Proppants for use in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations
AssigneeGeorgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC
InventorRichard A. Rediger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A proppant for a well treatment fluid includes discrete particles of a substrate, such as sand, coated with a resin comprising a product of the Maillard reaction between a carbohydrate and an amine and/or an ammonium compound. Different resins, in particular thermoplastic or thermosetting resins, may be blended with Maillard reaction products or applied to the substrate as separate layers. The proppant may be included in a fracturing fluid, which is injected into a subterranean formation and used to stimulate hydrocarbon production from the subterranean formation.
Claims20
A fracturing fluid for stimulating hydrocarbon production from a subterranean formation, comprising a proppant suspended in a carrier liquid, the proppant comprising a plurality of particles coated with a Maillard reaction product.
A process for stimulating hydrocarbon production, comprising introducing a fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises a proppant suspended in a carrier liquid, and wherein the proppant comprises a plurality of particles coated with a Maillard reaction product.
A process for making a proppant for a well treatment fluid, comprising:
- coating a plurality of particles with a mixture of Maillard reactants selected from the group consisting of:
- (1) a carbohydrate and an amine, (2) a carbohydrate and an ammonium compound, and (3) a carbohydrate, an amine, and an ammonium compound;
- and
- heating the plurality of particles coated with the mixture of Maillard reactants to produce the proppant comprising the plurality of particles coated with a Maillard reaction product, wherein the plurality of particles coated with the Maillard reaction product do not stick together prior to being placed downhole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.