Proppant Distribution Prediction between Perforation Clusters Using Fresh Water in a Horizontal Wellbore.

Abstract

In multistage, multicluster treatments, distributing the proppant evenly among the multiple perforation clusters is considered one of the key challenges. Uneven proppant distribution in multiple clusters can significantly affect fracture conductivity, which in turn severely affects the well's productivity. Dimensional analysis using the Buckingham π-theorem was utilized to develop the experimental correlations using the experimental data. The laboratory tests data of 100 mesh brown and 40/70 mesh white sands (SG of 2.65) at various proppant concentrations, injection rates, and with various perforation configurations were combined and used to develop the correlation. This paper offers a newly developed experimental correlation for the proppant distribution that may be utilized to forecast the distribution of proppant between various clusters in the multistage, multicluster stimulation. Such correlations are essential to be considered in future hydraulic fracturing treatment designs, as they offer insightful information and aid in optimizing the projected proppant distribution across several perforation clusters within a single hydraulic fracturing stage. Thus, the multistage, multicluster horizontal wellbore achieves uniform proppant distribution between the various perforation clusters.