This project is believed to be the world’s first two attempts, both successful, to replicate multi-cluster hydraulic fracturing at surface to better understand proppant transport and placement by cluster and other items of interest such as perforation erosion. It seemed that actual physical tests could be a valuable contribution to the industry activity. The key benefit of these tests is that all the data was physically measured and not subject to interpretation, therefore providing solid data for subsequent model calibration and predictions. Validity and shortfalls in the standardly used orifice flow equations was also the subject of the studies and will be discussed. Learnings about perforation erosion and impacts of different proppant sources, as well as fluid velocities, occurred. 

This presentation is from the 2022 SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition.  

• Paper Number: SPE- 209141-MS 
• Published: 25 January 2022 
• Authors: Phil Snider; Steve Baumgartner; Mike Mayerhofer; Matt Woltz 

Read terms and conditions.