Numerical Simulation for Interaction between the Fracture Surface and the Proppant Column after HiWay Fracturing

HiWay fracturing uses impulse sand to achieve the proppant column supporting the rock wall surface, creating an open flow channel that is more conducive to improving the stimulation effect. The deformation law of the proppant column under the compression of the fracture wall surface is directly related to the effectiveness of the high conductivity fracture. However, the related laboratory physical simulation experiments are challenging to conduct, which restricts the study of the interaction between the fracture surface and the proppant column. In this paper, first, establish the finite element model of the interaction between the fracturing crack and the proppant column, and the variation law of stress-deformation of the crack wall and displacement of the crack wall under the closure stress is analyzed. Furthermore, this paper carries out the quantitative characterization of the active support area of the proppant column. Finally, the accuracy of the simulation results is verified by applying the experimental results of indoor proppant column rock plate compression. The numerical simulation method proposed in this paper can effectively realize the simulation of the interaction between the fracture surface and the proppant column in HiWay fracturing based on real engineering parameters, which lays theoretical and simulation experimental support for improving the effect of channel fracturing stimulation.