Prediction of proppant accumulation morphology in coal reservoir fractures using numerical simulation and response surface approach methodology
Abstract view|8|times PDF download|1|times
Abstract
Proppants are widely employed in coalbed methane extraction. The use of proppant effectively mitigates the closure of hydro-fractures during production, thereby maintaining efficient gas flow pathways. The transport distance and accumulation morphology of proppants within hydro-fractures are critical factors influencing coalbed methane production; however, their quantitative and comprehensive evaluation remains insufficiently explored in coal reservoirs. In this study, a Box-Behnken design was adopted to establish a four-factor, four-level experimental framework for investigating the influence of multiple variables on dune parameters within secondary hydro-fractures through a coupled computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method approach. Response surface methodology and statistical significance testing were employed to quantify the effects of multiple parameters and to establish an empirical predictive model of proppant dune characteristics. The adequacy and significance of the proposed model were verified through analysis of variance. The results demonstrated that both the transport distance and accumulation morphology of proppant within hydro-fractures are jointly controlled by the coupled influence of multiple parameters. Four basic variables, including injection rate, proppant size, proppant density and sand carrying fluid viscosity, were selected, and their influences on sand dune parameters were ranked. The model predictions revealed that dune height may reach up to 79.7% of the hydro-fracture height, while the horizontal dune length can extend up to 15 times the hydro-fracture height. These findings elucidate the mechanisms governing proppant transport and deposition under diverse conditions, offering valuable insights and optimization strategies for proppant selection and injection parameter design in hydraulic fracturing in coalbed methane reservoirs.
Document Type: Original article
Cited as: Zhu, X., Liu, W., Wei, Y., Zhou, P., Wang, Y. Prediction of proppant accumulation morphology in coal reservoir fractures using numerical simulation and response surface approach methodology. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 18(3): 218-230. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.12.02
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Akhshik, S., Rajabi, M. Simulation of proppant transport at intersection of hydraulic fracture and natural fracture of wellbores using CFD-DEM. Particuology, 2022, 63: 112124.
Alvandifar, N., Mahravan, E., Christensen, K. G., et al. Modeling of two-phase CO2 ejectors using an Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid approach. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2025, 177: 338-350.
Anjum, J., Salma, A., Hanumagowda, B. N., et al. Squeeze film lubrication between two different spheres: MHD-couple stress fluid model. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2025, 166: 109133.
Basiuk, L., Irou Roschzttardtz, F., Fernandez, M. E., et al. Proppant transport in scaled experiments: Effect of drainage configuration and fracture wall roughness. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2022, 208: 109433.
Cheng, Q., Li, H., Huang, B., et al. Migration and distribution characteristics of proppant at the corner of horizontal fracture network in coal seam. Frontiers in Earth Science, 2021, 9: 792232.
Cundall, P. A., Strack, O. D. L. A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies. Geotechnique, 1979, 29(1): 47-65.
Difelice, R. The voidage function for fluid particle interaction systems. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 1994, 20(1): 153-159.
Eltom, H. Modeling and simulating biogenically-controlled permeability in gas reservoirs. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2024, 167: 106951.
Gislason, K., Fredsoe, J., Sumer, B. M. Flow under standing waves part 2. Scour and deposition in front of breakwaters. Coastal Engineering, 2009, 56(3): 363-370.
Heriawan, M. N., Koike, K. Coal quality related to microfractures identified by CT image analysis. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2015, 140: 97-110.
Hosseini, N., Khoei, A. R. Numerical simulation of proppant transport and tip screen-out in hydraulic fracturing with the extended finite element method. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2020, 128: 104247.
Hou, L., Cheng, Y., Wang, X., et al. Effect of slickwater-alternate-slurry injection on proppant transport at field scales: A hybrid approach combining experiments and deep learning. Energy, 2022, 242: 122987.
Kern, L. R., Perkins, T. K., Wyant, R. E. The mechanics of sand movement in fracturing. Transactions of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, 1959, 216: 403-405.
Kray, T., Franke, J., Frank, W. Magnus effect on a rotating soccer ball at high Reynolds numbers. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 2014, 124: 46-53.
Li, H., Huang, B., Han, X., et al. Pulse effects on proppant transport and dune shape in vertical fracture applied in coalbed methane mining engineering during the pulse hydraulic fracturing. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 2023, 229: 212128.
Li, H., Hu, Q., Zhu, R., et al. Reactive transport modeling of water-CO2-rock interactions in clay-coated sandstones and implications for CO2 storage. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 17(2): 121-134.
Li, J., Han, X., He, S., et al. Effect of proppant sizes and injection modes on proppant transportation and distribution in the tortuous fracture model. Particuology, 2024, 84: 261-280.
Li, R., Wang, S., Lyu, S., et al. Geometry and filling features of hydraulic fractures in coalbed methane reservoirs based on subsurface observations. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2020, 53(5): 2485-2492.
Liao, Q., Wang, B., Chen, X., et al. Reservoir stimulation for unconventional oil and gas resources: Recent advances and future perspectives. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2024, 13(1): 7-9.
Lu, Y., Zhao, G., Ge, Z., et al. Challenges and development direction of deep fragmented soft coalbed methane in china. Earth Energy Science, 2025, 1(1): 38-64.
Lv, M., Guo, T., Chen, M., et al. Study on proppant flowback mechanism during post-fracturing stage based on CFD-DEM. Earth Energy Science, 2025, 1(3): 256-269.
Ma, W., Perng, J., Tomac, I. Experimental investigation of proppant flow and transport dynamics through fracture intersections. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 2022, 30: 100232.
Mei, R. An approximate expression for the shear lift force on a spherical-particle at finite reynolds-number. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 1992, 18(1): 145-147.
Mirjalily, S. A. A. Calibration of the k-ω shear stress transport turbulence model for shock wave boundary layer interaction in a sern using machine learning. Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 2023, 146: 96-104.
Mohapatra, S. C., Soares, C. G. Boussinesq model for two-fluid system with surface- and interfacial tension. Applied Ocean Research, 2024, 152: 104183.
Mou, P., Pan, J., Wang, K., et al. Influences of hydraulic fracturing on microfractures of high-rank coal under different in-situ stress conditions. Fuel, 2021, 287: 119566.
Patel, S., Wilson, I., Sreenivasan, H., et al. Numerical simulations of proppant transportation in cryogenic fluids: Implications on liquid helium and liquid nitrogen fracturing for subsurface hydrogen storage. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2024, 56: 924-936.
Richesson, S., Sahimi, M. Hertz-Mindlin theory of contacting grains and the effective-medium approximation for the permeability of deforming porous media. Geophysical Research Letters, 2019, 46(14): 8039-8045.
Rivas, E., Gracie, R. A monolithic coupled hydraulic fracture model with proppant transport. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2020, 372: 113361.
Shamshirband, S., Malvandi, A., Karimipour, A., et al. Performance investigation of micro- and nano-sized particle erosion in a 90° elbow using an anfis model. Powder Technology, 2015, 284: 336-343.
Shiozawa, S., McClure, M. Simulation of proppant transport with gravitational settling and fracture closure in a three-dimensional hydraulic fracturing simulator. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2016, 138: 298-314.
Suri, Y., Islam, S. Z., Hossain, M. A new CFD approach for proppant transport in unconventional hydraulic fractures. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2019, 70: 102951.
Suri, Y., Islam, S. Z., Hossain, M. Effect of fracture roughness on the hydrodynamics of proppant transport in hydraulic fractures. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2020, 80: 103401.
Wang, F., Xu, H., Wang, S., et al. Fluid flow and efficient development technologies in unconventional reservoirs: State-of-the-art methods and future perspectives. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2024, 12(3): 237-240.
Wang, X., Yao, J., Gong, L., et al. Numerical simulations of proppant deposition and transport characteristics in hydraulic fractures and fracture networks. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2019, 183: 106401.
Wei, Z., Sheng, M., Li, J., et al. Pressure diagnostics in hydraulic fracturing for unconventional completion optimization. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 17(3): 196-211.
Wen, Q., Wang, S., Duan, X., et al. Experimental investigation of proppant settling in complex hydraulic-natural fracture system in shale reservoirs. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016, 33: 70-80.
Wood, D. A. Variable interaction empirical relationships and machine learning provide complementary insight to experimental horizontal wellbore cleaning results. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 9(3): 172-184.
Wu, M., Li, H., Wang, L., et al. µCT quantitative assessment of the pore-fracture structures and permeability behaviors of long-flame coal treated by infrared rapid heating. Energy, 2023, 274: 127308.
Xiao, H., Li, Z., He, S., et al. Experimental study on proppant diversion transportation and multi-size proppant distribution in complex fracture networks. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2021, 196: 107800.
Xu, F., Hou, W., Xiong, X., et al. The status and development strategy of coalbed methane industry in china. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2023, 50(4): 765-783.
Yamashiro, B. D., Tomac, I. A numerical study of neutrally buoyant slickwater proppant flow and transport in rough fractures. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 2022, 29: 100266.
Zheng, Y., Zhou, M. M., Kuru, E., et al. Proppant transport in rough fracture networks using supercritical CO2. Petroleum Science, 2024, 21(3): 1852-1864.
Zhou, Z., Kuang, S., Chu, K., et al. Discrete particle simulation of particle-fluid flow: Model formulations and their applicability. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2010, 661: 482-510.
Zhu, H., Zhou, Z., Yang, R., et al. Discrete particle simulation of particulate systems: A review of major applications and findings. Chemical Engineering Science, 2008, 63(23): 5728-5770.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.12.02
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.