A new model for simulating particle transport in a low‐viscosity fluid for fluid‐driven fracturing. Issue 9 (23rd May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Xiaodong; Wu, Kan; Song, Xianzhi; Yu, Wei; Tang, Jizhou; Li, Gensheng; Shen, Zhonghou
• Is Part Of: AIChE journal. Volume 64:Issue 9(2018)
• Page Start: 3542
• Page End: 3552
• Publication Date: 2018-05-23
• Subjects: chemical engineering -- hydraulic fracturing -- low‐viscosity fluid -- particle transport -- particle bed; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; 660.28
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.16183
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-1541

Abstract

Abstract : Fluid‐driven fracture (i.e., Hydraulic fracturing) is an important way to stimulate the well productivity in the development of unconventional reservoirs. A low‐viscosity fluid called slickwater is widely used in the unconventional fracturing. It is a big challenge to simulate the particle (or proppant) transport in the low‐viscosity fluid in a field‐scale fracture. A new model to simulate particle transport in the low‐viscosity fluid in a field‐scale fracture is developed. First, a new parameter is defined, called the rate of proppant bed wash‐out, by which we incorporated the mechanism of proppant bed wash‐out into Eulerian‐Eulerian proppant transport model. Second, we proposed a novel way to consider the effect of proppant settling on the proppant concentration in the upper layer (or suspending layer) to accurately simulate the proppant transport. Additionally, a dimension reduction strategy was used to make the model quickly solved. Our simulation results were compared with published experimental data and they were consistent. After validation, the effect of fluid viscosity, injection rate, fracture height, and proppant concentration on the proppant distribution in a fracture is investigated. This study provides a new model to simulate particle transport. Meanwhile, it gives critical insights into understanding particle transport in the field‐scale fracture. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 3542–3552, 2018