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US 10,519,364 B2Granted
Proppant aggregate particulates for use in subterranean formation operations
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsWalter T. Stephens, Philip D. Nguyen, Michael Wayne Sanders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Proppant aggregates comprising proppant particulates and a binding agent, wherein the proppant particulates in the absence of the binding agent pack together to exhibit a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to operational conditions, the operational conditions having a closure stress of greater than about 1000 pounds per square inch and a temperature of greater than about 50° F.
Claims25
A proppant aggregate comprising:
- one or more subpar proppant particulates comprising and a binding agent, the binding agent surrounds wholly or partially the one or more subpar proppant particulates and the binding agent is present in an amount of about 5% to about 20% vol/wt or wt/wt,
- wherein the one or more subpar proppant particulates in the absence of the binding agent pack together to exhibit a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to operational conditions, the operational conditions having a closure stress of greater than about 1000 pounds per square inch and a temperature of greater than about 160° F., and
- wherein the one or more subpar proppant particulates and a binding agent form a plurality of spaced apart proppant pillars with a plurality of channels formed therebetween in a subterranean fracture thereby providing increased conductivity of at least 2123 mD-ft at an aggregate closure stress of about 44776 psi.
A method comprising:
- introducing proppant aggregates comprising into a subterranean formation, the proppant aggregates comprising one or more subpar proppant particulates and a binding agent, the binding agent surrounds wholly or partially the one or more subpar proppant particulates and the binding agent is present in an amount of 12% to about 20% vol/wt or wt/wt,
- wherein the one or more subpar proppant particulates in the absence of the binding agent pack together to exhibit a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to operational conditions, the operational conditions having a closure stress of greater than about 1000 pounds per square inch and a temperature of greater than about 160° F.;
- placing the proppant aggregates into at least one fracture in a subterranean formation forming a plurality of spaced apart proppant pillars having a plurality of channels formed therebetween wherein the plurality of spaced apart proppant pillars with the plurality of channels formed therebetween in the subterranean fracture provide increased conductivity of at least 2123 mD-ft at an aggregate closure stress of about 44776 psi;
- and
- removing hydraulic pressure from the subterranean formation, thereby exposing the proppant aggregates to the operational conditions in the fracture.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a tubular extending into a subterranean formation and fluidly coupled to a pump, the tubular containing proppant aggregates comprising one or more subpar proppant particulates of aluminum oxide and a binding agent, the binding agent surrounds wholly or partially the one or more subpar proppant particulates and the binding agent is present in an amount of about 5% to about 20% vol/wt or wt/wt,
- wherein the proppant particulates in the absence of the binding agent pack together to exhibit a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to operational conditions, the operational conditions having a closure stress of greater than about 1000 pounds per square inch and a temperature of greater than about 160° F., and
- wherein the proppant aggregates form a plurality of spaced apart proppant pillars with a plurality of channels formed therebetween in a subterranean fracture, wherein the plurality of spaced apart proppant pillars with the plurality of channels formed therebetween in the subterranean fracture provide increased conductivity of at least 2123 mD-ft at an aggregate closure stress of about 44776 psi.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.