This paper investigates proppant flow and transport in intersected fractures at angles typical for intersections of pre-existing and new hydraulic fractures. Proppant is small granular material, which is placed into hydraulic fractures during geothermal and hydrocarbon reservoir stimulation and props the fluid paths open during reservoir exploitation. This study uses plexiglas laboratory slot experiments enhanced with advanced image analysis for identifying particle trajectories and quantifying slurry velocities. Although proppant flow and transport have been broadly studied, the effects of intersecting fracture angles have not, especially coupled with fluid viscosities, flow rates, and proppant volumetric concentration effects. This paper specifically investigates the role of intermediate fracture angles, which have been identified to occur most frequently when the new hydraulic fractures intercept the existing ones. Results show that proppant flow and transport behavior after the intersection is very sensitive to carrying fluid viscosity and flow rates alteration while differentiating proppant volumetric concentrations have a limited effect. Fracture intersection angle itself has a clear effect on proppant flow velocities and proppant settlement; furthermore, it enhances the effects of fluid viscosity, fluid flow rates, and proppant volumetric concentrations.

本文研究了以预先存在的和新的水力裂缝相交的典型角度在相交裂缝中的支撑剂流动和输送。支撑剂是小颗粒材料，在地热和油气储层增产过程中被置于水力裂缝中，并在储层开采过程中支撑流体路径打开。这项研究使用有机玻璃实验室槽实验，通过先进的图像分析来识别粒子轨迹和量化浆液速度。尽管已经广泛研究了支撑剂的流动和输送，但没有交叉裂缝角度的影响，特别是与流体粘度、流速和支撑剂体积浓度效应相结合。本文专门研究了中间断裂角的作用，当新的水力裂缝拦截现有的水力裂缝时，这些裂缝最常发生。结果表明，交叉点后的支撑剂流动和输送行为对承载流体粘度和流速变化非常敏感，而区分支撑剂体积浓度的效果有限。裂缝交叉角本身对支撑剂流速和支撑剂沉降有明显影响；此外，它增强了流体粘度、流体流速和支撑剂体积浓度的影响。结果表明，交叉点后的支撑剂流动和输送行为对承载流体粘度和流速变化非常敏感，而区分支撑剂体积浓度的效果有限。裂缝交叉角本身对支撑剂流速和支撑剂沉降有明显影响；此外，它增强了流体粘度、流体流速和支撑剂体积浓度的影响。结果表明，交叉点后的支撑剂流动和输送行为对承载流体粘度和流速变化非常敏感，而区分支撑剂体积浓度的效果有限。裂缝交叉角本身对支撑剂流速和支撑剂沉降有明显影响；此外，它增强了流体粘度、流体流速和支撑剂体积浓度的影响。