Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40224437›Full record

ArticleACS omega2025

A Comprehensive Review of Proppant Selection in Unconventional Reservoirs.

Mian Umer Shafiq, Shabeeb Alajmei, Murtada Saleh Aljawad, Lei Wang, Ashtiwi Bahri

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ACS omega, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mian Umer ShafiqSchool of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University institution, Qabanbay Batyr Ave 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
Shabeeb AlajmeiDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5816-4214
Murtada Saleh AljawadDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3540-6807
Lei WangState Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, College of Energy, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3090-1921
Ashtiwi BahriPetroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the selection of proppants in hydraulic fracturing for unconventional reservoirs. Proppants are essential for maintaining the conductivity of hydraulic fractures in well production. The industry has developed various types of proppants, including silica, ceramic, and advanced ultralightweight proppants. The paper covers the fundamentals of proppants, their types, compositions, geometries, and novel technologies for downhole pumping and placement of proppants, as well as in situ generation of proppants. Proppants are critical to improving hydrocarbon recovery as they keep the fractures open, which increases the overall hydrocarbon recovery. The selection of proppants must be tailored to the geological conditions of the reservoirs, and their performance is evaluated based on compatibility with the reservoir and rheological properties. Proppants must withstand closure stresses and diagenesis to ensure long-term fracture conductivity. Regarding proppant size, larger sizes maximize initial production, and smaller sizes allow for a slower long-term decline. Proppant crushing is a significant concern as it affects fracture conductivity. Factors influencing proppant crushing include proppant diagenesis, which refers to the chemical and physical changes proppants undergo in the reservoir. The development of various proppants, including sand, ceramic, resin-coated, curable resin-coated, lightweight, sintered, high-strength, and ultralightweight proppants, each with its advantages and limitations, is also discussed. Case studies from the Bakken and Marcellus Shale Formation demonstrate the impact of proppant selection on well production. Then, the economic optimization of proppant selection, considering factors like payout, internal rate of return, and net present value, is emphasized. The review also covers advancements in proppant technologies, such as multifunctional proppants, traceable proppants, and coated proppants. The potential of in situ proppant generation and the use of ultralightweight proppants are also discussed. The paper concludes with insights into the challenges and considerations for selecting proppants in unconventional reservoirs, stressing the importance of economic optimization and compatibility with fracturing fluids.

Identifiers

PMID40224437
PMCPMC11983199

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.