Jian Yang¹, Xinghao Gou¹, Jiayi Sun², Fei Liu¹, Xiaojin Zhou¹, Xu Liu¹, Tao Zhang^2,*

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.8, pp. 1935-1954, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.066730 - 12 September 2025

Abstract 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 More >

Manqing Qian^*, Xiyu Chen, Yongming Li

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.6, pp. 1353-1377, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.061652 - 30 June 2025

Abstract Shale reservoirs are characterized by numerous geological discontinuities, such as bedding planes, and exhibit pronounced heterogeneity across rock layers separated by these planes. Bedding planes often possess distinct mechanical properties compared to the surrounding rock matrix, particularly in terms of damage and fracture behavior. Consequently, vertical propagation of hydraulic fractures is influenced by both bedding planes and the heterogeneity. In this study, a numerical investigation into the height growth of hydraulic fractures was conducted using the finite element method, incorporating zero-thickness cohesive elements. The analysis explored the effects of bedding planes, toughness contrasts between layers,… More >

Weiping Ouyang^1,2, Luoyi Huang^3,*, Jinghua Liu^3,*, Hongzhong Zhang^1,2

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.4, pp. 1491-1509, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.061171 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Hydraulic fracturing is a crucial technique for efficient development of coal reservoirs. Coal rocks typically contain a high density of natural fractures, which serve as conduits for fracturing fluid. Upon injection, the fluid infiltrates these natural fractures and leaks out, resulting in complex fracture morphology. The prediction of hydraulic fracture network propagation for coal reservoirs has important practical significance for evaluating hydraulic fracturing. This study proposes a novel inversion method for predicting fracture networks in coal reservoirs, explicitly considering the distribution of natural fractures. The method incorporates three distinct natural fracture opening modes and employs… More >

Xinli Zhao^1,*, Qianhua Xiao², Xuewei Liu³, Yu Shi⁴, Xiangji Dou¹, Guoqiang Xing¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.2, pp. 427-444, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2024.052646 - 06 March 2025

Abstract Tight oil reservoirs face significant challenges, including rapid production decline, low recovery rates, and a lack of effective energy replenishment methods. In this study, a novel development model is proposed, based on inter-fracture injection following volumetric fracturing and relying on a high-temperature and high-pressure large-scale physical simulation system. Additionally, the CMG (Computer Modelling Group Ltd., Calgary City, Canada) software is also used to elucidate the impact of various single factors on the production of horizontal wells while filtering out the interference of others. The effects of fracture spacing, fracture half-length, and the injection-production ratio are… More >

Zongze Li¹, Zirui Yang², Yue Wu³, Chunming He⁴, Bo Yu², Daobing Wang^2,*, Yueshe Wang^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 1-4, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012090

Abstract Geothermal energy is an important renewable energy source, where hot dry rock (HDR) constitutes the primary component, accounting for approximately 90% of the resource. Therefore, the establishment of an efficient HDR geothermal utilization system is a core issue in geothermal resource development. Hydraulic fracturing (HF) technology serves as a crucial means aimed at enhancing the complexity of underground fracture networks and increasing heat exchange efficiency, thus improving the performance of HDR geothermal utilization systems. However, the fracture structure formed by conventional HF techniques is relatively simple, resulting in limited heat exchange areas. Hence, the temporary… More >

Kaituo Jiao¹, Dongxu Han^2,*, Bo Yu²

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 1-3, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.011520

Abstract Motivated by the fractures being very thin compared to the size of rock matrix, utilizing the non-conforming grid is an efficient approach to simulate fluid flow in fractured porous media. The embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) is the typical one that using the conforming grid and modelled based on the finite volume method (FVM) framework. The EDFM maintains advantages of mass conservation and low computational complexity, but it cannot characterize blocking fractures and has a low accuracy on the mass exchange between fractures and matrix [1]. In our previous work [2], we developed the enriched-EDFM… More >

Shaoqi Zheng¹, Zihao Yang^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012200

Abstract This study proposes a novel method for predicting the microcrack propagation in composites based on coupling the local and non-local micromechanics. The special feature of this method is that it can take full advantages of both the continuum micromechanics as a local model and peridynamic micromechanics as a non-local model to achieve composite fracture simulation with a higher level of accuracy and efficiency. Based on the energy equivalence, we first establish the equivalent continuum micromechanics model with equivalent stiffness operators through peridynamic micromechanics model. These two models are then coupled into a closed equation system, More >

Fayez Alfayez^*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.79, No.1, pp. 1539-1560, 2024, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2024.046443 - 25 April 2024

Abstract This paper emphasizes a faster digital processing time while presenting an accurate method for identifying spine fractures in X-ray pictures. The study focuses on efficiency by utilizing many methods that include picture segmentation, feature reduction, and image classification. Two important elements are investigated to reduce the classification time: Using feature reduction software and leveraging the capabilities of sophisticated digital processing hardware. The researchers use different algorithms for picture enhancement, including the Wiener and Kalman filters, and they look into two background correction techniques. The article presents a technique for extracting textural features and evaluates three… More >

Daobing Wang^1,*, Cheng Zheng¹, Bo Yu¹, Dongliang Sun¹, Dingwei Weng², Chunming He², Meng Wang²

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.26, No.4, pp. 1-2, 2023, DOI:10.32604/icces.2023.09205

Abstract Refracturing has become an important technique for increasing hydrocarbon production due to the low oil prices. During refracturing, the granular diverter materials are injected to temporarily seal old fractures in subsurface. These diverter materials are usually carried by the fracturing fluid, which is a typical solid-fluid flow in the fracture [1-3]. Therefore, we need to thoroughly understand the flow mechanism of diverter materials in hydraulic fractures, which is the key to the success of refracturing treatment.
Using the Euler-Lagrange method, this paper presents a multiphase model to numerically simulate the flow process of diverter materials in… More >

Fei Han^1,*, Zhibin Li¹, Jianyu Zhang¹, Zhiying Liu¹, Chen Yao¹, Wenping Han¹

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.26, No.3, pp. 1-1, 2023, DOI:10.32604/icces.2023.09023

Abstract The classical finite element method has been successfully applied to many engineering problems but not to cases with space discontinuity. A peridynamics-based finite element method (PeriFEM) is presented according to the principle of minimum potential energy, which enables discontinuity. First, the integral domain of peridynamics is reconstructed, and a new type of element called peridynamic element (PE) is defined. Although PEs are generated by the continuous elements (CEs) of classical FEM, they do not affect each other. Then, spatial discretization is performed based on PEs and CEs, and the linear equations about nodal displacement are… More >