The impact of forced closure on proppant distribution of hydraulic fracturing in shale formations

Abstract Forced closure is widely used in conventional oil and gas reservoirs to promote uniform proppant placement. However, due to the extremely low permeability of shale formations, fracture closure requires more time, and the application of forced closure in shale formations has not been fully explored. In this study, we use a fully implicit 3D geomechanical fracture simulator to track the migration paths and settling patterns of proppants during hydraulic fracturing, investigating the impact of forced closure on proppant distribution in shale formations. The results show that forced closure, implemented immediately after injection, can significantly reduce proppant settling and increase the effective propped surface area from 29.74% to 38.68%, with a significant improvement. Furthermore, this study systematically analyzes the impact of various geological conditions and operational parameters on the effectiveness of forced closure, revealing that factors such as fracture height, fracturing fluid viscosity, formation permeability, and proppant concentration significantly influence the outcomes. This study provides critical theoretical foundations and practical guidance for optimizing hydraulic fracturing design, improving proppant distribution, and enhancing operational efficiency in shale formations.