Title:

Evaluation of Proppant Performance in Maintaining Fracture Conductivity Under Simulated Geothermal Reservoir Conditions

Authors:

Najiba HOZEH, Wahidur RAHAMAN, Xuejun ZHOU, Sree Sujon SUTRADHOR, Ahmad GHASSEMI

Key Words:

crush resistance, flow-through experiments, fracture conductivity, proppant, proppant-pack

Conference:

Stanford Geothermal Workshop

Year:

2026

Session:

Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Language:

English

Paper Number:

Hozeh

File Size:

1212 KB

View File:

Abstract:

The long-term effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing in geothermal and unconventional reservoirs critically depends on the ability of proppants to maintain open flow pathways under in-situ stress and temperature. This study presents a laboratory-based evaluation of proppant performance using a series of flow-through experiments designed to replicate reservoir-relevant conditions, including elevated confining pressures, high temperatures (up to 250 °C), and continuous fluid flow. Fracture conductivity is commonly used as the key parameter traditionally used in field-scale fracture design, so we report it as the primary measurable indicator of how proppants contribute to maintaining fracture conductivity over extended periods of loading. A suite of proppant-packed fracture analogs was constructed and tested to characterize their mechanical and thermal responses during progressive loading. The experiments captured how fracture conductivity evolves as a function of proppant type (resin coated, low density ceramic, pet coke, & Sand), grain strength, thermal stability, and interactions with the surrounding rock or bounding surfaces. Results show that conductivity degradation varies significantly among proppants: some materials retain permeability even under severe thermo-mechanical conditions, whereas others exhibit substantial loss due to embedment, compaction, thermal softening, or grain crushing. The results contribute to improving proppant selection and fracture-design strategies for high-stress, high-temperature reservoirs, where long-term fracture performance is essential for sustained production


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