Study of proppant flowback control by self-aggregating agent

Key words:  proppant flowback  self-aggregating agent  hydraulic fracturing  conductivity  fracture stability

Abstract:

Due to the proppant flowbak after hydraulic fracturing, a processing technology of self-aggregating proppant was proposed on the basis of reducing the Zeta potential of the proppant particles. The comprehensive evaluation was conducted in terms of the self-aggregating property, reaggregating property, and self-cleaning property of the modified proppant. The self-aggregating strength of the proppant congeries was evaluated through the velocity sensitivity testing and the compressive strength of artificial cores. It is found that the differential pressure is reduced by 63.95％ when the flow rate is 80 mL/min. And the compressive strength of the proppant sand column prepared at 80 ℃ is 2.36 MPa. Also the maximum sand free flow rate is increased by 96.51％ under the closure stress of 30 MPa. It is considered that the compressive strength of the proppant congeries, as well as the reaggregating property of the coated particles can prevent the migration of the crushed fines, through which the fracture conductivity is significantly improved by an average of 96.48％.