DEM-CFD Modeling of Proppant Pillar Deformation and Stability during the Fracturing Fluid Flowback

Figure 21

Proppant pillar profile after the flowback: (a) proppant height 6 mm, before the flowback; (b) proppant height 6 mm, after the flowback of 0.00075 s; (c) proppant height 8 mm, before the flowback; and (d) proppant height 8 mm, after the flowback of 0.00075 s. The proppant diameter is 10 mm, the pressure difference is 64 kPa, and the viscosity is 0.001 Pa·s.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)