An Integrated Experimental Method to Investigate Tool-Less Temporary-Plugging Multistage Acid Fracturing of Horizontal Well by Using Self-Degradable Diverters

Tool-less temporary-plugging multistage acid fracturing of horizontal well is a necessary technology to unlock the production potential and enable commercial productivity for tight carbonate reservoirs. However, this technique has not been investigated experimentally yet, and the plugging behavior of diverters within acid-etched fracture is still unclear. In this paper, we propose an integrated method to experimentally study tool-less multistage fracturing with diverters. First, we introduce an innovative 3D printing method to reproduce the roughness of acid-etched fracture surface and design an acid-etched fracture temporary plugging evaluation system to satisfy the requirements of temporary plugging experiments. Then, we conduct a series of plugging experiments to optimize the diverter's formula for creating a tight plugging zone within an acid-etched fracture under different fracture widths. On the basis of the description of the fracture surface, we further analyze the formation process and mechanism of temporary plugging. Finally, we further verify through laboratory experiments using a modified true tri-axial fracturing system the feasibility of using a single type of diverter and combined diverters to achieve tool-less temporary plugging staged fracturing of horizontal well. The experimental results show the following findings: (1) Pure fibers can realize temporary plugging at lower fracture width (<= 2 mm). (2) To achieve temporary plugging, the diameter of particulates should not be less than half of the fracture width under the condition of larger fracture width (>4 nun). (3) The fracture surface morphology affects the formation time of temporary plugging, but does not affect whether temporary plugging is formed or not. (4) Using a steel plate with a smooth fracture surface to conduct optimization experiments will increase the dosage of diverters, thus increasing the operation cost. (5) Pure particulates cannot achieve favorable plugging effect. This study provides an insight into multistage acid fracturing.