A Novel Unconventional Reservoir Fracturing Method-Liquid Self-Propping Fracturing Technology

Abstract

Unconventional petroleum resources have become the key to the exploration and development of the world’s petroleum industry. The unconventional exploration and development of reservoirs, however, still remain low due to technological and economic constraints. Considering the extremely low permeability of unconventional petroleum resources, efficient economic exploitation cannot be realized without hydraulic fracturing technology. Therefore, the fracturing technology which has both quality and economic efficiency, is the key to production and yield increase of unconventional petroleum reservoirs. In this study, a self-propping hydraulic technology was creatively proposed to solve the disadvantages of existing hydraulic fracturing technologies, especially unconventional fracturing technologies. Moreover, technical theories, performance and modes of the proposed liquid self-propping fracturing technology were introduced. This technology not only solves the technical pain points of conventional sand fracturing, as the successful research of this technology also provides a new design concept and technological change for hydraulic fracturing technology.