# US 11,028,318 B2 · Proppant compositions and methods of use

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- Number: US 11,028,318 B2
- Document ID: US11028318B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/133,844
- Filed: 2018-09-18
- Published: 2019-01-17
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-17
- Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC; Carbo Ceramics Inc.; UNM Rainforest Innovations
- Applicants: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC; CARBO Ceramics Inc.; Stc.Unm
- Inventors: Chad Cannan; Terrence Palisch; Richard A. Kemp; Timothy J. Boyle; Bernadette A. Hernandez-Sanchez; James E. Miller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028318B2

## CPC

- C09K 8/80: Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
- C09K 8/805: {Coated proppants}
- E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping
- E21B 47/11: using tracers; using radioactivity
- 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

Proppant compositions for use in hydraulic fracturing and methods of using same are disclosed herein. The proppant compositions include a plurality of proppant particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of proppant particulates containing at least one tracer, wherein the at least one tracer separates from the at least one particulate located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:
injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein; and
injecting a fluid containing a proppant composition, wherein the proppant composition comprises a plurality of particulates, at least one particulate of the plurality of particulates comprising a nanoparticle metallic tracer; and
wherein the nanoparticle metallic tracer separates from the at least one particulate when located inside the fracture after a predetermined period of time; and
wherein the at least one particulate further comprises a coating that at least partially coats the at least one particulates.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one particulate has a long-term permeability measured in accordance with ISO 13503-5 at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 Darcies.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particulates contain porous particulate and non-porous particulates, wherein the non-porous particulates are selected from the group consisting of light weight ceramic non-porous proppant, intermediate density ceramic non-porous proppant and high density ceramic porous proppant and wherein the porous particulates are selected from the group consisting of light weight ceramic porous proppant, intermediate density ceramic non-porous proppant and high density ceramic porous proppant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle metallic tracer further comprising a dopant.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the dopant comprises one or more elements selected from the lanthanide series, the actinide series, transition metals having an atomic number of 21 or greater, or p-block metals having an atomic number of 31 or greater, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the dopant is monocationically or polycationically doped to the nanoparticle substrate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the tracer has a size in its longest dimension from about 100 nm to about 150 nm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the coating is a degradable coating or a non-degradable coating, and wherein the degradable coating degrades inside the fracture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the degradable coating is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, water-soluble polymers and cross-linkable water-soluble polymers.