Numerical investigation of the effects of proppant embedment on fracture permeability and well production in Queensland coal seam gas reservoirs

Wang，Duo1,2; You，Zhenjiang3; Johnson，Raymond L.3,4; Wu，Lei2; Bedrikovetsky，Pavel5; Aminossadati，Saiied M.1; Leonardi，Christopher R.1,4

2021

10.1016/j.coal.2021.103689

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY   影响因子和分区

0166-5162

This paper introduces the development of a new predictive model in support of proppant injection in naturally fractured coal seam gas (CSG) reservoirs. In the proposed model, the finite element method (FEM) is used for the prediction of proppant embedment and elastoplastic deformation of the coal. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is applied to the modelling of fluid flow through propped fractures, in which the modified partially saturated method (MPSM) is implemented to characterise the fluid–solid interactions. Permeability diagrams of the fractures are then generated as functions of particle packing ratio and effective stress. Finally, these results are incorporated into a radial Darcy flow analytical solution to predict the productivity index of the CSG wells under various proppant injection pressures and cleat compressibilities. The developed model is applied to selected coal samples from the Bowen and Surat Basins in Queensland, Australia. Modelling results indicate that proppant injection leads to increased fracture permeabilities and enhanced well productivity indexes. The elastoplastic deformation results in smaller permeability increase and less production enhancement when compared to the traditional linear elastic models. Although focused on Australian coals, the developed workflow can be broadly applicable to the assessment of potential stimulation efficacy in other unconventional reservoirs. In addition, a better understanding and implementation of the proppant injection scheme can effectively improve the post-fracturing performance, particularly in low-permeability coal intervals, which benefits the CSG industry.

Coal seam gas Finite element method Lattice Boltzmann method Naturally fractured reservoirs Well productivity

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

WOS:000657732000004

20211910318907

Coal ; Coal bed methane ; Coal deposits ; Deformation ; Elastoplasticity ; Flow of fluids ; Fracture ; Petroleum reservoir engineering ; Petroleum reservoirs ; Predictive analytics ; Productivity ; Proppants

Mines and Mining, Coal:503 ; Oil Field Production Operations:511.1 ; Oil Fields:512.1.1 ; Petroleum Deposits : Development Operations:512.1.2 ; Gas Fuels:522 ; Solid Fuels:524 ; Fluid Flow, General:631.1 ; Materials Science:951

GEOSCIENCES

2-s2.0-85105337704

Scopus

1.School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering,The University of Queensland,Brisbane,QLD,4072,Australia
2.Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.School of Chemical Engineering,The University of Queensland,Brisbane,4072,Australia
4.Centre for Natural Gas,The University of Queensland,Brisbane,4072,Australia
5.Australian School of Petroleum & Energy Resources,The University of Adelaide,Adelaide,5005,Australia

Wang，Duo,You，Zhenjiang,Johnson，Raymond L.,et al. Numerical investigation of the effects of proppant embedment on fracture permeability and well production in Queensland coal seam gas reservoirs[J]. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY,2021,242.

Wang，Duo.,You，Zhenjiang.,Johnson，Raymond L..,Wu，Lei.,Bedrikovetsky，Pavel.,...&Leonardi，Christopher R..(2021).Numerical investigation of the effects of proppant embedment on fracture permeability and well production in Queensland coal seam gas reservoirs.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY,242.

Wang，Duo,et al."Numerical investigation of the effects of proppant embedment on fracture permeability and well production in Queensland coal seam gas reservoirs".INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY 242(2021).