Research on Parameter Optimization of Temporary Plugging Agent for Fracturing

Abstract

Focusing on the matching of temporary plugging agent and hydraulic fracture width, a multi-scale optimal design method of temporary plugging agent was established to control the permeability and strength of plugging layer by optimizing the particle size composition and particle size distribution of the temporary plugging agent. The ideal particle size distribution for the stable accumulation of temporary plugging agents under different hydraulic fracture widths was determined by combining the d1/2 theory and the 5/6 matching principle. By changing the maximum, minimum and median particle size of the temporary plugging agent, the particle size distribution can meet the required permeability and strength of the plugging layer. Laboratory experiments and field applications were carried out using the optimal design method. The laboratory experiments found that the relative errors between the experimental and predicted values of the permeability and strength of the plugging layer were 9.09% and 6.06%, respectively, indicating that the optimal design method was highly reliable. The field application found that the bottom hole pressure increased from 88.4 MPa to 93.2 MPa after the temporary plugging agent entered, and the surface microseismic results after fracturing showed that the SRV was about 96.37 × 10⁶ m³, indicating that the combination of temporary plugging agents successfully turned the fractures and effectively improved the complexity of the fractures.

Copyright 2023, IFEDC Organizing Committee.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2023 International Field Exploration and Development Conference in Wuhan, China, 20–22 September 2023.

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