A prediction method for proppant embedment depth in artificial fractures of hydrate reservoirs

WU Nengyou, ZHANG Yongchao, ZHANG Jiawei, LU Jing&#x02019;an, LI Yanlong, SHEN Kaixiang, JI Yunkai, CHEN Qiang

doi:10.11698/PED.20250469

Petroleum Exploration and Development >

0 20260305

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11698/PED.20250469

A prediction method for proppant embedment depth in artificial fractures of hydrate reservoirs

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1. Laoshan National Laboratory, Qingdao 266237, China;
2. Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266237, China;
3. Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China;
4. Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 511458, China;
5. National Engineering Research Center of Gas Hydrate Exploration and Development, Guangzhou 511458, China

Received date: 2025-08-25

Revised date: 2026-03-20

Online published: 2026-03-27

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Abstract

Given the absence of a prediction method for proppant embedding depth in artificial fractures of hydrate reservoirs, this study employs a hypoplastic constitutive model to quantitatively evaluate the impact of hydrate saturation on the mechanical parameters of the sediments. By integrating the load distribution at the proppant-sediment interface with their respective deformation characteristics, a computational model is developed to determine the proppant embedment depth across three distinct stages: elastic, elastoplastic, and fully plastic. Based on the established model, the influences of hydrate saturation, proppant particle size, proppant arrangement pattern, and closure pressure on the proppant embedding depth are analyzed. The results demonstrate that the proppant embedding depth in fractures of hydrate reservoirs increases with greater closure pressure and larger proppant particle sizes, while it decreases with higher hydrate saturation and increased proppant areal packing density. At a constant closure pressure, the proppant embedding depth exhibits a nonlinear relationship with hydrate saturation, proppant particle size, and proppant areal packing density, with this nonlinearity becoming more pronounced at elevated closure pressures.

Key words： gas hydrate; artificial fracture; proppant embedment depth; influencing factor; prediction model

Cite this article

WU Nengyou, ZHANG Yongchao, ZHANG Jiawei, LU Jing’an, LI Yanlong, SHEN Kaixiang, JI Yunkai, CHEN Qiang . A prediction method for proppant embedment depth in artificial fractures of hydrate reservoirs[J]. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 0 : 20260305 . DOI: 10.11698/PED.20250469

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