Numerical investigation on ball-sealers transport and diversion performance in shale gas horizontal well based on semi-resolved CFD-DEM--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Huang, Y., Zhao, J., Ren, L., Lin, R., Wu, J., Shen, C., . . . Li, B. (2024). Numerical investigation on ball-sealers transport and diversion performance in shale gas horizontal well based on semi-resolved CFD-DEM. Particuology, 93, 137-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2024.06.012

Numerical investigation on ball-sealers transport and diversion performance in shale gas horizontal well based on semi-resolved CFD-DEM

Yinjian Huang^a, Jinzhou Zhao^{a b}, Lan Ren^{a b *}, Ran Lin^{a b}, Jianfa Wu^c, Cheng Shen^c, Jianjun Wu^d, Bing Li^d

a National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China
b Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, Chengdu, 610213, China
c Shale Gas Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu, 610056, China
d PetroChina Coalbed Methane Company Limited, Xi’an, 710082, China

10.1016/j.partic.2024.06.012

Volume 93, October 2024, Pages 137-153

Received 16 March 2024, Revised 12 June 2024, Accepted 19 June 2024, Available online 29 June 2024, Version of Record 5 July 2024.

E-mail: renlanswpu@163.com

Highlights

• A semi-resolved CFD-DEM model based on kernel approximation is established.

• Factors affecting the plugging probability of a single ball sealer are analyzed.

• Plugging efficiency's response to the number of ball sealers is analyzed.

• Plugging efficiency's response to the flow distribution is analyzed.

Abstract

In the staged multi-cluster fracturing of shale gas horizontal wells, ball sealers are used to ensure uniform fluid distribution among clusters, a strategy that is both cost-effective and operationally beneficial. Despite these advantages, comprehending the ball sealers' dynamics within the wellbore and their plugging behavior at perforations is still challenging. This complexity results in prediction difficulties regarding their diversion efficiency. To address this, our study utilized a semi-resolved CFD-DEM model based on kernel approximation to simulate the behavior of medium-sized ball sealers in single and multiple cluster scenarios. Our findings from a single cluster scenario reveal that the plugging probability is co-determined by velocity gradients in the fluid ingestion area near the perforation, backflow region, and inertial forces of the ball sealers. As the critical flow rate is achieved, the plugging probability negatively correlated with fluid viscosity and displacement, and positively correlated with the perforation flow ratio (PFR), the difference in particle-fluid density, ball sealer's diameter, and the ball sealer's offset from the pipeline center. Temporary plugging control efficiency was used to evaluate the flow balance effect among multiple clusters. The results indicate that an increased number of ball sealers enhances the fault tolerance during the temporary plugging process. Nevertheless, excessive ball sealers might undermine the temporary plugging control efficiency, as perforations with lower fluid inflow rates are unexpectedly plugging. Higher differences in fluid injection rates between clusters led to increased efficiency in temporary plugging control. Premature deployment of ball sealers cannot effectively plug perforations with marginally higher fluid inflow rates, but instead accidently plug intermediate clusters with lower fluid inflow rates. These findings offer a theoretical basis for optimizing the design of ball sealers.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Gas shale; Horizontal wells; Ball sealer; Semi-resolved CFD-DEM; Diversion

文章导读