribution in the fracture is "wedge-shaped", which is the same as that along the fracture width and length, and the near-wellbore support effect is better, and the combination injection of high injection rate, low viscosity fracturing fluid and low density proppant can effectively improve the fracture support area and support effect.
Authors: Li LI, Ji ZENG, Weihua CHEN, Tiankui GUO, Zhilin LUO, Yaxuan ZHANG
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: PetroChina Company Limited
OpenAlex ID: W4408679401