The rocks used in the Olympic sport of curling come from one island in Scotland and one quarry in Wales. What makes them so special?

GeoScienceWorld Graduate Studies Award Now accepting applications for 2026 The GeoScienceWorld Graduate Studies Award is an annual scholarship designed to support graduate students who bring fresh per...

Abstract During hydraulic fracturing, the uniform distribution of proppant among perforations is crucial for enhancing reservoir permeability. However, problems such as uneven proppant distribution between perforations and accumulation-induced blockage often occur. Current research focuses on proppant distribution among perforation clusters in horizontal wellbores. Additionally, there is a lack of systematic studies, particularly regarding proppant distribution among perforations within a cluster, turbulence within the wellbore, and sand blockage issues. Moreover, in engineering practice, wellbores are often not horizontally oriented. These issues limit the reservoir permeability. This study employs CFD methods and the Euler-Euler model to systematically simulate the transport and accumulation of proppants among perforations within a cluster in inclined wellbores. The focus is on analyzing the effects of key variables considering turbulence, including injection velocity, fluid viscosity, sand ratio, proppant particle size, proppant density, number of perforations, and wellbore inclination angle, on proppant distribution and accumulation. This simulation required significant computational resources and was successfully completed at China’s National Supercomputing Center. Results show that rapid proppant accumulation initially reduces sand content in the fluid, decreasing the sand volume fraction in perforations. Additionally, turbulence at the toe of the wellbore significantly reduces accumulation at the toe and promotes uniform distribution through sweeping, increased turbulent viscosity, and backflow. Furthermore, adjusting the discharge angle and position of the perforation closest to the toe can further optimize proppant distribution and reduce the risk of sand blockage by leveraging turbulence. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing fracturing designs in inclined reservoirs and proppant pumping strategies.

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Hi! My name is Rachel👋 I have a PhD in geoscience and I post educational videos for those interested in geoscience & related fields🌎and/or for those studying for an exam!😉 Subscribe if you want to le...

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