# US 2017/0283686 A1 · Dual function proppants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283686 A1 - Document ID: US20170283686A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/461,694 - Filed: 2017-03-17 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-02 - Assignees: Preferred Technology, LLC - Applicants: Preferred Technology, LLC - Inventors: Robert Ray McDaniel; Avis Lloyd McCrary - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283686A1 ## CPC - C09K 8/536: characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material - C09K 8/64: Oil-based compositions - C09K 8/68: containing organic compounds - C09K 8/80: Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open - C09K 8/805: {Coated proppants} - C09K 8/90: of natural origin, e.g. polysaccharides, cellulose - E21B 43/04: Gravelling of wells - E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping - 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 Proppants for use in fractured or gravel packed/frac packed oil and gas wells are provided with a contaminant removal component to remove one or more of the contaminants found in subterranean water/hydrocarbon from a production well. The water/hydrocarbon cleaning proppant solids may be used as discrete particles in a proppant formulation, as a coating on proppant solids in pores of a porous proppant solid or as part of the proppant's internal structure. The contaminant removal component removes contaminants, especially dissolved contaminants, in the subterranean water or hydrocarbon before the water/hydrocarbon leaves the well. For those contaminant removal components that can be regenerated, such as ion exchange resins, a measured quantity of an acidic regeneration solution can be injected into the fractured stratum for regeneration and recovered when the well resumes production. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 A method to remove contaminants from a fractured well stratum or well, said method comprising: introducing into said stratum or said well a formulation that comprises first solid particulates associated with a contaminant removal component in a sufficient quantity to remove at least a portion of the contaminants in fluids in said stratum or well, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises a polymeric coating on said first solid particulates that comprises a contaminant removal chemical or biological agent with a functional affinity for impurities in said stratum, wherein said chemical comprises at least one sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid, phenolic, amino acid, glycolamine, polyamine, quaternary amine, or polyhydroxylic compound. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the formulation further comprises a second particulates comprising an ion exchange resin, a molecular sieve or activated carbon that is bound to an outer surface of said proppant particulate with a polymeric coating. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein, said second particulate solids are a natural molecular sieve. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein, said second particulate solids are a synthetic molecular sieve. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein, said second particulate solids are an ion exchange resin. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein said stratum or said well comprises a gravel pack or a filter sand bed. ### Claim 28 A solids formulation, said solids formulation comprising a plurality of first particulate solids associated with a contaminant removal component in sufficient quantity to remove at least a portion of contaminants in liquids issuing from a well, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises a polymeric coating disposed on said first particulate solids, wherein the coating comprises a contaminant removal chemical or biological agent with a functional affinity for impurities in said stratum, wherein said contaminant removal chemical or biological agent comprises at least one sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid, phenolic, amino acid, glycolamine, polyamine, quaternary amine, or polyhydroxylic compound. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of second particulate solids comprising an ion exchange resin or a molecular sieve that is bound to an outer surface of said second particulate solids with a polymeric coating. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises an ion exchange resin. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises a molecular sieve. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one sulfonic acid. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one carboxylic acid. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one phenolic compound. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one amino acid. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one glycolamine. ### Claim 37 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one polyamine. ### Claim 38 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one quaternary amine. ### Claim 39 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component comprises at least one polyhydroxylic compound. ### Claim 40 (depends on 28) The formulation of claim 28, wherein said contaminant removal component removes contaminants by ionic attraction, ionic exchange, sequestration, amalgamation, chelation, physical entrapment, absorption, adsorption, magnetic attraction, biological degradation, or adhesion.