Comparative experimental investigation on permeability and pressure bearing capacity of different types of temporary plugging bodies

Abstract

Temporary plugging and diversion fracturing technology play a vital role in boosting the production of tight reservoirs. The increase of net pressure in fractures is the core of temporary plugging diversion fracturing, which is closely related to the permeability of temporary plugging aggregates. However, the evolution of the permeability of temporary plugging bodies has received limited research attention. In this paper, a novel experimental system for evaluating the permeability capacity of temporary plugging agents is firstly established. This device allows us to measure critical parameters such as injection pressure, length and permeability of the temporary plugging body during the experimentation. Additionally, we assess the pressure-bearing capacity of the temporary plugging agent using a specialized experimental setup for temporarily plugging fractures. Throughout the experiment, we collect data on time consumption at different pressure levels and the volume of injected liquid. Furthermore, we conduct a comparative analysis of the pressure-bearing effects of five types of temporary plugging materials. Our experimental results reveal some interesting findings. Pure granular CDD-1 does not effectively form a substantial length, and we observe no significant relationship between the length and permeability of the temporary plugging body. In contrast, temporary plugging materials mainly composed of powder exhibit a uniform permeability of the temporary plugging body, blending both powder and particles. Moreover, temporary plugging bodies primarily formed by powder, uniform mixtures of powder and particles, and predominantly particle-based plugging bodies (with consideration of powder) demonstrate lower permeability, rendering them more favorable for temporary plugging purposes. This study sheds light on the permeability characteristics of different temporary plugging materials, contributing to a better understanding of their efficacy in temporary plugging and diversion fracturing applications. The findings could inform the selection and optimization of temporary plugging agents, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and success of tight reservoir production.