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Keywords = limited entry fracturing

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14 pages, 4006 KB  
Article
Numerical Study on the Division of Proppant Particles in the Horizontal Wellbore–Multifracture System
by Huan Peng, Jian Yang, Ze Li, Xin Zhou, Jiejing Bai and Wan Cheng
Processes 2026, 14(17), 2751; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14172751 - 27 Aug 2026
Viewed by 205
Abstract
Non-uniform proppant distribution across simultaneous multiple fractures significantly undermines the conductivity. Conventional models often focus on proppant transport inside the fracture, neglecting the critical role of wellbore in determining proppant division. To bridge this gap, this study utilizes a Eulerian–Lagrangian model to simulate [...] Read more.
Non-uniform proppant distribution across simultaneous multiple fractures significantly undermines the conductivity. Conventional models often focus on proppant transport inside the fracture, neglecting the critical role of wellbore in determining proppant division. To bridge this gap, this study utilizes a Eulerian–Lagrangian model to simulate proppant transport within a horizontal wellbore and three intersecting fractures. We systematically evaluate the sensitivity of proppant placement to key parameters: injection rate, fluid viscosity, proppant size, density, and fracture width. The results demonstrate that increasing the injection rate is pivotal for transitioning from near-wellbore ‘heel-side’ plugging to effective toe-side coverage, concurrently reducing wellbore cleanout requirements. Conversely, low-viscosity fluids and high-density proppants exacerbate gravitational settling, restricting proppant entry to heel-side fractures. When proppant density approaches that of the carrier fluid, gravitational settling is minimized, facilitating a nearly uniform distribution across all three fractures. Additionally, narrow fracture widths act as hydraulic bottlenecks, where frequent particle–wall interactions dissipate kinetic energy and limit proppant penetration. This work offers a mechanistic understanding of proppant division, providing actionable insights for optimizing fluid systems and pump schedules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fluid Flow in Unconventional Reservoirs)
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33 pages, 6934 KB  
Article
Deformation Mechanism and Control Strategies of Gob-Side Entry Retaining by Roof Cutting in Ultra-Deep Coal Mines
by Lei Zhang, Chaowen Hu, Bo Pan, Fulong Sun, Yichao Li and Yang Jiao
Processes 2026, 14(16), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14162605 - 16 Aug 2026
Viewed by 413
Abstract
Gob-side entry retaining by roof cutting and pressure relief (CRRE) eliminates coal pillar waste and mitigates mining-induced stress concentration. Although widely applied in mines shallower than 1000 m, systematic research on asymmetric deformation mechanisms and matched control technologies under ultra-deep conditions (>1000 m, [...] Read more.
Gob-side entry retaining by roof cutting and pressure relief (CRRE) eliminates coal pillar waste and mitigates mining-induced stress concentration. Although widely applied in mines shallower than 1000 m, systematic research on asymmetric deformation mechanisms and matched control technologies under ultra-deep conditions (>1000 m, σH > 60 MPa) remains limited. This study investigates the 5307 working face of Anju Coal Mine (burial depth: 1127–1195 m) using theoretical analysis, FLAC3D numerical simulation, and 480 m of field monitoring. The stress evolution, deviatoric stress field response, and asymmetric deformation mechanisms of the surrounding rock under ultra-deep mining conditions are systematically analyzed, based on which a targeted collaborative control technology is proposed. The key findings indicate that (1) CRRE significantly attenuates advanced abutment pressure compared with conventional pillar retention, with an average stress reduction of 20.1 ± 1.2% (95% CI: 17.8–22.4%, p < 0.01). (2) During the advanced mining stage, the second invariant of deviatoric stress exhibits a saddle-shaped distribution with a pronounced concentration at the mid-rib, identifying this as the dominant zone for rib bulging failure. (3) In the post-mining entry-forming stage, the roof deviatoric stress field demonstrates marked asymmetric evolution, with the distortion energy on the solid-coal side substantially exceeding that on the gob side; moreover, the low-position roof strata exhibit high distortion and poor stability, rendering them prone to bending fractures. Grounded in these mechanisms, a full-cycle differentiated surrounding rock control technology is developed, integrating pre-mining directional roof pre-splitting, active tough support reinforcement, post-mining temporary roof control and pressure relief, and gangue retaining with rib collaborative protection. The key parameters include a roof cutting height of 7 m, a cutting angle of 15°, NPR constant-resistance anchor cables with W-steel belts, and temporary support extending 300 m behind the working face. Field monitoring reveals staged deformation evolution, with stabilization achieved 250 m behind the working face. Maximum roof subsidence, floor heave, and total roof-floor convergence were 180 mm, 329 mm, and 422 mm, respectively, below the 500 mm allowable threshold for ultra-deep retained entries. Full article
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19 pages, 3401 KB  
Article
Antiresorptive Use and Risk of Hip Fracture in Older Women with Osteoporosis: Findings from a Real-World National Database of 21,332 Women
by Bernardo A. Cedeno-Veloz, Juan Erviti, Marta Gutiérrez-Valencia, Leire Leache, Luis Carlos Saiz, Alba M. Rodríguez García and Nicolás Martínez-Velilla
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(16), 6224; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15166224 - 11 Aug 2026
Viewed by 294
Abstract
Background: Evidence on the real-world effectiveness of antiresorptive therapy for hip fracture prevention in very old women remains limited. We aimed to assess the association between antiresorptive use and incident hip fracture among age ≥ 75 older women with osteoporosis. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Evidence on the real-world effectiveness of antiresorptive therapy for hip fracture prevention in very old women remains limited. We aimed to assess the association between antiresorptive use and incident hip fracture among age ≥ 75 older women with osteoporosis. Methods: We conducted a population-based nested case–control study using the Base de Datos para la Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Ámbito Público (BIFAP), a Spanish research database. Women aged 75 years or older with osteoporosis and no previous antiresorptive use at cohort entry were followed from 2010 to 2022. Incident hip fracture cases were matched to risk-set controls by age, autonomous region, and calendar year of database registration. Antiresorptive exposure was classified as current, recent, past, or never use. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and confidence intervals. Results: The study included 2057 incident hip fracture cases and 19,275 matched controls. Compared with never users, current antiresorptive users had lower odds of hip fracture (aOR 0.76; 0.65–0.87), whereas past users had higher odds (aOR 1.91; 1.57–2.33). Ever use was not associated with hip fracture risk compared with never use (aOR 1.01; 0.90–1.13). Conclusions: In this real-world nested case–control study of women aged ≥75 years with osteoporosis, current antiresorptive use was associated with lower odds of hip fracture, whereas past use was associated with higher odds. Because treatment initiation, persistence, and discontinuation are strongly influenced by baseline fracture risk, osteoporosis severity, frailty, and clinical surveillance, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal treatment effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Management of Hip Fractures)
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27 pages, 14160 KB  
Article
Particle-Transport Mechanisms and Distribution in Typical Tortuous Wedge-Shaped Interwoven Fractures of Deep Coal Seams: A CFD–DEM Study
by Pengyin Yan and Zhiming Wang
Energies 2026, 19(12), 2739; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19122739 - 6 Jun 2026
Viewed by 488
Abstract
Natural weak discontinuities, such as natural fractures, bedding planes, and coal–rock interfaces, are widely developed in deep coal reservoirs. During hydraulic fracture propagation, induced fractures readily interact with these weak planes through crossing, deflection, and combined activation, thereby forming complex fracture geometries and [...] Read more.
Natural weak discontinuities, such as natural fractures, bedding planes, and coal–rock interfaces, are widely developed in deep coal reservoirs. During hydraulic fracture propagation, induced fractures readily interact with these weak planes through crossing, deflection, and combined activation, thereby forming complex fracture geometries and significantly affecting proppant transport and placement. To clarify the transport behavior of proppant under different fracture geometries, four representative tortuous wedge-shaped fractures were constructed to characterize typical fracture propagation patterns in deep coal reservoirs, namely a vertical straight fracture (“|”), a horizontal straight fracture (“—”), a T-shaped fracture, and a cross-shaped fracture (“+”). On this basis, a two-way coupled fluid–particle model was established using the CFD–DEM method to systematically investigate proppant migration, settling, and placement in different fractures, as well as the effects of injection velocity, particle size, and fluid viscosity. The results show that fracture geometry exerts a significant influence on proppant transport patterns and placement performance. Specifically, proppant transport in the “|”-shaped, T-shaped, and “+”-shaped fractures can be divided into three distinct stages: rapid start-up, stratified transport, and front advancement. In contrast, particles in the “—”-shaped fracture are only weakly affected by gravity and remain almost entirely in an orderly front-advancement regime, exhibiting the most stable and continuous placement behavior. Increasing injection velocity and fluid viscosity both improve proppant placement uniformity and markedly promote branch entry in the T-shaped fracture, whereas their improvement in the “+”-shaped fracture is relatively limited. When the fluid viscosity increases from 1 mPa·s to 5 mPa·s, the placement uniformity coefficient (PUC) of the “—”-shaped, “|”-shaped, T-shaped, and “+”-shaped fractures increases by approximately 3.2%, 5.6%, 6.3%, and 7.1%, respectively. These findings provide mechanistic insight into geometry-dependent proppant transport and placement in complex fractures of deep coal seams, and offer theoretical support for hydraulic fracturing design and parameter optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Fields: 2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 1636 KB  
Article
Preoperative 3D-Planned S1 Corridors Transferred into 2D Fluoroscopy Allow for Safe Intraoperative Large-Diameter Implant Placement: Description of a Novel Sacroiliac Fixation Technique and Proof of Concept in 137 Implantations
by Frederic Bludau, Steffen Heinrich Schulz, Sascha Gravius, Peter Fennema, Marcus Rickert, Johannes Vogel and Franz-Joseph Dally
Medicina 2026, 62(6), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62061100 - 5 Jun 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 592
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation is a standard treatment for posterior pelvic ring instability and sacral insufficiency fractures. However, conventional transsacral S1 screw fixation is associated with notable complication rates, most commonly implant loosening; dysmorphic sacral anatomy increases the risk [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation is a standard treatment for posterior pelvic ring instability and sacral insufficiency fractures. However, conventional transsacral S1 screw fixation is associated with notable complication rates, most commonly implant loosening; dysmorphic sacral anatomy increases the risk of iatrogenic L5 or S1 nerve root injury. This study presents a modified S1 trajectory to engage the high-density bone of the anterior and cranial S1 vertebral body (promontory) by transferring preoperative 3D planning to intraoperative 2D fluoroscopy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed implant placements for posterior pelvic ring instability, including high-velocity trauma and fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFPs). Preoperative computed tomography (CT) multiplanar reconstruction defined a modified corridor from a posterior-caudal iliac entry point directed cranially and ventrally into the S1 promontory. The 3D trajectory was transferred intraoperatively using standard 2D fluoroscopy (lateral, anteroposterior, inlet, and outlet views) with the patient prone. In cases of reduced bone quality or intended sacroiliac fusion, 3D-printed titanium implants (triangular or cylindrical threaded, 10.0–13.5 mm outer diameter) were selected over 7.5 mm cannulated screws. Results: Overall, 137 implants were placed in 71 patients: 13 cannulated screws in high-velocity pelvic ring trauma, 72 triangular titanium sacroiliac fusion implants (iFuse Implant System®, SI-Bone), and 52 threaded titanium fusion implants (iFuse TORQ®, SI-Bone) in patients with FFP. The modified trajectory consistently engaged the anterior and cranial S1 vertebral body. Postoperative 3D CT confirmed accurate placement of all implants. No iatrogenic nerve injuries or revisions for implant malposition occurred. Mean follow-up was 12 ± 9 months. Conclusions: Preoperative 3D CT planning combined with standard 2D fluoroscopy guided a modified S1 trajectory toward the cranial S1 vertebral body. Accurate and safe implant placement was achieved in the prone position without navigation systems, providing a practical alternative when standard transverse trajectories are limited by narrow bony corridors or sacral or pelvic dysmorphy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Frontiers in Spine Surgery and Spine Disorders)
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39 pages, 5383 KB  
Review
Advancements in Design and Manufacture of High-Performance Modified Carbon/Carbon Composites for Extreme Aerospace Environments: A Comprehensive Review
by Johnson I. Humphrey, Stephen Dobreh, Md Mostafizur Rahman, Ayomide Sijuade and Okenwa I. Okoli
Fibers 2026, 14(5), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14050055 - 8 May 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2979
Abstract
The demand for materials that can operate reliably in extreme environments, including rocket nozzles, re-entry heat shields, sharp leading edges, high-velocity impact, and high-temperature energy systems, continue to drive advances in thermal–structural materials. Carbon/Carbon composites remain a leading baseline because of their low [...] Read more.
The demand for materials that can operate reliably in extreme environments, including rocket nozzles, re-entry heat shields, sharp leading edges, high-velocity impact, and high-temperature energy systems, continue to drive advances in thermal–structural materials. Carbon/Carbon composites remain a leading baseline because of their low density, high-temperature mechanical retention in inert atmospheres, and excellent thermal-shock tolerance. However, long-term durability is constrained by rapid oxidation in air at elevated temperatures, limited fracture toughness and elastic modulus in many architectures, and high manufacturing cost driven by multi-cycle densification and stringent quality assurance. Consequently, contemporary strategies increasingly rely on modifying Carbon/Carbon composites with ultra-high-temperature ceramics and adopting accelerated or simplified manufacturing routes. This review synthesizes recent progress in the design, manufacture, and application of high-performance modified Carbon/Carbon composite systems for extreme aerospace environments, emphasizing composition/architecture selection, oxidation, and ablation protection, toughening concepts, and cost-aware densification. Because extreme environments performance is governed by coupled aerothermal loading, gas–surface chemistry, internal transport, recession, and thermomechanical response, the review also consolidates the multiscale modeling and software toolchains increasingly used to size thermal-protection systems, interpret experiments, and guide down-selection. Key challenges and future directions are further discussed for reusable materials and validated performances beyond ~2000 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Composite Materials)
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16 pages, 3952 KB  
Article
Modeling Multi-Fracture Propagation in Fractured Reservoirs: Impacts of Limited-Entry and Temporary Plugging
by Wenjie Li, Hongjian Li, Tianbin Liao, Chao Duan, Tianyu Nie, Pan Hou, Minghao Hu and Bo Wang
Processes 2026, 14(3), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14030450 - 27 Jan 2026
Viewed by 577
Abstract
Staged multi-cluster fracturing in horizontal wells is a key technology for efficiently developing unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Extreme Limited-Entry Fracturing (ELF) and Temporary Plugging Fracturing (TPF) are effective techniques to enhance the uniformity of fracture stimulation within a stage. However, in fractured [...] Read more.
Staged multi-cluster fracturing in horizontal wells is a key technology for efficiently developing unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Extreme Limited-Entry Fracturing (ELF) and Temporary Plugging Fracturing (TPF) are effective techniques to enhance the uniformity of fracture stimulation within a stage. However, in fractured reservoirs, the propagation morphology of multiple intra-stage fractures and fluid distribution patterns becomes significantly more complex under the influence of ELF and TPF. This complexity results in a lack of theoretical guidance for optimizing field operational parameters. This study establishes a competitive propagation model for multiple hydraulic fractures (HFs) within a stage under ELF and TPF conditions in fractured reservoirs based on the Displacement Discontinuity Method (DDM) and fluid mechanics theory. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing it with laboratory experimental results and existing numerical simulation results. Using this model, the influence of ELF and TPF on intra-stage fracture propagation morphology and fluid partitioning was investigated. Results demonstrate that extremely limited-entry perforation and ball-sealer diversion effectively mitigate the additional flow resistance induced by both the stress shadow effect and the connection of natural fractures (NFs), thereby mitigating uneven fluid distribution and imbalanced fracture propagation among clusters. ELF artificially creates extremely high perforation friction by drastically reducing the number of perforations or the perforation diameter, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid to enter multiple perforation clusters relatively uniformly. Compared to the unlimited-entry scheme (16 perforations/cluster), the limited-entry scheme (5 perforations/cluster) yielded a 37.84% improvement in fluid distribution uniformity and reduced the coefficient of variation (CV) for fracture length and fluid intake by 54.28% and 44.16%, respectively. The essence of the TPF is non-uniform perforation distribution, which enables the perforation clusters with large fluid intake to obtain more temporary plugging balls (TPBs), so that their perforation friction can be increased and their fluid intake can be reduced, thereby diverting the fluid to the perforation clusters with small fluid intake. Deploying TPBs (50% of total perforations) at the mid-stage of fracturing (50% time) increased fluid distribution uniformity by 37.86% and reduced the CV of fracture length and fluid intake by 72.54% and 58.39%, respectively. This study provides methodological and modeling foundations for systematic optimization of balanced stimulation parameters in fractured reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technology of Unconventional Reservoir Stimulation and Protection)
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19 pages, 5167 KB  
Article
Safety Support Design and Sustainable Guarantee Method for Gob-Side Roadway Along Thick Coal Seams
by Peng Huang, Bo Wu, Erkan Topal, Hu Shao, Zhenjiang You, Shuxuan Ma and Ruirui Chen
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010346 - 29 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 687
Abstract
Maintaining the stability of the mine roadway is of paramount importance, as it is critical in ensuring the daily operational continuity, personnel safety, long-term economic viability, and sustainability of the entire mining operation. Significant instability can trigger serious disruptions—such as production stoppages, equipment [...] Read more.
Maintaining the stability of the mine roadway is of paramount importance, as it is critical in ensuring the daily operational continuity, personnel safety, long-term economic viability, and sustainability of the entire mining operation. Significant instability can trigger serious disruptions—such as production stoppages, equipment damage, and severe safety incidents—which ultimately compromise the project’s financial returns and future prospects. Therefore, the proactive assessment and rigorous control of roadway stability constitute a foundational element of successful and sustainable resource extraction. In China, thick and extra-thick coal seams constitute over 44% of the total recoverable coal reserves. Consequently, their safe and efficient extraction is considered vital in guaranteeing energy security and enhancing the efficiency of resource utilization. The surrounding rock of gob-side roadways in typical coal seams is often fractured due to high ground stress, intensive mining disturbances, and overhanging goaf roofs. Consequently, asymmetric failure patterns such as bolt failure, steel belt tearing, anchor cable fracture, and shoulder corner convergence are common in these entries, which pose a serious threat to mine safety and sustainable mining operations. This deformation and failure process is associated with several parameters, including the coal seam thickness, mining technology, and surrounding rock properties, and can lead to engineering hazards such as roof subsidence, rib spalling, and floor heave. This study proposes countermeasures against asymmetric deformation affecting gob-side entries under intensive mining pressure during the fully mechanized caving of extra-thick coal seams. This research selects the 8110 working face of a representative coal mine as the case study. Through integrated field investigation and engineering analysis, the principal factors governing entry stability are identified, and effective control strategies are subsequently proposed. An elastic foundation beam model is developed, and the corresponding deflection differential equation is formulated. The deflection and stress distributions of the immediate roof beam are thereby determined. A systematic analysis of the asymmetric deformation mechanism and its principal influencing factors is conducted using the control variable method. A support approach employing a mechanical constant-resistance single prop (MCRSP) has been developed and validated through practical application. The findings demonstrate that the frequently observed asymmetric deformation in gob-side entries is primarily induced by the combined effect of the working face’s front abutment pressure and the lateral pressure originating from the neighboring goaf area. It is found that parameters including the immediate roof thickness, roadway span, and its peak stress have a significant influence on entry convergence. Under both primary and secondary mining conditions, the maximum subsidence shows an inverse relationship with the immediate roof thickness, while exhibiting a positive correlation with both the roadway span and the peak stress. Based on the theoretical analysis, an advanced support scheme, which centers on the application of an MCRSP, is designed. Field monitoring data confirm that the peak roof subsidence and two-side closure are successfully limited to 663 mm and 428 mm, respectively. This support method leads to a notable reduction in roof separation and surrounding rock deformation, thereby establishing a theoretical and technical foundation for the green and safe mining of deep extra-thick coal seams. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scientific Disposal and Utilization of Coal-Based Solid Waste)
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16 pages, 5071 KB  
Article
Evaluating Fluid Distribution by Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) with Perforation Erosion Effect
by Daichi Oshikata, Ding Zhu and A. D. Hill
Sensors 2025, 25(22), 7037; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25227037 - 18 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1039
Abstract
Among the various completion strategies used in multi-stage hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells, the limited entry design has become one of the most common approaches to promote more uniform slurry distribution. This method involves reducing the number of perforations so that higher perforation [...] Read more.
Among the various completion strategies used in multi-stage hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells, the limited entry design has become one of the most common approaches to promote more uniform slurry distribution. This method involves reducing the number of perforations so that higher perforation friction is generated at each entry point. The increased pressure drops force fluid and proppant to be diverted across multiple clusters rather than concentrating at only a few, thereby enhancing stimulation efficiency along the lateral. In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to investigate how perforation erosion influences acoustic signals measured by Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). Unlike previous studies that assumed perfectly circular perforations, this work uses oval-shaped geometries to better reflect the irregular erosion observed in the field, which provides more realistic modeling. The workflow involved building wellbore and perforation geometries, generating computational meshes, and solving transient turbulent flow using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) coupled with the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings (FW-H) acoustic model. Acoustic pressure was then estimated at receiver points and converted into sound pressure level for analysis. The results show that, for a given perforation size, changes in flow rate cause log(q) versus sound pressure level to follow a straight line defined by a constant slope and varying intercept. Even when erosion alters the perforation into an oval shape, the intercept increases logarithmically, resulting in reduced sound amplitude, while the slope remains unchanged. Furthermore, when the cross-sectional area and flow rate are equal, oval perforations produce higher sound amplitudes than circular ones, suggesting that perforation geometry has a measurable influence on the DAS signal. This indicates that even when the same amplitude DAS signal is obtained, assuming circular perforations when estimating the fluid distribution leads to an overestimation if the actual perforation shape is oval. These findings highlight the importance of considering irregular erosion patterns when linking DAS responses to fluid distribution during hydraulic fracturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors and Sensing Techniques in Petroleum Engineering)
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26 pages, 10447 KB  
Article
Mechanisms and Mitigation of Injection-Induced Microseismicity: The Critical Role of Fracture Orientation in Shear Reactivation
by Yilong Yuan, Wei Wang, Jiawei Tang and Zixu Hu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 11919; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211919 - 9 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1009
Abstract
Hot dry rock (HDR) is a promising renewable energy resource whose vast reserves and wide distribution have attracted extensive attention in recent years. However, exploiting HDR resources requires hydraulic stimulation, which is typically accompanied by substantial microseismic activity, posing significant risks to project [...] Read more.
Hot dry rock (HDR) is a promising renewable energy resource whose vast reserves and wide distribution have attracted extensive attention in recent years. However, exploiting HDR resources requires hydraulic stimulation, which is typically accompanied by substantial microseismic activity, posing significant risks to project safety and public acceptance. Current understanding of microseismic mechanisms, particularly the role of fracture geometry under varying injection schemes, remains inadequate. This study employs a three-dimensional block-based discrete element method to construct a fluid–mechanics coupled model founded on a discrete fracture network, aimed at investigating the mechanical behavior of fractures and the spatial distribution of microseismicity during hydraulic stimulation. Our results quantitatively demonstrate that fractures oriented at 45° to the maximum principal stress are most susceptible to shear reactivation and microseismic clustering, with event magnitudes strongly correlated to both fracture orientation and intra-fracture fluid pressure. Consequently, preventing critically high fluid pressures in natural fractures near the injection well, particularly those at approximately 45° to the maximum principal stress direction, is essential for risk mitigation. Cyclic injection can shear more fractures and slightly reduce magnitudes via staged pressure relaxation, but its effectiveness in controlling microseismic magnitude is limited. Therefore, it is recommended to implement measures to control the entry of fracturing fluid into these high-risk fissures, such as segmented fracturing or temporary plugging techniques. This strategy is expected to enhance seismic risk mitigation, thereby contributing to the safe and efficient exploitation of deep geothermal resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mechanical Engineering)
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30 pages, 1430 KB  
Review
A Critical Review of Limited-Entry Liner (LEL) Technology for Unconventional Oil and Gas: A Case Study of Tight Carbonate Reservoirs
by Bohong Wu, Junbo Sheng, Dongyu Wu, Chao Yang, Xinxin Zhang and Yong He
Energies 2025, 18(19), 5159; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195159 - 28 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1481
Abstract
Limited-Entry Liner (LEL) technology has emerged as a transformative solution for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in unconventional reservoirs while addressing challenges in carbon sequestration. This review examines the role of LEL in optimizing acid stimulation, hydraulic fracturing and production optimization, focusing on its ability [...] Read more.
Limited-Entry Liner (LEL) technology has emerged as a transformative solution for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in unconventional reservoirs while addressing challenges in carbon sequestration. This review examines the role of LEL in optimizing acid stimulation, hydraulic fracturing and production optimization, focusing on its ability to improve fluid distribution uniformity in horizontal wells through precision-engineered orifices. By integrating theoretical models, experimental studies, and field applications, we highlight LEL’s potential to mitigate the heel–toe effect and reservoir heterogeneity, thereby maximizing stimulation efficiency. Based on a comprehensive review of existing literature, this study identifies critical limitations in current LEL models—such as oversimplified annular flow dynamics, semi-empirical treatment of wormhole propagation, and a lack of quantitative design guidance—and aims to bridge these gaps through integrated multiphysics modeling and machine learning-driven optimization. Furthermore, we explore its adaptability for controlled CO2 injection in geological storage, offering a sustainable approach to energy transition. This work provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of LEL’s significance in both energy production and environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unconventional Energy Exploration Technology)
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18 pages, 3541 KB  
Article
Construction and Application of a Quantitative Perforation Erosion Model Based on Field Experiments
by Bo Wang, Huan Li, Enyu Zhang, Jinglong Ma, Zichen Shang and Xiongfei Liu
Materials 2025, 18(11), 2507; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18112507 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 1369
Abstract
Perforation erosion is one of the critical factors influencing the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing and the productivity of oil and gas wells. This study developed a mathematical model for perforation erosion based on the field experimental data and theoretical analysis. This model comprehensively [...] Read more.
Perforation erosion is one of the critical factors influencing the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing and the productivity of oil and gas wells. This study developed a mathematical model for perforation erosion based on the field experimental data and theoretical analysis. This model comprehensively considers the effects of the rate of change in perforation diameter and the flow coefficient. Through field experiments, the values of the perforation diameter correlation coefficient (α) and the flow coefficient correlation coefficient (β) were determined. The wear behavior of perforations under high-pressure sand-carrying fluid conditions was thoroughly investigated, and the primary factors influencing perforation erosion were systematically analyzed. The results indicate that perforation erosion under high-pressure sand-carrying fluid conditions undergoes two distinct stages: the roundness erosion stage, characterized by a sharp pressure drop (greater than 30%) and the diameter erosion stage, marked by a gradual pressure decline (less than 5%), ultimately forming a trumpet-shaped perforation channel. The study further revealed that larger proppants cause significantly severe erosion than smaller proppants, resulting in 18.19% greater perforation diameter enlargement. In comparison tests, ceramic proppants produced 16.87% more diameter expansion than quartz sand under identical erosion conditions. Innovatively, this study proposes a “limited entry and temporary plugging” synergistic composite process. The timing of temporary plugging and the selection criteria for diverter size were clarified and optimized by determining the critical perforation friction for limited-entry failure based on inter-cluster stress differences. Field applications demonstrate that the optimized approach reduces erosion rates by 35–50%, improves fracture uniformity to over 80%, and increases single-well productivity by 18–25%. This research provides a quantitative basis and practical guidance for optimizing fracturing operation parameters, offering significant insights for enhancing the efficiency and productivity of hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas wells. Full article
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23 pages, 8646 KB  
Article
Investigation of Fracture Propagation Simulation and Parameter Optimization of Multi-Cluster Temporary Plugging Fracturing
by Yu Lu, Xiaoyu Xie, Menghong Yu, Keming Qian, Hong Liu, Zunhao Nie, Chang Liu and Siyu Lai
Processes 2025, 13(3), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13030692 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1531
Abstract
The dense cutting fracturing mode has great potential in the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, but it faces the problem of severe uneven crack propagation. Ball-sealer temporary plugging fracturing (BTPF) is capable of effectively facilitating the uniform growth of multi-cluster fractures. [...] Read more.
The dense cutting fracturing mode has great potential in the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, but it faces the problem of severe uneven crack propagation. Ball-sealer temporary plugging fracturing (BTPF) is capable of effectively facilitating the uniform growth of multi-cluster fractures. In this research, a multi-cluster fracture propagation model for BTPF was established. Then, the impact of ball-sealer efficiency, plugging timing, number of ball-sealer combinations, number of diversions, and perforation number on the propagation of hydraulic fractures after temporary plugging were simulated. The results indicate that ball-sealer efficiency has a significant impact on perforation sealing and fracture propagation. The optimization of the BTPF timing and the combination of ball sealers revealed that deploying 56.25% of the total number of ball sealers at 2/3 of the total fracturing time results in a higher degree of uniform crack propagation. The pattern of throwing more temporary balls in the first plugging and fewer temporary balls in the second plugging is superior to other two-step plugging patterns. The combined application of limited entry and temporary plugging in the fracturing process is more conducive to the uniform propagation of multi-cluster fractures. The fracture uniformity after BTPF is consistently higher than that achieved with limited-entry fracturing. This study provides valuable guidance for the reasonable design of ball-seal BTPF schemes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Systems)
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18 pages, 12435 KB  
Article
Reasonable Coal Pillar Width and Control Technology for Gob-Side Entry Driving in Deep Irregular Working Face
by Shuaifeng Yin, Xubo Zhao, En Wang, Yitao Yan, Kanglei Han, Jun Ma and Yibo Wang
Processes 2025, 13(1), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13010127 - 6 Jan 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1447
Abstract
Aiming to address the challenges of determining the coal pillar’s width and managing the significant deformation of the surrounding rock in the deep gob-side entry driving, the limiting equilibrium zone theory, employing the operational area of Dongpang Mine 21110 as the engineering setting, [...] Read more.
Aiming to address the challenges of determining the coal pillar’s width and managing the significant deformation of the surrounding rock in the deep gob-side entry driving, the limiting equilibrium zone theory, employing the operational area of Dongpang Mine 21110 as the engineering setting, states that a coal pillar’s appropriate width in the gob-side entry driving falls between 7.9 and 9.8 m. The pattern of vertical stress distribution and the extent of the plastic zone in the roadway for coal pillar widths of 7.0 m, 8.0 m, 9.0 m, and 10.0 m are analyzed, respectively, investigated using the numerical simulation method of FLAC3D. The acceptable coal pillar width in the deep gob-side entry driving is 8.0 m. Combined with the roadway surrounding rock borehole inspection results, the fracture development condition of the roadway’s full-face surrounding rock is determined, and the asymmetric aberration characteristics, with significant surrounding rock damage depth at the coal pillar flank location, are obtained. Based on the theoretical calculations, an integrated proposal for a “non-symmetrical bolt and cable anchor” coupling support scheme for the surrounding rock in the gob-side entry driving is put forward. This was applied at the Dongpang coal mine site. Engineering practice shows that leaving an 8.0 m coal pillar width and adopting the “non-symmetrical bolt and cable anchor” support system design can control the deformation of the surrounding rock in the track entry at a reasonable range, which ensures the stability of the surrounding rock in the gob-side entry driving. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Process Control, Modeling and Optimization)
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20 pages, 2329 KB  
Article
Downhole Camera Runs Validate the Capability of Machine Learning Models to Accurately Predict Perforation Entry Hole Diameter
by Samuel Nashed, FNU Srijan, Abdelali Guezei, Oluchi Ejehu and Rouzbeh Moghanloo
Energies 2024, 17(22), 5558; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17225558 - 7 Nov 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2384
Abstract
In the field of oil and gas well perforation, it is imperative to accurately forecast the casing entry hole diameter under full downhole conditions. Precise prediction of the casing entry hole diameter enhances the design of both conventional and limited entry hydraulic fracturing, [...] Read more.
In the field of oil and gas well perforation, it is imperative to accurately forecast the casing entry hole diameter under full downhole conditions. Precise prediction of the casing entry hole diameter enhances the design of both conventional and limited entry hydraulic fracturing, mitigates the risk of proppant screenout, reduces skin factors attributable to perforation, guarantees the presence of sufficient flow areas for the effective pumping of cement during a squeeze operation, and reduces issues related to sand production. Implementing machine learning and deep learning models yields immediate and precise estimations of entry hole diameter, thereby facilitating the attainment of these objectives. The principal aim of this research is to develop sophisticated machine learning-based models proficient in predicting entry hole diameter under full downhole conditions. Ten machine learning and deep learning models have been developed utilizing readily available parameters routinely gathered during perforation operations, including perforation depth, rock density, shot phasing, shot density, fracture gradient, reservoir unconfined compressive strength, casing elastic limit, casing nominal weight, casing outer diameter, and gun diameter as input variables. These models are trained by utilizing actual casing entry hole diameter data acquired from deployed downhole cameras, which serve as the output for the X’ models. A comprehensive dataset from 53 wells has been utilized to meticulously develop and fine-tune various machine learning algorithms. These include Gradient Boosting, Linear Regression, Stochastic Gradient Descent, AdaBoost, Decision Trees, Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbor, neural network, and Support Vector Machines. The results of the most effective machine learning models, specifically Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, AdaBoost, neural network (L-BFGS), and neural network (Adam), reveal exceptionally low values of mean absolute percent error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean squared error (MSE) in comparison to actual measurements of entry hole diameter. The recorded MAPE values are 4.6%, 4.4%, 4.7%, 4.9%, and 6.3%, with corresponding RMSE values of 0.057, 0.057, 0.058, 0.065, and 0.089, and MSE values of 0.003, 0.003, 0.003, 0.004, and 0.008, respectively. These low MAPE, RMSE, and MSE values verify the remarkably high accuracy of the generated models. This paper offers novel insights by demonstrating the improvements achieved in ongoing perforation operations through the application of a machine learning model for predicting entry hole diameter. The utilization of machine learning models presents a more accurate, expedient, real-time, and economically viable alternative to empirical models and deployed downhole cameras. Additionally, these machine learning models excel in accommodating a broad spectrum of guns, well completions, and reservoir parameters, a challenge that a singular empirical model struggled to address. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section H: Geo-Energy)
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