Variation of Fracture Conductivity in Unconsolidated Sands under the Multiple Damage Mechanisms

In order to clarify the influence of two damage mechanisms of proppant embedment and particle migration on the conductivity of loose sandstone fractures, taking the artificially developed loose sandstone samples as the research object, the conductivity test of loose sandstone was carried out under the condition of suspension injection by using ceramic with different particle sizes as proppant. The influence of engineering and geological factors on proppant embedment depth and fracture conductivity was evaluated. The results show that the increase of sand concentration can enhance the conductivity, and the increase of suspension concentration, proppant mesh and flow rate can reduce the conductivity. The increase of rock cementation strength, the decrease of closure pressure, the increase of proppant mesh and sand concentration will lead to the decrease of embedment depth and effectively alleviate the fracture denudation caused by embedment. Among them, the increase proppant mesh will reduce the conductivity. Under the same conditions, the greater the flow rate, the smaller the conductivity, and it will also affect the subsequent fracture conductivity. This study is of great significance for the later sand control work of oil wells.