Particle coating process and compositions for ceramic proppant extrusion
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorThomas Philip Barthelmess
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods include providing an aqueous slurry of ceramic forming raw materials, where at least a portion of the ceramic forming raw materials are enhanced particulates, and flowing the slurry through at least one extrusion die face to form slurry bodies while the slurry is under a hypotensive condition which is less than about 30 kPa, or otherwise pressure lower than conventional extrusion pressures using unenhanced raw materials. The slurry bodies may then be received in a collecting hopper, and thereafter sintering to form particles, such as ceramic proppant particles. Enhanced particulates may be raw material particulates that are coated, selectively shaped, of particular size(s), or any combination thereof.
Claims28
A method comprising:
- providing an aqueous slurry of ceramic forming raw materials, wherein at least a portion of the ceramic forming raw materials are enhanced particulates;
- flowing the slurry through at least one extrusion die face to form slurry bodies;
- receiving the slurry bodies in a collecting hopper;
- and
- sintering the slurry bodies to form particles.
- wherein the slurry bodies are produced from the die face while the slurry is under a hypotensive condition.
A method comprising:
- providing an aqueous slurry of ceramic forming raw materials, the slurry further comprising a reactant and a dispersant, and wherein at least a portion of the ceramic forming raw materials are coated particulates;
- flowing the slurry through a perforated membrane while energizing the slurry to form slurry bodies;
- passing the slurry bodies through a mist in a chamber, the mist comprising a coagulation agent to react with the reactant in the slurry bodies;
- receiving the slurry bodies in a collecting hopper;
- and
- sintering the slurry bodies to form ceramic proppant particles;
- wherein the slurry bodies are formed from the perforated membrane while the slurry is under a hypotensive condition that is less than 30 kPa.
A method of hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the formation having a fracturing stress, the method comprising:
- pumping a fracturing fluid into the wellbore at a pressure above the fracturing stress of the formation;
- and
- adding proppant particles to the fracturing fluid and delivering the proppant particles and the fluid into the wellbore;
- wherein the proppant particles are prepared by providing an aqueous slurry of ceramic forming raw materials comprising coated particulates, flowing the slurry through a die face to form slurry bodies under a hypotensive condition of less than 30 kPa, receiving the slurry bodies in a collecting hopper, and drying the slurry bodies to form the proppant particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.