CFD-DEM Modelling of Proppant Transport in Hydraulic Fractures in Unconventional Reservoirs

Proppants are crucial for effective stimulation of unconventional geo-energy reservoirs through hydraulic fracturing. This thesis delves into proppant transport within hydraulic fractures, filling gaps in existing research such as the impact of fracture roughness and the application of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (Sc-CO2) and micro-proppants. Utilizing state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) simulations coupled with a novel experimental setup, it investigates variations in fracture morphologies, operational parameters, and proppant characteristics. This research significantly advances the understanding of proppant behaviour, providing valuable insights for the optimization of hydraulic fracturing processes and enhancement of hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional reservoirs.