Measuring proppant settling velocity in high viscosity friction reducers (HVFRs) plays a critical key for evaluating proppant transport in hydraulic fracture treatment. Settling of particles is governed by several factors such as fluid rheology (viscosity and elasticity), proppant size, retardation confining walls effect, and fracture orientation. The objective of this experimental study was to determine how these factors would influence particle settling velocity in hydraulic fracturing applications. The experiments were conducted in unconfined and confined fluid conditions. Fracture cell was designed in certain ways to capture the impact of fracture orientation by 45°, 60°, and 90° on settling velocity. Results showed HVFR provided better proppant transport capability than regular FRs used in slickwater. Proppant settling velocity using HVFR was decreased by 80%. Results obtained from confined fluid experiments showed that proppant settling velocity decreased due to the confining walls exert retardation impact. The wall retardation was also reduced as the fracture width increased. Changing fracture orientation from vertical position (90 degree) to 45 degree led to high reduction in proppant settling velocity.
Skip Nav Destination
Close
Static Proppant Settling Velocity Characteristics in High Viscosity Friction Reducers Fluids for Unconfined and Confined Fractures
M. Ba Geri
;
M. Ba Geri
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Search for other works by this author on:
A. Imqam
;
A. Imqam
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Search for other works by this author on:
R. Flori
R. Flori
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Search for other works by this author on:
Paper presented at the 53rd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, New York City, New York, June 2019.
Paper Number:
ARMA-2019-0381
Published:
June 23 2019
Citation
Ba Geri, M., Imqam, A., Shen, L., Bogdan, A., and R. Flori. "Static Proppant Settling Velocity Characteristics in High Viscosity Friction Reducers Fluids for Unconfined and Confined Fractures." Paper presented at the 53rd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, New York City, New York, June 2019.
Download citation file:
Close
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Personal Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your username and password and try again.
Pay-Per-View Access
$20.00
Advertisement
Advertisement
Suggested Reading
Advertisement