TY  - EJOU
AU  - Yang, Jian 
AU  - Gou, Xinghao 
AU  - Sun, Jiayi 
AU  - Liu, Fei 
AU  - Zhou, Xiaojin 
AU  - Liu, Xu 
AU  - Zhang, Tao 

TI  - Numerical Simulation of Gas-Water Two-Phase Flow in a Proppant-Filled Layer
T2  - Fluid Dynamics \& Materials Processing

PY  - 2025
VL  - 21
IS  - 8
SN  - 1555-2578

AB  - Shale gas production involves complex gas-water two-phase flow, with flow patterns in proppant-filled fractures playing a critical role in determining production efficiency. In this study, 3D geometric models of 40/70 mesh ceramic particles and quartz sand proppant clusters were elaborated using computed tomography (CT) scanning. These models were used to develop a numerical simulation framework based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), enabling the investigation of gas-water flow behavior within proppant-filled fractures under varying driving forces and surface tensions. Simulation results at a closure pressure of 15 MPa have revealed that ceramic particles exhibit a simpler and more porous internal structure than quartz sand of the same size. Under identical flow conditions, ceramic proppants demonstrate higher fluid replacement efficiency. Replacement efficiency increases with higher porosity, greater driving force, and lower surface tension. Furthermore, fluid displacement is strongly influenced by pore geometry: flow is faster in straighter and wider channels, with preferential movement through larger pores forming dominant flow paths. The replacement velocity exhibits a characteristic time evolution, initially rapid, then gradually decreasing, correlating positively with the development of these dominant channels.
KW  - Proppant fractures; gas-water two-phase flow; numerical simulation; lattice Boltzmann method; flow behavior

DO  - 10.32604/fdmp.2025.066730