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An experimental study of proppant transport mechanisms to the pump intake in low-flow oil wells
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Evgenii Kozhevnikova, *, Fedor Belkovb, Mikhail Turbakova, Zakhar Ivanova, Evgenii Riabokona, Dmitrii Fedurovb, Mikhail Guzeva, Evgenii Gladkikha, Jiangyu Wuc
Petroleum Research | 2026, 11(1) : 163 - 175
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Petroleum Research | 2026, 11(1): 163-175
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An experimental study of proppant transport mechanisms to the pump intake in low-flow oil wells
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Evgenii Kozhevnikova, *, Fedor Belkovb, Mikhail Turbakova, Zakhar Ivanova, Evgenii Riabokona, Dmitrii Fedurovb, Mikhail Guzeva, Evgenii Gladkikha, Jiangyu Wuc
Affiliations
  • aLaboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm 614990, Russia
  • bDepartment of Oil and Gas Technologies, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm 614990, Russia
  • cState Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
About Author:
Published: 2026-03-10 doi: 10.1016/j.ptlrs.2025.07.007
Outline
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The exploitation of low-flow oil wells following hydraulic fracturing is often hindered by residual proppant and proppant production during early production phases, which can infiltrate pumps and drastically shorten their service life. Managing proppant reliably and cost-effectively in these wells remains challenging due to the limited understanding of proppant transport mechanisms from the well bottom to the pump intake. This manuscript addresses this critical knowledge gap by presenting novel experimental insights into proppant transport in low-flow oil wells, marking the first elucidation of the underlying mechanism. Through innovative laboratory experiments simulating post-fracturing well conditions, we demonstrate that proppant invariably ascends to the pump intake, driven by a previously unrecognized process: droplets of immiscible hydrocarbon fluids capture and transport proppant particles upward. Comparative analyses using fluids of varying viscosities reveal, for the first time, that the viscosity of the immiscible phase has negligible impact on droplet transport capacity. Additionally, our studies establish that proppant concentration during transport is independent of well flow rate, challenging conventional assumptions. A key novel finding is the pivotal role of free gas bubbles in enhancing proppant transport probability, as they facilitate capture by oil and kerosene droplets; higher gas content correlates directly with elevated proppant concentrations in the flow. These experimental discoveries are validated by field trial data from wells with high free gas content under bottomhole conditions, where reduced pump operational times were observed, confirming the mechanism's real-world relevance. By unveiling this transport mechanism, the manuscript provides a foundational basis for developing targeted proppant management strategies, offering new pathways to enhance pump longevity and operational efficiency in low-flow oil wells.

Proppant  /  Proppant management  /  Sand management  /  Sand production  /  Proppant production  /  Oil well
Evgenii Kozhevnikov, Fedor Belkov, Mikhail Turbakov, Zakhar Ivanov, Evgenii Riabokon, Dmitrii Fedurov, Mikhail Guzev, Evgenii Gladkikh, Jiangyu Wu. An experimental study of proppant transport mechanisms to the pump intake in low-flow oil wells[J]. Petroleum Research, 2026 , 11 (1) : 163 -175 . DOI: 10.1016/j.ptlrs.2025.07.007
  • Ministry of science and higher education of the Russian Federation(FSNM-2024-0008)
Year 2026 volume 11 Issue 1
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Article Info
doi: 10.1016/j.ptlrs.2025.07.007
  • Receive Date:2025-06-09
  • Online Date:2026-10-14
  • Published:2026-03-10
Article Data
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History
  • Received:2025-06-09
  • Accepted:2025-07-27
Funding
Ministry of science and higher education of the Russian Federation(FSNM-2024-0008)
Affiliations
    aLaboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm 614990, Russia
    bDepartment of Oil and Gas Technologies, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm 614990, Russia
    cState Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China

Corresponding:

* E-mail addresses: (E. Kozhevnikov)
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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数
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Family
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Number of
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Number of
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Number of
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Percentage of total
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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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