Study on the Long-Term Influence of Proppant Optimization on the Production of Deep Shale Gas Fractured Horizontal Well

As shale gas development gradually advances to a deeper level, the economic exploitation of deep shale gas has become one of the key technologies for sustainable development. Large-scale, long-term and effective hydraulic fracturing fracture networks are the core technology for achieving economic exploitation of deep shale gas. Due to the high-pressure and high-temperature characteristics of deep shale gas reservoirs, traditional seepage models cannot effectively simulate gas flow in such environments. Therefore, this paper constructs a fluid–solid–thermal coupling model, considering the creep characteristics of deep shale, the effects of proppant embedment and deformation on fracture closure, and deeply analyzes the effects of proppant parameters on the shale gas production process. The results show that factors such as proppant concentration, placement, mechanical properties and particle size have a significant effect on fracture width, fracture surface seepage characteristics and final gas production. Specifically, an increase in proppant concentration can expand the fracture width but has limited effect on increasing gas production; uneven proppant placement will significantly reduce the fracture conductivity, resulting in a significant decrease in gas production; proppants with smaller sizes are more suitable for deep shale gas fracturing construction, which not only reduces construction costs but also improves gas seepage capacity. This study provides theoretical guidance for proppant optimization in deep shale gas fracturing construction.