Abstract
The durability of hydraulic fracture stimulation is a major requirement for the success of fossil fuel recovery from rock formations with low permeability such as gas-shale. To improve this property, proppants are generally used to hinder the closure of fractures and promote higher fluid conductivity. The efficacy of proppant placement, however, depends among various things also on their mechanical response under high compressive stresses. 3D compression simulations were performed in this study using the distinct element method (DEM) to investigate the interaction between proppants and rock formation, giving emphasis to the role of the crushing resistance of proppant packs. To capture the size-dependence of the particle strength, proppants were modeled by bonded agglomerates with strength assigned randomly via a Weibull statistics. The stress-strain behavior and particle size evolution of specimens characterized by different packings were then studied numerically. The results revealed that packings consisting of multiple layers can sustain higher stresses and producing considerably less fines compared to mono-layer packings subjected to the same extent of fracture closure. Such analyses show that DEM modeling has considerable potential to incorporate the size-dependence of grain fracture processes, i.e. a key element to evaluate alternative types of proppants and select an optimal mixture for site-specific stress conditions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 227-234 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Geotechnical Special Publication |
| Volume | 2016-January |
| Issue number | 270 GSP |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2016 |
| Event | 2nd Geo-Chicago Conference: Geotechnics for Sustainable Energy, Geo-Chicago 2016 - Chicago, United States Duration: Aug 14 2016 → Aug 18 2016 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Architecture
- Building and Construction
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Cite this
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Micromechanical Modeling of Proppants for Hydraulic Fracturing. / Cil, Mehmet B.; Buscarnera, Giuseppe.
In: Geotechnical Special Publication, Vol. 2016-January, No. 270 GSP, 01.01.2016, p. 227-234.Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Micromechanical Modeling of Proppants for Hydraulic Fracturing
AU - Cil, Mehmet B.
AU - Buscarnera, Giuseppe
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - The durability of hydraulic fracture stimulation is a major requirement for the success of fossil fuel recovery from rock formations with low permeability such as gas-shale. To improve this property, proppants are generally used to hinder the closure of fractures and promote higher fluid conductivity. The efficacy of proppant placement, however, depends among various things also on their mechanical response under high compressive stresses. 3D compression simulations were performed in this study using the distinct element method (DEM) to investigate the interaction between proppants and rock formation, giving emphasis to the role of the crushing resistance of proppant packs. To capture the size-dependence of the particle strength, proppants were modeled by bonded agglomerates with strength assigned randomly via a Weibull statistics. The stress-strain behavior and particle size evolution of specimens characterized by different packings were then studied numerically. The results revealed that packings consisting of multiple layers can sustain higher stresses and producing considerably less fines compared to mono-layer packings subjected to the same extent of fracture closure. Such analyses show that DEM modeling has considerable potential to incorporate the size-dependence of grain fracture processes, i.e. a key element to evaluate alternative types of proppants and select an optimal mixture for site-specific stress conditions.
AB - The durability of hydraulic fracture stimulation is a major requirement for the success of fossil fuel recovery from rock formations with low permeability such as gas-shale. To improve this property, proppants are generally used to hinder the closure of fractures and promote higher fluid conductivity. The efficacy of proppant placement, however, depends among various things also on their mechanical response under high compressive stresses. 3D compression simulations were performed in this study using the distinct element method (DEM) to investigate the interaction between proppants and rock formation, giving emphasis to the role of the crushing resistance of proppant packs. To capture the size-dependence of the particle strength, proppants were modeled by bonded agglomerates with strength assigned randomly via a Weibull statistics. The stress-strain behavior and particle size evolution of specimens characterized by different packings were then studied numerically. The results revealed that packings consisting of multiple layers can sustain higher stresses and producing considerably less fines compared to mono-layer packings subjected to the same extent of fracture closure. Such analyses show that DEM modeling has considerable potential to incorporate the size-dependence of grain fracture processes, i.e. a key element to evaluate alternative types of proppants and select an optimal mixture for site-specific stress conditions.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84984993612&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/9780784480137.023
DO - 10.1061/9780784480137.023
M3 - Conference article
VL - 2016-January
SP - 227
EP - 234
JO - Geotechnical Special Publication
JF - Geotechnical Special Publication
SN - 0895-0563
IS - 270 GSP
ER -