Work

Experimental and Optimization Strategies for Fines Migration–Conductivity Damage Suppression in Hydrate Reservoir Fracturing Proppant-Filled Layer

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing demonstrates considerable potential for natural gas hydrate reservoir (NGHR) stimulation. However, sediment mechanical property weakening during hydrate dissociation and fine particle migration caused by gas-water flow leads to engineering challenges, including proppant embedment and fracture plugging, severely diminishing fracture conductivity. This study employed a visualized sapphire reactor to investigate the impact of proppant-filled layers on hydrate formation and dissociation behavior. X-CT scanning was further utilized to explore fine particle migration patterns and pore damage within the proppant-filled layer. Results indicate that conductivity impairment primarily occurs during the constant-pressure and output stages. Enhancing proppant concentration and reducing particle size significantly mitigate conductivity damage and enhance gas production rates. Moreover, gradient filling using 20–40 and 40–60 mesh proppants effectively optimized fracture conductivity, with total porosity increases of 84.6% and 23.9%, respectively, compared to uniform proppant filling. Additionally, pore structure damage was found to vary nonlinearly with decomposition pressures, highlighting the coupling effect between damage severity and two-phase flow velocity, thereby influencing particle migration intensity and spatial distribution. The insights obtained from this research provide valuable guidance for optimizing proppant gradation and developing novel protective strategies. This work serves as a crucial reference for integrating fracturing and sand control processes, offering essential technical support toward achieving sustainable and stable gas production from hydrate reservoirs.

Source: Energy & Fuels

DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5c05870