Theoretical conductivity analysis of surface modification agent treated proppant II - Channel fracturing application

Proppant embedment plays a significant role in conductivity decreasing for conventional fracturing. Surface modification agent (SMA) is widely used in decreasing proppant embedment and proppant crush, increasing proppant cohesive force and long term conductivity. As an improvement for conventional fracturing technology, the Hi-way channel hydraulic fracturing technique improves the ability of a fracture to deliver increased oil and gas production. In this study, analytical models are derived to compute the effects of proppant embedment and SMA material on channel-fracturing conductivity. Visco-elastic model is adopted to predict proppant embedment and fracture conductivity in channel fracturing. The influence of proppant viscosity and closure pressure on channel fracturing conductivity is also studied. There are different arrangements of channel fracturing, series arrangement should be avoided especially under higher closure pressure. As to parallel and pillar arrangement, the influence of porosity decrease is tiny for channel fracturing. SMA will reduce proppant deformation and embedment and hence benefit conductivity of channel fracturing.