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Transport mechanism of proppants in complex fracture networks based on multiphase particle-in-cell method
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Qiang Wanga, Yufeng Wanga, *, Jinzhou Zhaoa, Hai Liub, Hao Gaoc, d, Yuchao Zhoua, Yongquan Hua
Particuology | 2026, 115 : 277 - 291
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Particuology | 2026, 115: 277-291
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Transport mechanism of proppants in complex fracture networks based on multiphase particle-in-cell method
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Qiang Wanga, Yufeng Wanga, *, Jinzhou Zhaoa, Hai Liub, Hao Gaoc, d, Yuchao Zhoua, Yongquan Hua
Affiliations
  • aState Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, China
  • bNo. 11 Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Company, Qinyang, China
  • cOil and Gas Technology Research Institute, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Xi'an, China
  • dNational Engineering Laboratory for Exploration and Development of Low Permeability Oil & Gas Fields, Xi'an, China
About Author:

1

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Published: 2026-08-10 doi: 10.1016/j.partic.2026.05.021
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To improve understanding of proppant transport mechanisms in complex fracture networks, a field-scale model based on the Multiphase Particle-in-Cell (MP-PIC) method was developed using fracture geometries derived from real shale outcrops and validated against experimental data. Results indicate that: (1) intense vortex formation during early-to-mid injection stages or at high flow rates exacerbates the longitudinal heterogeneity of proppant distribution. (2) In the near-wellbore zone, the synergistic effects of fracture width variations, high flow velocities, and natural weak planes drive proppants to migrate preferentially along paths aligned with the maximum and minimum principal stress directions, forming a dual-channel transport pattern. (3) The volume of proppant entering secondary fractures decreases with distance from the injection point, and the proppant dune height within dominant channels exhibits stepwise attenuation. Larger intersection angles between secondary and main fractures hinder proppant migration. (4) Smaller proppant size and lower density improve the planar sweep and distribution uniformity coefficients, while increased fracturing fluid viscosity extends the proppant sweep range and further improves uniformity; high injection rates promote long-distance proppant transport and broader coverage but may reduce uniformity, leading to sparse proppant distribution and necking at fracture mouths. These findings provide quantitative guidance for optimizing hydraulic fracturing designs.

Multiphase particle-in-cell method  /  Liquid-solid two-phase flow  /  Eulerian-Lagrangian method  /  Complex fracture network  /  Proppant transport
Qiang Wang, Yufeng Wang, Jinzhou Zhao, Hai Liu, Hao Gao, Yuchao Zhou, Yongquan Hu. Transport mechanism of proppants in complex fracture networks based on multiphase particle-in-cell method[J]. Particuology, 2026 , 115 : 277 -291 . DOI: 10.1016/j.partic.2026.05.021
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Funding
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  • joint project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21B2071)
  • key support project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23B20156)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China(52304041)
  • Sichuan Provincial Natural Science Youth Fund(2025ZNSFSC1353)
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Year 2026 volume 115 Issue 0
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68
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Article Info
doi: 10.1016/j.partic.2026.05.021
  • Receive Date：2026-03-02
  • Online Date：2026-08-20
  • Published：2026-08-10
Article Data
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History
  • Received：2026-03-02
  • Revised：2026-05-19
  • Accepted：2026-05-29
Funding
joint project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21B2071)
key support project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23B20156)
National Natural Science Foundation of China(52304041)
Sichuan Provincial Natural Science Youth Fund(2025ZNSFSC1353)
Affiliations
    aState Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, China
    bNo. 11 Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Company, Qinyang, China
    cOil and Gas Technology Research Institute, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Xi'an, China
    dNational Engineering Laboratory for Exploration and Development of Low Permeability Oil & Gas Fields, Xi'an, China

Corresponding:

* E-mail address: (Y. Wang).
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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数
科
Family		 属数
Number of
genus		 种数
Number of
species		 占总种数比例
Percentage of
total species (%)		 属
Genus		 种数
Number of
species		 占总种数比例
Percentage of total
species (%)
鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae 2 11 5.26 鹅膏菌属 Amanita 10 4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae 2 12 5.74 丝盖伞属 Inocybe 5 2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae 8 14 6.70 蜡蘑属 Laccaria 5 2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae 3 23 11.00 小皮伞属 Marasmius 6 2.87
小菇属 Mycena 11 5.26
光柄菇属 Pluteus 5 2.39
红菇属 Russula 17 8.13
栓菌属 Trametes 5 2.39
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