Investigation into the Variation Law of Network Fracture Conductivity in Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs

The network fracturing technique is a key technology for increasing effective reservoir volume and enhancing production in shale oil and gas. The fracture network’s conductivity is one of the crucial factors affecting the efficient development of shale gas. To evaluate the variation patterns and influencing factors of the conductivity of network fractures, this study employed a proppant conductivity evaluation system and an equivalent theory testing method. It investigated the conductivity of propped and self-propped fractures under different angles and numbers of fractures. Experimental results showed that fractures with proppant support had higher conductivity than unsupported fractures. Smaller angles between secondary and main fractures resulted in greater conductivity. The conductivity of multi-fracture structures increased with the number of fractures. Under low-closure pressure conditions, self-propped fractures exhibited significantly higher conductivity than propped fractures, but this trend reversed under high closure pressure. This experimental research provides guidance for constructing network fractures with high conductivity in unconventional oil and gas reservoir fracturing.