Evaluating the Effects of Proppant Flowback on Fracture Conductivity in Tight Reservoirs: A Combined Analytical Modeling and Simulation Study

Yishan Cheng, Zhiping Li (), Yingkun Fu and Longfei Xu
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Yishan Cheng: School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Zhiping Li: School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Yingkun Fu: School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Longfei Xu: School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-19

Abstract: This work establishes an analytical model for determining the critical velocity for proppant flowback, and evaluates how proppant flowback affects fracture conductivity for tight reservoirs. The multiphase effects are considered for determining the critical velocity for proppant flowback before and after fracture closure, respectively. The model’s performance is demonstrated by comparing the results against previous models. A finite-element model is built to simulate the proppant flowback process for a hydraulic-fractured well completed in the Ordos Basin. The change in fracture conductivity caused by proppant flowback for several scenarios with varying saturation and net pressure in fractures is further quantitatively assessed. Our results highlight the importance of multiphase effects in determining the critical velocity for proppant flowback at relatively low water saturation in fractures. The critical velocity generally increases with increasing water saturation in fractures and net pressure in fractures. At a flowback velocity higher than the critical value, the loss in fracture conductivity becomes relatively more pronounced at a lower water saturation in fractures and a lower net pressure in fractures. The findings of this work are expected to provide insights into the mechanisms of proppant flowback and flowback drawdown management for field operations in tight reservoirs.

Keywords: proppant flowback; critical velocity; finite-element simulation; fracture conductivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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