To study the migration and settlement law of temporary plugging particle in fractures, a set of fracture visualization device with controllable pumping rate was built. Based on the experimental device, the influence of the parameters such as pumping rate, particle size combination and adding sequence on the sedimentation and accumulation of temporary plugging particle was studied respectively. The experimental results show that the amount of particle deposition in the fracture is the largest when the pumping rate is 0.04 m3⋅min-1; Under different particle size combinations, 3 mm particles settle earlier than 1 mm particles and the volume of the accumulation is proportional to the proportion of 3 mm particles. The effect of the sequence of addition on the morphology of the particle accumulation is mainly reflected in the layering of the accumulation. When the 3 mm particles are added first and then the 1 mm particles are added, the accumulation volume is larger and the particles settle more. In summary, when a combination of 0.04 m3⋅min-1 rate and 3 mm: 1 mm=4:2 particle size is selected, and 3 mm is added first, and then 1 mm particles are added, the temporary plugging particle has a larger volume of sedimentation in the fracture.
After temporary plugging and fracturing, some of the difficult-to-degrade temporary plugging agents (fibers and particles) in the fractures will affect the conductivity and ultimately affect the rate of oil production. However, the influence law and mechanism of the fibers and particles on the fracture conductivity are still unclear. In order to solve this problem, based on the FCS-842 fracture conductivity test system, the influence law and mechanism of fibers and particles on the fracture conductivity were investigated. The experimental results show that the larger particles support the fracture wall when particles are contained, resulting in higher conductivity. Further studies have found that high fibers content will lead to a significant decrease in the fracture conductivity under low closure pressure. However, high particles content means high fracture conductivity. The placement position of fibers and particles also affects the fracture conductivity. When the pressure is 10 MPa, the conductivity is maximum when the fibers and particles are placed at the fracture opening. Then, when the pressure increases, the conductivity drops sharply by about 88%. When the closure pressure is ≥ 20 MPa, the conductivity is the highest when the fibers and particles are placed at the fracture tip, followed by the middle of the fracture and the smallest at the fracture opening. After analysis, at the fracture opening, the high flow velocity forms a fiber “Barrier” in the fracture, which makes the conductivity decrease rapidly. In the middle of the fracture, the “Dot-net” structure composed of fibers and particles makes the fracture conductivity decrease, but the decrease amplitude and speed are small. At the fracture tip, the lower flow rate makes the fibers and particles form “Clusters”, and the large flow channel between the clusters makes the fracture conductivity higher than the former two. When the fibers and particles are evenly laid, the fibers are easy to form clusters with the particles to block the flow channel, reducing the fracture conductivity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.