Discrete element simulation and dimensionless parameter-based optimization of near-wellbore fracture propagation during perforation fracturing of tight sandstone
4 affiliations
- 1Oil and Gas Technology Research Institute of Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, PetroChina
- 2CNPC Chuanqing Drilling and Exploration Engineering Company Limited
- 3Southwest Petroleum University
- 4School of Ocean and Earth Science, Tongji University
Abstract
Perforation fracturing is essential for stimulating unconventional reservoirs such as shale and tight sandstone. However, field monitoring techniques has revealed that many perforation clusters contribute little to post-fracturing production, indicating inefficient fracture initiation and limited stimulation effect. This study conducts a sensitivity analysis of key controlling engineering parameters for perforation fracturing based on the discrete lattice method, and introduces theoretically derived dimensionless parameters to bridge the gap between numerical simulation and multi-parameter engineering optimization. Single-cluster simplified perforation fracturing models under different perforation patterns are established to describe mesoscopic cross-scale fluid–solid coupling during fracture initiation and propagation, and are validated against near-wellbore simulation results and experimental observations. After model validation, a single-stage multi-cluster fracturing model is developed based on the validated model to reveal the competitive propagation mechanisms and geometrical evolution patterns of multiple fractures. The study found that helical perforation can produce the highest breakdown pressure and the largest volume of initiated crack compared to directional and fixed-plane perforation. Increasing the helical perforation diameter and perforation depth while reducing the perforation density can reduce breakdown pressure, increase stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), and reduce SRV standard deviation. For a fixed stage length, cluster length, cluster spacing, and cluster number have limited effects on breakdown pressure, whereas increasing cluster spacing and cluster length can reduce SRV standard deviation. Through quantitative statistics of simulation results and theoretical analysis, this study clarifies the relationships among dimensionless engineering parameters for the target sandstone reservoir and develops a construction optimization scheme, providing technical guidance and theoretical support for perforation fracturing in tight sandstone horizontal wells.
Related
- Comprehensive comparison of six optimization algorithms for automated population pharmacokinetic model selection via two simulation studies and eleven real case studies
- Fractional Order Temporal Dynamics of Tumor Immune Chemotherapy Interactions: A Reproducible Dimensionless Analysis and a Pharmacokinetic Caveat
- An exploratory simulation of the optimization of leukocyte transmigration, indicating that barrier routing is governed by context-dependent biochemical cues rather than hardwired programs
- Clinical Course and Management of Pancreatic Pseudocyst Perforation
- Aorto-mitral intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm with mitral valve perforation after manouguian aortic root enlargement
BibTeX
@article{chen2026discrete,
title = {{Discrete element simulation and dimensionless parameter-based optimization of near-wellbore fracture propagation during perforation fracturing of tight sandstone}},
author = {Weihua Chen and Hongming Fang and Chengbin Wu and Lei Xu and Zhilin Luo and Cenhong Jin and Zhouyang Wang and Zhongjun Ma and Zhuo Zhang and Jizhou Tang},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-61902-y},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-61902-y},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Discrete element simulation and dimensionless parameter-based optimization of near-wellbore fracture propagation during perforation fracturing of tight sandstone
AU - Weihua Chen
AU - Hongming Fang
AU - Chengbin Wu
AU - Lei Xu
AU - Zhilin Luo
AU - Cenhong Jin
AU - Zhouyang Wang
AU - Zhongjun Ma
AU - Zhuo Zhang
AU - Jizhou Tang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-61902-y
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-61902-y
AB - Perforation fracturing is essential for stimulating unconventional reservoirs such as shale and tight sandstone. However, field monitoring techniques has revealed that many perforation clusters contribute little to post-fracturing production, indicating inefficient fracture initiation and limited stimulation effect. This study conducts a sensitivity analysis of key controlling engineering parameters for perforation fracturing based on the discrete lattice method, and introduces theoretically derived dimensionless parameters to bridge the gap between numerical simulation and multi-parameter engineering optimization. Single-cluster simplified perforation fracturing models under different perforation patterns are established to describe mesoscopic cross-scale fluid–solid coupling during fracture initiation and propagation, and are validated against near-wellbore simulation results and experimental observations. After model validation, a single-stage multi-cluster fracturing model is developed based on the validated model to reveal the competitive propagation mechanisms and geometrical evolution patterns of multiple fractures. The study found that helical perforation can produce the highest breakdown pressure and the largest volume of initiated crack compared to directional and fixed-plane perforation. Increasing the helical perforation diameter and perforation depth while reducing the perforation density can reduce breakdown pressure, increase stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), and reduce SRV standard deviation. For a fixed stage length, cluster length, cluster spacing, and cluster number have limited effects on breakdown pressure, whereas increasing cluster spacing and cluster length can reduce SRV standard deviation. Through quantitative statistics of simulation results and theoretical analysis, this study clarifies the relationships among dimensionless engineering parameters for the target sandstone reservoir and develops a construction optimization scheme, providing technical guidance and theoretical support for perforation fracturing in tight sandstone horizontal wells.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -