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Abstract:
The dual-increasing stimulation slurry is a novel stimulation fluid developed for weakly cemented reservoirs, such as submarine methane-hydrate-bearing silty sandstones. After injection into the formation, it consolidates to form porous-media slurry veins that enhance permeability. This study employed a slurry fracture flow visualization apparatus to investigate the flow characteristics of the slurry within muddy silty sediments. The experiments revealed the influence of geological parameters, slurry formulation, and operational parameters on slurry flow, fluid loss, and slurry-vein porosity. The results indicate that the slurry flows uniformly and exhibits a convex fracture flow profile, flowing to the end of main fracture and branch fracture, effectively filling fractures. Lower fluid loss increases the proportion of medium-to-large pores within the slurry veins. Adjusting the slurry formulation can reduce fluid loss in formations of varying permeability, whereas a high injection rate expands the fluid loss zone. The effective porosity ranges from 50% to 60% with a uniformly distributed pore space, forming a structure dominated by large pores (pore diameter > 50 nm) and densely distributed micro- to mesopores (pore diameter < 50 nm). This pore network can serve as high-conductivity channels for gas and water migration, while the dense distribution of small and medium pores is conducive to sand control.
LIU Xilong, SUN Qian, ZHANG Guobiao, et al.Flow characteristics of dual-increasing stimulation slurry in unconsolidated silty sandstone[J]. Drilling Fluid & Completion Fluid,2025, 42(0):1-12.