Hydraulic fracture composition and method
AssigneeAquasmart Enterprises, LLC
InventorsCalder Hendrickson, Tommy K. Thrash, Todd Naff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for improving the performance of fracturing processes in oil production fields may rely on polymer coated particles carried in the fracturing fluid. The particles may include heavy substrates, such as sand, ceramic sand, or the like coated with polymers selected to absorb water, increasing the area and volume to travel more readily with the flow of fluid without settling out, or allowing the substrate to settle out. Ultimately, the substrate may become lodged in the fissures formed by the pressure or hydraulic fracturing, resulting in propping open of the fissures for improved productivity.
Claims20
A method for producing a self-suspending proppant particle, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate, constituted as discrete particles;
- providing a water soluble material as a binder;
- providing a first composition containing a polymer, characterized by a chemistry and formed as a first powder;
- coating the substrate individually with the binder;
- forming granules by coating the binder on the substrate individually with the first powder;
- providing a second composition containing a flowing agent to increase flowability of the resultant granules, characterized by a chemistry and formed as a second powder;
- and
- forming granules by coating the first powder on the substrate individually with the second powder, wherein the self-suspending proppant particles are configured to remain suspended in a 1000 ppm CaCO3 aqueous solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of 170° F.
A method for producing a self-suspending proppant particle, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate, constituted as discrete particles;
- providing a water soluble material as a binder;
- providing a first composition containing a polymer, characterized by a chemistry and formed as a first powder, wherein the substrate has a first density and the first powder has a second density, the first density being greater than the second density;
- coating the substrate individually with the binder;
- forming granules by coating the binder on the substrate individually with the first powder;
- providing a second composition containing a flowing agent to increase flowability of the resultant granules, characterized by a chemistry and formed as a second powder, wherein the second composition is selected from the group consisting of whey protein, fumed silica, and sodium aluminosilicate[, and DFC];
- and
- forming granules by coating the first powder on the substrate individually with the second powder, wherein the self-suspending proppant particles are configured to remain suspended in a 1000 ppm CaCO3 aqueous solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of 170° F.
A method for producing a self-suspending proppant particle, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate comprising discrete particles;
- providing a water soluble material as a binder;
- providing a first composition containing a polymer, characterized by a chemistry and formed as a first powder, wherein the first composition comprises a plurality of polymers distinct from one another;
- coating the substrate individually with the binder;
- forming granules by coating the binder on the substrate individually with the first powder;
- providing a second composition containing a flowing agent to increase flowability of the resultant granules, characterized by a chemistry and formed as a second powder, wherein the second composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium aluminosilicate, fumed silica, and whey protein[and DFC];
- and
- forming granules by coating the first powder on the substrate individually with the second powder, wherein the self-suspending proppant particles are configured to remain suspended in a 1000 ppm CaCO3 aqueous solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of 170° F.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.