A semi-analytical model for predicting screen-out in hydraulic fracturing horizontal wells

Proppant Screen-out has been generally recognized as an issue affecting the performance of hydraulic fracturing in horizontal well completion. There is lack of a method that can be used to predict the screen-out. This paper provides a semi-analytical model for describing the configuration of proppant pile in ideal fracture conditions and predicting the time at which the screen-out occurs during fracturing horizontal wells. Result of case study is consistent with field data with certain error. Sensitivity analyses with this semi-analytical model indicate that optimizing fluid viscosity, injection rate, proppant density, proppant size, distribution of proppant size and the ratio of proppant volume to fracturing fluid volume can eliminate or at least delay the occurrence of screen-out. This semi-analytical model provides engineers a method for optimizing fracturing parameters to minimize the detrimental effect of screen-out to horizontal well performance.