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US 2015/0083418 A1Published application
Well Stimulation Methods and Proppant
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsTHOMAS KRUSPE, ROCCO DIFOGGIO
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Abstract
A well stimulation method includes using a well formation containing fractures and placing proppant in the fractures. A plurality of individual particles of the proppant includes a core containing a swellable material. The method includes swelling the core and increasing a size of the fractures using the swelling core. A proppant particle includes a core containing a swellable material and a dissolvable layer encapsulating the core.
Claims20
A well stimulation method comprising:
- using a well formation containing fractures;
- placing proppant in the fractures, a plurality of individual particles of the proppant including a core containing a swellable material;
- swelling the core;
- and
- increasing a size of the fractures using the swelling core.
2 more elements
A well stimulation method comprising:
- hydraulically fracturing a well formation containing hydrocarbon;
- placing proppant in fractures formed during the fracturing, a plurality of individual particles of the proppant including a core containing a swellable mortar and including a dissolvable layer encapsulating the core;
- dissolving the dissolvable layer in water or in fluid produced from a hydrocarbon-containing formation and exposing at least a portion of the core;
- treating the swellable material with water or with fluid produced from a hydrocarbon-containing formation and thereby curing the swellable material in the exposed core;
- swelling the curing core in volume by a factor of at least two;
- and
- increasing a size of the fractures using the swelling core.
4 more elements
A proppant particle comprising:
- a core containing a swellable material;
- and
- a dissolvable layer encapsulating the core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.