The Evaluation Method and Performance Requirements of Quartz Sand for Shale Gas Fracturing

In recent years, increasing the proportion of quartz sand in the hydraulic fracturing of shale gas has become one of the primary approaches to reduce development costs. However, the lack of industry standards for evaluating quartz sand specifically for shale gas hydraulic fracturing has constrained its widespread application in this context. Therefore, based on indoor comparative experiments, statistical analysis of product indicators, and field production data of shale gas, this study experimentally analyzed the particle size, turbidity, density, crush rate, embedment depth, friction coefficient, and packing coefficient of quartz sand used in shale gas hydraulic fracturing to define performance criteria. Certain evaluation methods deviate from the practical application of shale fracturing, and it is necessary to carry out specific experimental methods and performance indicators. The results indicate that for quartz sand used in shale gas hydraulic fracturing, it is recommended to increase five particle size specifications, maintain turbidity values below 250 FTU (formazine turbidity unit), ensure visual density does not exceed 2.75 g/cm3, and limit the crush rate to below 18%, embedment depth to below 0.15, packing coefficient to below 0.8, and friction coefficient to below 0.5. This work establishes evaluation standards and performance requirements for the optimal selection of quartz sand, aiming to reduce fracturing costs and enhance production efficiency in shale gas reservoirs.