IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v286y2024ics0360544223029638.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Study on the pump schedule impact in hydraulic fracturing of unconventional reservoirs on proppant transport law

Author

Listed:
  • Lv, Mingkun
  • Guo, Tiankui
  • Jia, Xuliang
  • Wen, Duwu
  • Chen, Ming
  • Wang, Yunpeng
  • Qu, Zhanqing
  • Ma, Daibing

Abstract

In unconventional reservoir hydraulic fracturing, using a pump schedule with proppant concentration constant (PCC) instead of the proppant concentration stepwise increasing (PCSI) is considered an innovative approach to reduce operation costs and risks. However, the large-scale application of PCC lacks sufficient theoretical support. This study investigates the impact of two pump schedules on proppant transport behavior through visualized proppant transport experiments and the model that couples fracture propagation with proppant transport. The experiments demonstrate that PCC facilitates proppant transport and reduces flow fluctuations in complex fractures, while PCSI enhances the filling of near-well fractures. The proppant concentration (the ratio of proppant volume to fracturing fluid volume) reaches 20 % or when a combination of 40/70-mesh and 20/40-mesh quartz sands is used for injection, the pump schedule influence becomes negligible. An increase in fracture complexity, proppant size, and proppant concentration all lead to a reduced influence of the pump schedule on the dune shape. Numerical simulation reveal that the fracture area and average fracture conductivity is similar for different pump schedules, but PCC yields a slightly larger propped fracture area (ranging from 1 % to 4 %) and results in a more uniform conductivity. PCC could achieve similar fracture filling when the proppant concentration is more than 15 % or there is no significant demand for near-well conductivity. Overall, both two pump schedules have a relatively insignificant impact on the transport process of proppants and the final sand dune shape. By comparing pressure curves during hydraulic fracturing, it was evident that PCC resulted in fewer fluctuations. Analyzing production data from 93 wells with PCSI and 59 wells with PCC, it was observed that PCC enhances production and reduces proppant flowback post-fracturing. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the application of PCC pump schedule in hydraulic fracturing.

Suggested Citation

  • Lv, Mingkun & Guo, Tiankui & Jia, Xuliang & Wen, Duwu & Chen, Ming & Wang, Yunpeng & Qu, Zhanqing & Ma, Daibing, 2024. "Study on the pump schedule impact in hydraulic fracturing of unconventional reservoirs on proppant transport law," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:286:y:2024:i:c:s0360544223029638
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.129569
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544223029638
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129569?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhao, Liqiang & Chen, Yixin & Du, Juan & Liu, Pingli & Li, Nianyin & Luo, Zhifeng & Zhang, Chencheng & Huang, Fushan, 2019. "Experimental Study on a new type of self-propping fracturing technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 249-261.
    2. Wang, Zhenyu & Lin, Botao & Chen, Gang & Dai, Yifan & Chen, Ang, 2023. "Experimental study on evaluation of conglomerate reservoir support-type fracture conductivity in Xinjiang oilfield," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    3. Pahari, Silabrata & Bhandakkar, Parth & Akbulut, Mustafa & Sang-Il Kwon, Joseph, 2021. "Optimal pumping schedule with high-viscosity gel for uniform distribution of proppant in unconventional reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    4. Hou, Lei & Elsworth, Derek & Zhang, Fengshou & Wang, Zhiyuan & Zhang, Jianbo, 2023. "Evaluation of proppant injection based on a data-driven approach integrating numerical and ensemble learning models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    5. Hou, Lei & Cheng, Yiyan & Wang, Xiaoyu & Ren, Jianhua & Geng, Xueyu, 2022. "Effect of slickwater-alternate-slurry injection on proppant transport at field scales: A hybrid approach combining experiments and deep learning," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    6. Zhang, Bo & Guo, Tiankui & Qu, Zhanqing & Wang, Jiwei & Chen, Ming & Liu, Xiaoqiang, 2023. "Numerical simulation of fracture propagation and production performance in a fractured geothermal reservoir using a 2D FEM-based THMD coupling model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    7. Katende, Allan & Rutqvist, Jonny & Massion, Cody & Radonjic, Mileva, 2023. "Experimental flow-through a single fracture with monolayer proppant at reservoir conditions: A case study on Caney Shale, Southwest Oklahoma, USA," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    8. Zhang, Nanlin & Chen, Zhangxin & Luo, Zhifeng & Liu, Pingli & Chen, Weiyu & Liu, Fushen, 2023. "Effect of the phase-transition fluid reaction heat on wellbore temperature in self-propping phase-transition fracturing technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    9. Shao, Jiaxin & You, Lijun & Jia, Na & Kang, Yili & Chen, Mingjun & Lei, Xiaowen, 2023. "Salt crystal: Natural proppant for enhancing shale reservoir production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    10. Huang, Feifei & Pu, Chunsheng & Gu, Xiaoyu & Ye, Zhengqin & Khan, Nasir & An, Jie & Wu, Feipeng & Liu, Jing, 2021. "Study of a low-damage efficient-imbibition fracturing fluid without flowback used for low-pressure tight reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hou, Lei & Elsworth, Derek & Zhang, Fengshou & Wang, Zhiyuan & Zhang, Jianbo, 2023. "Evaluation of proppant injection based on a data-driven approach integrating numerical and ensemble learning models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    2. Wu, Yining & Yan, Xiang & Huang, Yongping & Zhao, Mingwei & Zhang, Liyuan & Dai, Caili, 2024. "Ultra-deep reservoirs gel fracturing fluid with stepwise reinforcement network from supramolecular force to chemical crosslinking," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    3. Hou, Lei & Cheng, Yiyan & Wang, Xiaoyu & Ren, Jianhua & Geng, Xueyu, 2022. "Effect of slickwater-alternate-slurry injection on proppant transport at field scales: A hybrid approach combining experiments and deep learning," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    4. Zhang, He, 2024. "Study on microscale stress sensitivity of CO2 foam fracturing in tight reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    5. Wei, Jianguang & Li, Jiangtao & Zhang, Ao & Shang, Demiao & Zhou, Xiaofeng & Niu, Yintao, 2023. "Influence of shale bedding on development of microscale pores and fractures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    6. Li, Jiangtao & Zhou, Xiaofeng & Liu, Xibao & Gayubov, Abdumalik & Shamil, Sultanov, 2023. "Cross-scale diffusion characteristics in microscale fractures of tight and shale gas reservoirs considering real gas – mixture – body diffusion – water film coupling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    7. Hou, Lei & Elsworth, Derek & Wang, Jintang & Zhou, Junping & Zhang, Fengshou, 2024. "Feasibility and prospects of symbiotic storage of CO2 and H2 in shale reservoirs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    8. Jiang, Xingwen & Chen, Mian & Li, Qinghui & Liang, Lihao & Zhong, Zhen & Yu, Bo & Wen, Hang, 2022. "Study on the feasibility of the heat treatment after shale gas reservoir hydration fracturing," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    9. Katende, Allan & Rutqvist, Jonny & Massion, Cody & Radonjic, Mileva, 2023. "Experimental flow-through a single fracture with monolayer proppant at reservoir conditions: A case study on Caney Shale, Southwest Oklahoma, USA," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    10. Huang, Xudong & Kang, Zhiqin & Zhao, Jing & Wang, Guoying & Zhang, Hongge & Yang, Dong, 2023. "Experimental investigation on micro-fracture evolution and fracture permeability of oil shale heated by water vapor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    11. Huang, Feifei & Pu, Chunsheng & Gu, Xiaoyu & Ye, Zhengqin & Khan, Nasir & An, Jie & Wu, Feipeng & Liu, Jing, 2021. "Study of a low-damage efficient-imbibition fracturing fluid without flowback used for low-pressure tight reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    12. Hou, Lei & Elsworth, Derek & Zhang, Lei & Gong, Peibin & Liu, Honglei, 2024. "Recalibration of CO2 storage in shale: prospective and contingent storage resources, and capacity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    13. Xie, Yetong & Liu, Huimin & Zhang, Kuihua & Jia, Wenhua & Li, Jing & Meng, Xiaoyu, 2023. "Dynamic evaluation of microscopic damage and fluid flow behavior in reservoir shale under deviatoric stress," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    14. Wei, Jianguang & Zhou, Xiaofeng & Shamil, Sultanov & Yuriy, Kotenev & Yang, Erlong & Yang, Ying & Wang, Anlun, 2024. "High-pressure mercury intrusion analysis of pore structure in typical lithofacies shale," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    15. Nie, Bin, 2023. "Diffusion characteristics of shale mixed gases on the wall of microscale fractures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    16. Zhou, Zhixiang & Wen, Hang & Pang, Huiwen & Liang, Lihao & Jiang, Xingwen & Song, Jiabang, 2024. "Energy evolution analysis of heat-treated hydrated shale," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    17. Zhou, Xiaofeng & Wei, Jianguang & Zhao, Junfeng & Zhang, Xiangyu & Fu, Xiaofei & Shamil, Sultanov & Abdumalik, Gayubov & Chen, Yinghe & Wang, Jian, 2024. "Study on pore structure and permeability sensitivity of tight oil reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    18. Wang, Huaijing, 2023. "Modeling of multiple thermal fluid circulation in horizontal section of wellbores," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    19. Yixin Chen & Yu Sang & Jianchun Guo & Jian Yang & Weihua Chen & Fei Liu & Ji Zeng & Botao Tang, 2022. "Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Self-Generated Proppant Fracturing Fluid System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-21, November.
    20. Tian, Weibing & Wu, Keliu & Feng, Dong & Gao, Yanling & Li, Jing & Chen, Zhangxin, 2023. "Dynamic contact angle effect on water-oil imbibition in tight oil reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:286:y:2024:i:c:s0360544223029638. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.