Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tamas Lengyel, Attila Varga, Ferenc Safranyik, Anita Jobbik
Summary: Hydraulic fracturing is a well-known production intensification technique in the petroleum industry that aims to enhance well productivity. The method developed in this article combines Discrete Element Method and Finite Element Method to describe fracture behavior. By comparing numerical model results with laboratory data, the effectiveness of the method was validated, providing new perspectives for explorers and engineers in understanding propped hydraulic fracture operation.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jian-Hua Li, Bo-Bo Li, Qiao-Yun Cheng, Zheng Gao
Summary: Hydraulic fracturing technology is crucial in improving the recovery rate of shale gas. This study proposes a permeability model to examine the combined effects of a proppant and stress on permeability, taking into account changes in fracture width and porosity. The model quantifies and analyzes the compressibility and permeability of supported fractures, and its rationality is verified through test data.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Ekrem Alagoz, Haotian Wang, Rodney T. Russell, Mukul M. Sharma
Summary: Productivity decline in fractured wells due to severe proppant embedment is not well understood, with few models considering embedment when predicting decline. New experimental techniques were developed to characterize proppant embedment mechanisms and properties, showing that plastic and creep deformation dominate embedment in shale.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Mateusz Maslowski, Malgorzata Labus
Summary: This paper presents experiments on proppant embedment phenomenon on shale rock from the Baltic Basin, an unconventional gas deposit region. The results show that proper selection of proppant and fracturing fluid can reduce fracture width and increase conductivity. The novel laboratory imaging procedure introduced in the article is a valuable method for assessing the vulnerability of reservoir rocks to embedment.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
S. Hari, Shanker Krishna, Laxmi Nandan Gurrala, Sanjeev Singh, Nikhil Ranjan, Rakesh Kumar Vij, Subhash N. Shah
Summary: Hydraulic fracturing is an effective tool for stimulating reservoirs and ensuring economic gas production. The use of proppants to maintain fracture conductivity is crucial in this process. This paper reviews experimental studies on sandstone formations to analyze factors intensifying proppant crushing and embedment, with a focus on maintaining fracture conductivity.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL GAS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zijia Liao, Zhaozhong Yang, Qi Xue, Xiaogang Li, Huabin Li, Wenhong Li
Summary: This study used finite element model to investigate the embedment and crushing of hollow proppants, identifying the sensitivity parameters under closure stress and the effects of proppant size and hollow structure on embedment and crushing. The results provide insights for the optimal design of hollow proppants.
ENERGY SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hai Qu, Xiangjun Chen, Xu Liu, Ying Liu, Zhelun Li, Zhijun Zeng
Summary: Slurry flow in a horizontal pipe with side holes was studied using experiments and numerical simulations. The effects of hole arrangement, diameter ratio, fluid parameters, and particle properties were analyzed. The results showed that the slurry flow regime varied depending on the hole-arrangement patterns, and a regression model was developed to evaluate particle distribution uniformity.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Ming Fan, Yanhui Han, Cheng Chen
Summary: This study investigates the impact of time-dependent deformation of shale rocks on proppant embedment and fracture conductivity loss using numerical simulations. The findings suggest that large size and multilayer proppant structures are recommended to maintain fracture conductivity when rock creep is significant.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Allan Katende, Lisa O'Connell, Ashley Rich, Jonny Rutqvist, Mileva Radonjic
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive review on the application of proppants to maintain fracture permeability over the lifetime of a well based on observations from experiments and modeling, identifying challenges and opportunities for future research.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL GAS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dongdong Ma, Yu Wu, Jiadi Yin, Jingjing Lu, Dawei Hu, Hui Zhou
Summary: The initial pore pressure plays a crucial role in the fracturing mechanism of tight sandstone, influencing the initiation and propagation of cracks. By conducting hydraulic fracturing tests, it was found that the initial pore pressure led to complex fracture morphology and microscopic crack formation, resulting in changes in pore diameter and rock structure under high pressure. These findings are important for unconventional reservoir stimulation.
GEOMECHANICS AND GEOPHYSICS FOR GEO-ENERGY AND GEO-RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Zhu, Shangxu Wang, Xu Chang, Hongyu Zhai, Hezhen Wu
Summary: Through hydraulic fracturing experiments, the study investigated the hydraulic fracturing mechanism of tight sandstone under high differential stress, revealing the fracture evolution processes of hydraulic fracturing.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dingxue Zhang, Yunfei Liu, Hui Luo, Shixue Cao, Jingxin Cao, Xiao Li
Summary: The study found that the fracturing effect of horizontal wells in tight sandstone oil reservoirs is influenced by the horizontal principal stress difference, and optimizing construction parameters and controlling fracture height are crucial for improving productivity.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Wei Zhou, Guoxin Shi, Jianbo Wang, Jiantong Liu, Ning Xu, Pengyu Liu
Summary: In this study, a double torsion experiment was conducted to simulate the propagation of tensile fractures during hydraulic fracturing. The influence of bedding planes on fracture toughness, morphology, and propagation rate in shale and tight sandstone was investigated. The results indicate that the angle between bedding and pre-cut plane, as well as the difference in micromechanical properties of adjacent bedding planes, are crucial in determining whether hydraulic fractures can penetrate or spread along a bedding plane.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yang Wang, Yu Fan, Song Li, Zefei Lv, Rui He, Liang Wang
Summary: China's argillaceous limestone reservoir is rich in oil and gas resources, but faces numerous difficulties in hydraulic fracturing. This paper addresses issues such as reservoir heterogeneity, fluid loss, closure pressure, and proppant migration, and establishes optimal fracturing parameters and ceramic particle mixtures. The research achieves favorable stimulation effects with significant increases in daily oil production and fracture length.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ali Seyfeddine Guenaoui, Abdelmadjid Dobbi, Hamid Lebtahi, Ahmed Ali Zerrouki
Summary: During hydraulic fracturing treatment, fracture dimensionless conductivity (Fcd) is a key parameter affected by gel residues, requiring proppant cleanup to avoid damage. Hydraulic fracturing technique in the Hassi Messaoud field in Algeria is mainly used in four producing formations with specific characteristics. An experimental simulation study showed significant drop in fracture conductivity under different bottom-hole conditions and variables.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. A. A. Ahamed, M. S. A. Perera, Jay R. Black, S. K. Matthai, P. G. Ranjith, Li Dong-yin, K. H. S. M. Sampath
Summary: The study found that sand proppants are more effective than ceramic proppants in shallow conditions, but less efficient in deeper depths where ceramic proppants are more effective. The shape of the proppants strongly influences the variation of fracture width, with sand propped fractures experiencing significant width variation under low confining stress conditions.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
K. M. A. S. Bandara, P. G. Ranjith, W. G. P. Kumari
Summary: The study revealed that fractures generated in shale and siltstone formations during hydraulic fracturing exhibit different characteristics, and flow behavior is influenced by factors such as fracture tortuosity and proppant concentration.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yi Xue, Jia Liu, P. G. Ranjith, Zhizhen Zhang, Feng Gao, Songhe Wang
Summary: This study conducted triaxial compression tests on coal under different gas pressure conditions to explore the influence mechanism of gas pressure on coal deformation, failure, and energy evolution. The mechanical properties, acoustic emission energy characteristics, and nonlinear characteristics of coal containing gas were obtained based on the test data. A theoretical formula for analyzing energy evolution was introduced and verified by test data. The research results indicate that energy rate can be used as a new effective mechanical parameter to analyze and predict the damage and failure characteristics of coal. The findings on energy dissipation characteristics and the defined ratio of dissipative energy rate and input energy rate provide insights for understanding the fracturing evolution and energy driving mechanism of coal.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
M. H. Samarakoon, P. G. Ranjith, W. A. M. Wanniarachchi
Summary: This study examines the effects of carbonation on the properties and mechanisms of cement, showing that alkali-activated cements with higher calcium content exhibit better mechanical properties and a denser microstructure when exposed to carbonate brine.
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Jizhao Xu, Cheng Zhai, Pathegama Gamage Ranjith, Shuxun Sang, Yong Sun, Yuzhou Cong, Wei Tang, Yangfeng Zheng
Summary: The study investigated the effects of liquid CO2 on coal strength, finding that the coupled effects of liquid CO2 temperature and adsorption can influence coal fracture behavior and crack morphology.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jizhao Xu, Cheng Zhai, P. G. Ranjith, Shuxun Sang, Xu Yu, Yong Sun, Yuzhou Cong, Yangfeng Zheng, Wei Tang
Summary: The study found that coal affected by liquid CO2 exhibited more complex destruction patterns, larger fractal dimensions, and greater structure degradation. The affected coals showed diverse mechanical responses, with temperature shock and CO2 adsorption potentially leading to crack growth and strength deterioration, ultimately destroying the coal with smaller yield strength.
Article
Energy & Fuels
David Lall, Vikram Vishal, M. V. Lall, P. G. Ranjith
Summary: The study found that gas production was less efficient in the presence of a permeable heterogeneity compared to other scenarios. The permeability affects the vertical extent of dissolved methane volume during thermal stimulation and huff and puff, while well depth influences the radial extent of dissociated molecules.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Chunlin Zhong, Zhenyu Zhang, P. G. Ranjith, Chengpeng Zhang, Kangsheng Xue
Summary: The study found that pore water can affect the radial and volumetric strain evolution of coal, leading to dilation deformation. Additionally, due to the water propping effect, the cracks in saturated coal cannot close tightly during loading, causing sliding and generating numerous tensile cracks. Loading frequency can impact the decay of pore pressure, consequently influencing the number of cracks in coal.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shashika Gajanayake, Ranjith Pathegama Gamage, Pabasara Wanniarachchige, Decheng Zhang
Summary: This study conducted molecular dynamic simulations to investigate the effects of temperature, pressure, and initial CO2 concentration on gas replacement characteristics for methane recovery and CO2 storage. The results showed that higher temperatures resulted in greater methane recovery, but diminished CO2 storage capacity. Higher initial CO2 concentrations facilitated better CO2 penetration into the hydrate structure, leading to increased methane recovery and improved CO2 storage.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL GAS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
P. Cheng, C. P. Zhang, Z. Y. Ma, J. P. Zhou, D. C. Zhang, X. F. Liu, H. Chen, P. G. Ranjith
Summary: Nanoindentation tests were conducted to investigate the effects of ScCO2-water treatment on shale matrix micromechanics, revealing significant heterogeneity in the properties of different minerals. Observation of indentation morphologies showed that considerable micro-fractures were generated in clay minerals, correlated to significant plastic deformation and layered crystal structures.
Article
Engineering, Geological
K. M. A. S. Bandara, P. G. Ranjith, W. Zheng, D. D. Tannant, V. R. S. De Silva, T. D. Rathnaweera
Summary: This study provides a grain-scale analysis of the fracture evolution mechanisms of proppant crushing, rock fracture damage during proppant embedment, and the influence of realistic reservoir/fracture fluid on proppant embedment. The results reveal that the selection of an appropriate proppant type is vital in quantifying the degree of proppant crushing and embedment within fractures.
Article
Thermodynamics
Guanglei Zhang, P. G. Ranjith, Qiao Lyu
Summary: This study reveals the effects of CO2 on the micro and nano-scale properties of coal, confirms the softening effects of CO2 on coal, and indicates that these changes are reversible to some extent.
Article
Energy & Fuels
B. Balinee, P. G. Ranjith, Herbert E. Huppert
Summary: The article discusses the impact of building material production on global carbon emissions and presents methods to reduce environmental impact through the use of waste and carbon sequestration. By incorporating discarded aluminum foil and industrial waste gases into cement, the performance and sustainability of cement can be improved. This approach significantly reduces carbon emissions, lowers costs, and stores a large amount of CO2.
GEOMECHANICS AND GEOPHYSICS FOR GEO-ENERGY AND GEO-RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
V. R. S. De Silva, H. Konietzky, H. Mearten, P. G. Ranjith, W. G. P. Kumari
Summary: This study proposes a novel approach called the hybrid rock pre-conditioning method to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of low-grade ore mining. The method involves the use of soundless cracking demolition agents (SCDAs) to initiate radial fractures in a predrilled host rock, followed by hydraulic stimulation to extend the fractures. The results show that this method can create a high density of fractures around the injection well, and key factors such as rock mass heterogeneity and stress anisotropy affect its performance.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. H. Samarakoon, P. G. Ranjith
Summary: Ensuring the intactness of cement sheaths is crucial for deep well applications in extreme underground conditions. This study investigates the behavior of wellbore materials, including steel casing, annulus cement sheaths, and surrounding rock formations, under continuous steam injection. The results show that materials in carbonate formations are more vulnerable to stress than those in sandstone formations, and the retention time of maximum temperature in cement sheaths is shorter in sandstone than in carbonate. It is also found that the cement sheaths in compliant formations like sandstone may fail due to tensile cracking along the thinnest thickness.
GEOENERGY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
