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US 10,538,697 B2Granted
Proppant aggregates for use in subterranean formation operations
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsPhilip D. Nguyen, Walter T. Stephens, Michael Wayne Sanders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Proppant aggregates comprising proppant particulates and a binding agent, wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to aggregate operational conditions, the aggregate operational conditions having a closure stress of at least about 100 pounds per square inch and a temperature of at least about 10° C.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- forming a proppant aggregate comprising proppant particulates and a binding agent,
- testing the proppant aggregate at aggregate operational conditions to determine conductivity, porosity, and unconfined compression strength;
- wherein the conductivity of the proppant aggregate is determined by a conductivity test comprising:
- (a) coating the binding agent onto the proppant particulates, thereby forming coated proppant particulates;
- (b) packing the coated proppant particulates into a conductivity testing cell;
- (c) exposing the conductivity testing cell to the aggregate operational conditions, thereby forming the proppant aggregate;
- and
- (d) measuring the conductivity of the proppant aggregate;
- and
- selecting the proppant aggregate having the conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to aggregate operational conditions, the porosity of about 0.5% to about 35% after exposure to aggregate operational conditions, and the unconfined compression strength about 100 psi to about 2,000 psi upon exposure to aggregate operational conditions,
- wherein the aggregate operational conditions having a closure stress of at least about 100 pounds per square inch and a temperature of at least about 10° C., and
- placing the selected proppant aggregate into at least one fracture in a subterranean formation.
9 more elements
A proppant aggregate comprising:
- proppant particulates and a binding agent,
- wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to aggregate operational conditions,
- wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits a porosity of about 0.5% to about 35% after exposure to aggregate operational conditions,
- wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits an unconfined compression strength of about 100 psi to about 2,000 psi upon exposure to aggregate operational conditions, and
- wherein the aggregate operational conditions having a closure stress of at least about 100 pounds per square inch and a temperature of at least about 10° C.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- introducing proppant aggregates into a subterranean formation, the proppant aggregates comprising proppant particulates and a binding agent,
- wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to aggregate operational conditions,
- wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits a porosity of about 0.5% about 35% after exposure to aggregate operational conditions,
- wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits an unconfined compression strength of about 100 psi to about 2,000 psi upon exposure to aggregate operational conditions, and
- wherein the aggregate operational conditions having a closure stress of at least about 100 pounds per square inch and a temperature of at least about 10° C.;
- placing the proppant aggregates into at least one fracture in a subterranean formation;
- and
- removing hydraulic pressure from the subterranean formation, thereby exposing the proppant aggregates to the aggregate operational conditions in the fracture.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.