Peculiarities of the hydraulic fracture propagation caused by pumping of proppant-fluid slurry

Abstract

A new numerical model for hydraulic fracturing has been developed. This model takes into account several simultaneous processes: pumping of proppant-laden slurry and its flow through the fracture, fracture growth with variable height and length, proppant settling, forming of proppant packing, and fluid filtration through this packing. Simulation experiments demonstrated that proppant particle diameter has significant influence on forming the proppant packing, fluid filtration through the packing, and, finally, on the fracture length and ultimate distribution of fracture width.