# US 11,999,907 B2 · Hydraulic fracture composition and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,907 B2 - Document ID: US11999907B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/993,378 - Filed: 2022-11-23 - Published: 2023-05-25 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-11 - Assignees: Aquasmart Enterprises, LLC - Applicants: Aquasmart Enterprises, LLC - Inventors: Calder Hendrickson; Tommy K. Thrash; Todd Naff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999907B2 ## CPC - C09K 8/805: {Coated proppants} - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a coated 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, 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, and formed as a second powder, wherein the second composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium aluminosilicate, fumed silica, potassium aluminosilicate, calcium aluminosilicate, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, powdered cellulose, and whey protein; and forming granules by coating the first powder on the substrate individually with the second powder, wherein the coated proppant particles are configured to remain suspended in a 1000 ppm CaCO3 aqueous solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of approximately 170° F. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second composition consists of whey protein and fumed silica. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second composition consists of whey protein and sodium aluminosilicate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second densities are selected, and the size of the granules is selected to effect sinking the polymer, by the substrate, into a fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid is moving as a carrier, characterized by a viscosity, and the polymer is selected based on its effectiveness to increase in size by absorbing the fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a proppant selected from the group consisting of a sand, a ceramic, and a rock product. ### Claim 7 A method for producing a coated proppant particle, the method comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate is a discrete particle; providing a water soluble binder; providing a first composition containing a polymer, 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, and formed as a second powder; and forming granules by coating the first powder on the substrate individually with the second powder, wherein the coated proppant particles are configured to remain suspended in a 1000 ppm CaCO3 aqueous solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of approximately 170° F. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium aluminosilicate, fumed silica, potassium aluminosilicate, calcium aluminosilicate, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, powdered cellulose, and whey protein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second densities are selected, and the size of the granules is selected to effect sinking the polymer, by the substrate, into a fluid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid is moving as a carrier, characterized by a viscosity, and the polymer is selected based on its effectiveness to increase in size by absorbing the fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second composition consists of whey protein and fumed silica. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second composition consists of whey protein and sodium aluminosilicate. ### Claim 13 A method for producing a coated proppant particle, the method comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate is a discrete particle; providing a water soluble binder; providing a first composition containing a polymer, 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, and formed as a second powder; and forming granules by coating the first powder on the substrate individually with the second powder, wherein the coated proppant particles are configured to remain suspended in a 1000 ppm CaCO3 aqueous solution for at least 30 minutes at approximately room temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium aluminosilicate, fumed silica, potassium aluminosilicate, calcium aluminosilicate, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, powdered cellulose, and whey protein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second composition consists of whey protein and fumed silica. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second composition consists of whey protein and sodium aluminosilicate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second densities are selected, and the size of the granules is selected to effect sinking the polymer, by the substrate, into a fluid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid is moving as a carrier, characterized by a viscosity, and the polymer is selected based on its effectiveness to increase in size by absorbing the fluid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the substrate is a proppant selected from the group consisting of a sand, a ceramic, and a rock product. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second composition comprises a plurality of flowing agents, distinct from one another.