Effect of Perforation Methods on Fracture Propagation in Gelatin-Based Matrices

The development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources has positioned hydraulic fracturing as a pivotal technology in shale oil extraction, where understanding fracture propagation mechanisms is critical for reservoir stimulation optimization. This study employs gelatin-based visualized experiments to systematically investigate the effects of perforation modes, flow rates, fluid volumes, and bedding conditions. Experimental results reveal that reducing the number of perforations increases fracture initiation pressure (12%), and adjusting perforation density within clusters modifies initiation locations without fully resolving propagation heterogeneity. Elevated flow rates significantly reduce initiation pressure (40%) and systematically shift fracture origins from the wellbore heel to the toe. Nonlinear correlations between fluid volume and fracture propagation area suggest the mutual influence between injection pressure and boundary constraints. In layered heterogeneous models, higher flow rates enhance interfacial crossing capabilities, and a complex fracture behavior often corresponds to more intricate pressure curves. These findings provide experimental validation for perforation strategy optimization and fracture geometry control in unconventional reservoir stimulation.