The results of a series of proppant transport surface tests (PTSTs) were used in conjunction with Eulerian multiphase-computational fluid dynamics (EMP-CFD) modeling to develop an engineering model of proppant distribution. The tests show that gravitational settling in horizontal casing, proppant slip past perforations, and the visco-elastic properties of slickwater fluids strongly affect the distribution of proppant from the heel to the toe of the completion. An engineering model was used to predict the sand distributions observed in the PTSTs.  

The model reflects the PTST observations that fine sand is distributed relatively uniformly throughout the length of a perforated completion while coarser sand tends to slip past the heel perforations and concentrate on the bottom towards the toe of the completion. 

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

• Paper Number: SPE- 209178-MS 
• Published: 25 January 2022 

• Authors: Jack Kolle; Alan Mueller; Steve Baumgartner; David Cuthill 

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