Effects of proppant distribution in fracture networks on horizontal well performance

Yue, Ming1,4; Zhang, Qitao1; Zhu, Weiyao1; Zhang, Liaoyuan2; Song, Hongqing1; Li, Jianhui3

2020

10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106816

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING   影响因子和分区

0920-4105

1873-4715

In this paper, we presented a coupled 3D finite element method model for the simulation of proppant transport in fracture networks and its effects on horizontal well performance. We used a mixture model, which have advantages to deal with two-phase flow containing a dispersed phase like solid particles, to simulate the proppant transport process in fracture networks. Then a tight oil reservoir model was established to evaluate the effect of the proppant distribution on the horizontal well performance. The effects of several factors, such as the proppant physical properties and injection parameters, were analyzed. The calculated results show that, in the fracture network, proppant accumulates at the intersections of cracks. Height of the proppant packed bed in natural fracture was about 30% smaller than that in the main hydraulic fracture, and the communication between hydraulic fractures leads to a larger proppant dune and higher conductivity. Besides, in a tight oil reservoir, the proppant distribution has a significant influence on the well performance. When the reservoir permeability is reduced to 0.05 mD, the productivity index fold of increase calculated including the proppant uneven distribution can be 47.7% larger than that calculated with idealized proppant distribution. Furthermore, the proppant physical properties and injection parameters are found to be correlated with the fracture network conductivity. Based on this analysis, optimum proppant injection conditions can be identified.
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.

Hydraulic fracturing Fracture network Proppant distribution Fracture conductivity Well performance

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[FRF-TP-17-027A2] ; Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China[11602221] ; National Major Science and Technology Projects of China[2017ZX05069-003]

Energy & Fuels ; Engineering

Energy & Fuels ; Engineering, Petroleum

WOS:000510456900034

Elsevier B.V.

20195207930849

Fracture ; Horizontal wells ; Hydraulic fracturing ; Oil wells ; Packed beds ; Petroleum reservoir engineering ; Petroleum reservoirs ; Physical properties ; Two phase flow

Oil Field Production Operations:511.1 ; Oil Fields:512.1.1 ; Petroleum Deposits : Development Operations:512.1.2 ; Fluid Flow, General:631.1 ; Chemical Plants and Equipment:802.1 ; Physical Properties of Gases, Liquids and Solids:931.2 ; Materials Science:951

GEOSCIENCES

Web of Science

1.School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
2.Production Technology Research Institute, Shengli Oilfield Company, Dongying, China
3.Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
4.Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

Yue, Ming,Zhang, Qitao,Zhu, Weiyao,et al. Effects of proppant distribution in fracture networks on horizontal well performance[J]. JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING,2020,187.

Yue, Ming,Zhang, Qitao,Zhu, Weiyao,Zhang, Liaoyuan,Song, Hongqing,&Li, Jianhui.(2020).Effects of proppant distribution in fracture networks on horizontal well performance.JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING,187.

Yue, Ming,et al."Effects of proppant distribution in fracture networks on horizontal well performance".JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 187(2020).