# US 2018/0022988 A1 · Proppants for use in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022988 A1 - Document ID: US20180022988A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/722,923 - Filed: 2017-10-02 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-17 - Assignees: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC - Applicants: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC - Inventors: Richard A. Rediger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022988A1 ## CPC - C09K 8/805: {Coated proppants} - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles comprises sand, glass, ceramic, carbon, or bauxite. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the Maillard reaction product forms a water-insoluble coating on each particle in the plurality of particles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the Maillard reaction product is produced by heating the plurality of particles coated with a mixture of Maillard reactants. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fracturing fluid of claim 4, wherein the mixture of Maillard reactants comprises (1) a carbohydrate and an amine, (2) a carbohydrate and an ammonium compound, or (3) a carbohydrate, an amine, and an ammonium compound. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fracturing fluid of claim 5, wherein the plurality of particles coated with the mixture of Maillard reactants is heated to a temperature of about 149° C. to about 316° C. to produce the Maillard reaction product. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fracturing fluid of claim 5, wherein the carbohydrate comprises dextrose, xylose, fructose, dihydroxyacetone, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The fracturing fluid of claim 4, wherein the mixture Maillard reactants comprises a carbohydrate and an ammonium compound, and wherein the ammonium compound comprises an ammonium salt of a carboxylic acid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The fracturing fluid of claim 4, wherein the mixture Maillard reactants comprises a carbohydrate and an ammonium compound, and wherein the ammonium compound comprises an ammonium salt of a polycarboxylic acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The fracturing fluid of claim 4, wherein the mixture of Maillard reactants further comprises a silicone containing coupling agent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The fracturing fluid of claim 4, wherein the mixture of Maillard reactants further comprises a silane coupling agent, and wherein the silane coupling agent comprises a gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, an aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, a gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, or an n-propylamine silane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein each particle in the plurality of particles is coated with an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the inner layer comprises a thermosetting resin, and wherein the outer layer comprises the Maillard reaction product. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the Maillard reaction product is produced by heating the plurality of particles coated with a mixture of Maillard reactants. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein the mixture of Maillard reactants comprises (1) a carbohydrate and an amine, (2) a carbohydrate and an ammonium compound, or (3) a carbohydrate, an amine, and an ammonium compound. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the plurality of particles coated with the mixture of Maillard reactants is heated to a temperature of about 149° C. to about 316° C. to produce the Maillard reaction product. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the plurality of particles comprises sand, glass, ceramic, carbon, or bauxite, wherein each particle in the plurality of particles is coated with an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the inner layer comprises a thermosetting resin, and wherein the outer layer comprises the Maillard reaction product. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The process of claim 18, wherein the plurality of particles coated with the mixture of Maillard reactants is heated to a temperature of about 149° C. to about 316° C. to produce the proppant. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein: the plurality of particles comprises sand, glass, ceramic carbon, or bauxite, the mixture Maillard reactants comprises a carbohydrate and an ammonium compound, the carbohydrate comprises a monosaccharide, and the ammonium compound comprises an ammonium salt of a polycarboxylic acid.