Proppants Comprising Glass Material

Abstract

Proppants and methods for their preparation are described herein. The proppants can be prepared by a process comprising (a) directing a molten glass material on to an atomizing apparatus to output the molten glass material in the form of atomized droplets, and (b) projecting the droplets of the molten glass material towards a receiver, wherein a substantial portion of the droplets at least partially solidifies in flight. In some embodiments, the molten glass material can include molten slag. The atomizing apparatus can be a spinning disc, for example a rotary atomizing disc. Methods for hydraulic fracturing of a well in a subterranean formation having a fracturing stress are also described herein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.