Sheng Lei^1,2,3, Guanglong Sheng^1,2,3,*, Hui Zhao^1,2,3

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.12, pp. 3011-3031, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.073802 - 31 December 2025

Abstract This study investigates the unsteady flow characteristics of shale oil reservoirs during the depletion development process, with a particular focus on production behavior following fracturing and shut-in stages. Shale reservoirs exhibit distinctive production patterns that differ from traditional oil reservoirs, as their inflow performance does not conform to the classic steady-state relationship. Instead, production is governed by unsteady-state flow behavior, and the combined effects of the wellbore and choke cause the inflow performance curve to evolve dynamically over time. To address these challenges, this study introduces the concept of a “Dynamic IPR curve” and develops… More >

Pu Liu, Guangwei Bai^*, Wei Li, Chuanhua Ge

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1847-1864, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.070378 - 31 December 2025

Abstract To address the issue of uneven temperature distribution in shale gas oil-based drill cuttings pyrolysis furnaces, a numerical model was developed using Fluent software. The effects of nitrogen flow rate, heating tube spacing, and furnace dimensions on the internal temperature field were thoroughly analyzed from a mechanistic perspective. The results indicated that non-uniform radiation from the heating tubes and flow disturbances induced by the nitrogen stream were the primary causes of localized heat concentration. Under no-load conditions, the maximum deviation between simulated and on-site measured temperatures was 1.5%, validating the model’s accuracy. Furthermore, this study More >

Wenjun Hu, Liquan Zhang^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.4, pp. 1159-1179, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.072450 - 26 December 2025

Abstract Addressing the persistent challenge of shale hydration and swelling in water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs), this study developed a smart thermo-responsive shale inhibitor, Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimine-Propylene Oxide-N-isopropylacrylamide (HPN). It was synthesized by grafting hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (HPEI) with propylene oxide (PO) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), creating a synergistic hydration barrier through hydrophobic association and temperature-triggered pore plugging. Structural characterization by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) confirmed the successful formation of the HPN terpolymer, revealing a unique “cationic–nonionic” amphiphilic architecture with temperature-responsive properties. Performance evaluation demonstrated that HPN significantly outperforms conventional inhibitors, including potassium chloride (KCl),… More >

Hai Li¹, Ziqiang Xia^2,3,*, Majia Zheng⁴, Weiyang Xie^2,3, Jianlin Li¹, Ruiqi Gao^2,3, Gaoxiang Wang^2,3, Jiangrong Feng^2,3

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.12, pp. 5039-5054, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.069036 - 27 November 2025

Abstract To explore and evaluate the longitudinal utilization degree of marine shale gas horizontal wells in southern Sichuan Basin (hereinafter referred to as “southern Sichuan”), focusing on the shale of Wufeng formation-Longyi1 sub-member in the deep Z block. By using the data from core experiments, well logging, and fracture height detection, a systematic analysis from the perspectives of reservoir distribution, longitudinal utilization height of hydraulic fractures, and longitudinal utilization degree of horizontal wells was conducted. The research results show that: (1) The overall reservoir conditions of the Wufeng formation-Longyi1 sub-member in the study area are relatively… More > Graphic Abstract

Junchen Liu¹, Feng Zhou¹, Xiaofeng Lu¹, Xiaojin Zhou², Xianjun He¹, Yurou Du³, Fuguo Xia¹, Junfu Zhang⁴, Weiyi Luo^4,*

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.10, pp. 2613-2628, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.069772 - 30 October 2025

Abstract In shale gas reservoir stimulation, proppants are essential for sustaining fracture conductivity. However, increasing closing stress causes proppants to embed into the rock matrix, leading to a progressive decline in fracture permeability and conductivity. Furthermore, rock creep contributes to long-term reductions in fracture performance. To elucidate the combined effects of proppant embedding and rock creep on sustained conductivity, this study conducted controlled experiments examining conductivity decay in propped fractures under varying closing stresses, explicitly accounting for both mechanisms. An embedded discrete fracture model was developed to simulate reservoir production under different conductivity decay scenarios, while… More >

Jin Xue, Boyun Guo^*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.144, No.3, pp. 3307-3328, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2025.069909 - 30 September 2025

Abstract Fluid imbibition from hydraulic fractures into shale formations is mainly affected by a combination of capillary forces and viscous resistance, both of which are closely related to the pore geometry. This study established five self-imbibition models with idealized pore structures and conducted a comparative analysis of these models. These models include circular, square, and equilateral triangular capillaries; a triangular star-shaped cross-section formed by three tangent spherical particles; and a traditional porous medium representation method. All these models are derived based on Newton’s second law, where capillary pressure is described by the Young-Laplace equation and viscous… More >

Yongting Duan^*Chengcheng Zhu

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.33, No.1, pp. 1-1, 2025, DOI:10.32604/icces.2025.010514

Abstract Clarify the mechanical properties of different laminations and the fracture mechanism of continental shale under in-situ stress can provide theoretical basis for more comprehensive evaluation of the fracability of continental shale oil reservoir. The Chang 72 continental shale was used to investigate the mechanical properties of laminations and the effect of natural structure on the crack propagation of the shale. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thin section tests show that the laminations contain two types: bright sandy lamination with void structure and dark muddy lamination with layer structure. The real-time Computed Tomography (CT) uniaxial compression… More >

Taizhi Shen¹, Gang Chen¹, Jiang Bai¹, Dan Zhang^2,*

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.8, pp. 1917-1934, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.067114 - 12 September 2025

Abstract Deep shale reservoirs are often associated with extreme geological conditions, including high temperatures, substantial horizontal stress differences, elevated closure stresses, and high breakdown pressures. These factors pose significant challenges to conventional hydraulic fracturing with water-based fluids, which may induce formation damage and fail to generate complex fracture networks. Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂), with its low viscosity, high diffusivity, low surface tension, and minimal water sensitivity, has attracted growing attention as an alternative fracturing fluid for deep shale stimulation. This study presents a series of true triaxial large-scale physical experiments using shale samples from the Longmaxi Formation More >

Cuiping Yuan^1,2,*, Sicun Zhong^1,3,*, Yijia Wu^1,3, Man Chen⁴, Ying Wang^1,3, Yinping Cao⁵, Jia Chen^1,2

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.7, pp. 1689-1710, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.065151 - 31 July 2025

Abstract Field development practices in many shale gas regions (e.g., the Changning region) have revealed a persistent issue of suboptimal reserve utilization, particularly in areas where the effective drainage width of production wells is less than half the inter-well spacing (typically 400–500 m). To address this, infill drilling has become a widely adopted and effective strategy for enhancing reservoir contact and mobilizing previously untapped reserves. However, this approach has introduced significant inter-well interference, complicating production dynamics and performance evaluation. The two primary challenges hindering efficient deployment of infill wells are: (1) the quantitative assessment of hydraulic… More >

Manqing Qian^*, Xiyu Chen, Yongming Li

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.6, pp. 1353-1377, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.061652 - 30 June 2025

Abstract Shale reservoirs are characterized by numerous geological discontinuities, such as bedding planes, and exhibit pronounced heterogeneity across rock layers separated by these planes. Bedding planes often possess distinct mechanical properties compared to the surrounding rock matrix, particularly in terms of damage and fracture behavior. Consequently, vertical propagation of hydraulic fractures is influenced by both bedding planes and the heterogeneity. In this study, a numerical investigation into the height growth of hydraulic fractures was conducted using the finite element method, incorporating zero-thickness cohesive elements. The analysis explored the effects of bedding planes, toughness contrasts between layers,… More >