# US 10,479,929 B2 · Spherical high temperature high closure tolerant cashew nut shell liquid based proppant, methods of manufacture, and uses thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,929 B2 - Document ID: US10479929B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/593,801 - Filed: 2017-05-12 - Published: 2017-12-07 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-06 - Assignees: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC - Applicants: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta - Inventors: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479929B2 ## CPC - C09K 8/62: Compositions for forming crevices or fractures - C09K 8/56: Compositions for consolidating loose sand or the like around wells without excessively decreasing the permeability thereof (compositions for plastering borehole walls C09K8/50; {Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials in general C09K17/00}) - C09K 8/565: Oil-based compositions - C09K 8/575: containing organic compounds - C09K 8/5756: {containing cross-linking agents} - C09K 8/64: Oil-based compositions - C09K 8/68: containing organic compounds - C09K 8/685: {containing cross-linking agents} - C09K 8/80: Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open - E21B 43/04: Gravelling of wells - E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures - E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping - C09K 2208/04: Hulls, shells or bark containing well drilling or treatment fluids - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method of fracturing a subterranean formation includes introducing into the formation a fracturing composition comprising a carrier and a substantially spherical polymeric particulate derived from a cashew nut shell liquid, the substantially spherical polymeric particulate having an apparent specific gravity of less than about 2.4. The fracturing composition is introduced at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, the method comprising: introducing into the formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the formation a fracturing composition comprising a carrier and a substantially spherical polymeric particulate derived from a cashew nut shell liquid, the substantially spherical polymeric particulate having an apparent specific gravity of less than about 2.4 and a particle size of about 10 to 200 mesh. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises a thermoset polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises a phenol formaldehyde derived from the cashew nut shell liquid, a polyester derived from the cashew nut shell liquid, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises the phenol formaldehyde, and the phenol formaldehyde is derived from formaldehyde and the cashew nut shell liquid, the cashew nut shell liquid comprising cardanol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises the phenol formaldehyde, and the phenol formaldehyde is crosslinked or cured. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises the polyester, and the polyester is polymerized from a monomer composition comprising a bisphenol derived from the cashew nut shell liquid and an acid component comprising one or more of the following terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, or a derivative thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate has a crush strength of 5% or less maximum generated fines as measured in accordance with American Petroleum Institute (API) RP 60 at a closure pressures of 16,000 psi. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises particles having a size of about 250 microns to about 900 microns. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate further comprises a non-reactive filler. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier is an aqueous carrier, an oil based carrier, or an energized fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate is introduced into the formation at a concentration sufficient to achieve a partial monolayer fracture. ### Claim 12 A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, the method comprising: introducing into the formation a slurry containing a carrier and a substantially spherical polymeric particulate derived from a cashew nut shell liquid at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge fractures in the formation, the substantially spherical polymeric particulate having an apparent specific gravity of less than about 2.4 and a particle size of about 10 to 200 mesh; and forming in the created or enlarged fracture a proppant pack comprising the substantially spherical polymeric particulate, wherein the proppant pack is permeable to fluids produced from the wellbore and substantially prevents or reduces production of formation materials from the formation into the wellbore. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a partial monolayer is created in the fracture by the proppant pack. ### Claim 14 A sand control method for a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising: introducing into the wellbore a slurry of a substantially spherical polymeric particulate derived from a cashew nut shell liquid and a carrier, the substantially spherical polymeric particulate having an apparent specific gravity (ASG) of less than about 2.4 and a particle size of about 10 to 200 mesh; and placing the substantially spherical polymeric particulate adjacent the subterranean formation to form a fluid-permeable pack capable of reducing or substantially preventing the passage of formation particles from the subterranean formation into the wellbore while allowing passage of formation fluids from the subterranean formation into the wellbore. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate derived from the cashew nut shell liquid comprises a thermoset polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises a phenol formaldehyde derived from the cashew nut shell liquid, a polyester derived from the cashew nut shell liquid, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises the phenol formaldehyde, and the phenol formaldehyde is derived from formaldehyde and the cashew nut shell liquid, the cashew nut shell liquid comprising cardanol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises the phenol formaldehyde, and the phenol formaldehyde is crosslinked or cured. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate comprises the polyester, and the polyester is polymerized from a monomer composition comprising a bisphenol derived from the cashew nut shell liquid and an acid component comprising one or more of the following terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, or a derivative thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the substantially spherical polymeric particulate further comprises a non-reactive filler. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the carrier is an aqueous carrier, an oil based carrier, or an energized fluid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein, prior to introduction of the substantially spherical polymeric particulate into the wellbore, a screen assembly is disposed within the wellbore such that at least a portion of the screen assembly is disposed adjacent the subterranean formation.