Simulating micro-proppant flow through microfractures
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsPhilip D. Nguyen, Loan K. Vo, Janette Cortez Montalvo, Ruslan Gashimov, James William Ogle
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Abstract
A conductivity cell for simulating micro-proppant flowing through microstructures includes a core wafer holder defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, with a core wafer chamber connecting the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. A core wafer is installed within the core wafer chamber of the core wafer holder. A pressure piston is biased against the core wafer within the core wafer chamber. A pre-determined channel gap is defined on the core wafer for passage of the fluid through the cell.
Claims20
A method of simulating micro-proppant flowing through microstructures comprising:
- injecting a fluid including micro-proppant through a conductivity cell, wherein the conductivity cell includes a core wafer wherein a plurality of pre-determined channel gaps are defined on the core wafer for passage of the fluid through the conductivity cell, wherein the channel gaps are defined between a plurality of leaflets or sheets, the leaflets or sheets being arranged lengthwise along the core wafer in at least four rows with gaps arranged between the leaflets or sheets in each row such that sub-channels are defined running widthwise across the core wafer, and wherein the plurality of leaflets or sheets are bounded by the core wafer;
- and
- measuring pressure drop across flow through the conductivity cell.
A conductivity cell for simulating micro-proppant flowing through microstructures comprising:
- a core wafer holder defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, with a core wafer chamber connecting the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;
- a core wafer installed within the core wafer chamber of the core wafer holder;
- and
- a pressure piston biased against the core wafer within the core wafer chamber, wherein a plurality of pre-determined channel gaps are defined on the core wafer for passage of the fluid through the core wafer chamber, wherein the channel gaps are defined between a plurality of leaflets or sheets, the leaflets or sheets being arranged lengthwise along the core wafer in at least four rows with gaps arranged between the leaflets or sheets in each row such that sub-channels are defined running widthwise across the core wafer, and wherein the plurality of leaflets or sheets are bounded by the core wafer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.