Paper: Effect of Proppant Transport on Hydraulic Fracture Geometry

Slurry transport and settling experiments were conducted to improve current descriptions of proppant transport. Results of these experiments were used to formulate a new slurry transport model which was incorporated in a fully three-dimensional fracture simulator. The model was tested and verified against experimental observations of slurry transport in a 4 foot by 16 foot slot model. Results of the study indicate that proppant slurry transport can be accurately modeled when the effects of single particle settling, density driven flow, particle velocity profiles, and slurry rheology are accounted for. When the generation of fracture geometry is fully coupled with slurry transport, major alterations in the predicted final propped fracture are observed. Examples are provided to demonstrate the importance of proppant scheduling in controlling the final placement of proppant in hydraulic fractures.