Modeling fracturing-fluid flowback behavior in hydraulically fractured shale gas under chemical potential dominated conditions

Shale with high clay content has caused instability from hydration during the hydraulic fracturing process. Macro-level migration phenomenon of water molecules is induced by the chemical potential difference between low-salinity fracturing fluid and high-salinity formation brine. This study aims to establish the equation for the chemical potential difference between fracturing fluid and formation brine by theoretical deduction in order to investigate the effect of the aforementioned phenomenon on fracturing flowback. Accordingly, a mathematical model was established for the gas-water two-phase flow which driven by the chemical potential difference. Viscous force, capillarity and chemiosmosis were considered as the driving forces. A numerical simulation of fracturing fluid flowback with or without considering of the effect of chemiosmosis was performed. A simulation analysis of the water saturation and salinity profiles was also conducted. Results show that capillarity and chemiosmosis hinder fracturing fluid flowback in different degrees. As the condition worsens, they inhibit more than 80% of water to flow back out of the formation, forming a permanent water lock. This study contributes to improvement of the theory on shale gas-water two-phase flow, establishment of a flowback model that suitable for shale gas wells, and accurate evaluation of the fracturing treatment.