Optimal pumping schedule with high-viscosity gel for uniform distribution of proppant in unconventional reservoirs

Pahari, Silabrata; Bhandakkar, Parth; Akbulut, Mustafa; Sang-Il Kwon, Joseph

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2020.119231

Optimal pumping schedule with high-viscosity gel for uniform distribution of proppant in unconventional reservoirs

Journal Article · Fri Nov 06 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.119231· OSTI ID:1848650

Pahari, Silabrata ^[1]; Bhandakkar, Parth ^[2]; Akbulut, Mustafa ^[3]; Sang-Il Kwon, Joseph ^[2]

Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Texas A&M Energy Inst.; Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Texas A&M Energy Inst.
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering

Hydrocarbon recovery from a hydraulic-fractured unconventional reservoir can be enhanced by replacing slickwater with non-Newtonian high-viscosity gel as a fracturing fluid. However, in the literature, the role of gel rheology on hydrocarbon production from a fractured reservoir is not very well understood. This lack of understanding makes it difficult for the industry to choose appropriate viscosity parameters of fracturing gels. Motivated by these limitations, first, we have developed a high-fidelity model of non-Newtonian fluid flow to simulate fracture propagation, fluid leak-off, and gel flowback processes to predict the oil production from a hydraulic fractured reservoir. Simulation results of the high-fidelity model show how fracture geometry, formation damage, and gel cleanup process varies with the fracturing fluid rheology. Therefore, the developed model is used to understand the effect of gel rheology on hydrocarbon production via a sensitivity analysis, which provides a set of rheological parameters that maximize the cumulative amount of oil production. Finally, utilizing this optimal high-viscosity gel, a model predictive controller is designed to obtain an optimal pumping schedule necessary for producing a target fracture geometry and proppant concentration. The closed-loop simulation results demonstrate that the obtained pumping schedule successfully achieved the desired fracture geometry and proppant concentration at the end of pumping, leading to the maximum oil production from an unconventional reservoir.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), New York, NY (United States); Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Texas A & M Engineering Experiment Station

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0007888; FE0031778

OSTI ID:: 1848650

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1895483

Journal Information:: Energy, Journal Name: Energy Journal Issue: C Vol. 216; ISSN 0360-5442

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Optimal pumping schedule with high-viscosity gel for uniform distribution of proppant in unconventional reservoirs

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