In-situ 4D visualization and analysis of temperature-driven creep in an oil shale propped fracture

The proppant embedment due to creep in shales is a known issue affecting the useable lifetime of wells unconventional oil and gas recovery. One factors influencing presence organics, whose properties can be very sensitive temperature. In this work we investigated for first time role temperature-induced increase an organics-rich Green River shale sample via in-situ synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography. We observed that temperatures as low 75 °C already induce fast creep, with fracture aperture closing rate 13 ?m/h loss conductivity 8.7%/h, only embedment, measured interval at heating stage. Local displacement data analysis provided evidence markedly plastic deformation around proppant-shale contacts, contrast brittle on more cemented less room results highlight how problem temperature-dependent mechanical behavior might important than previously thought, high content micro-imaging techniques play key understanding underlying mechanisms, contributing solve creep-related problems associated hydraulic fracturing complex scenarios.