Well-fracturing explosive composition
AssigneeTalley-Frac Corporation
InventorLeo K. Asaoka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nitrate or nitroparaffin-base liquid exlosive composition having a small critical diameter yet which is essentially free of particulate metals such as may render such compositions unduly brisant or susceptible to decomposition, and which is consistent with the safety requirements of geological fracturing, including an inert solid ballistic modifier having a sonic velocity substantially different from that of the explosive material in the composition and an average particle size of less than 10 microns, forming from about 5% to 20% by weight of the composition.
Claims6
In a liquid explosive composition for geological fracturing having a nitroparaffin or nitrate base, the improvement comprising between 5 and 20 weight percent of a ballistic modifier in the form of finely divided inert non-reactive solids, the particles of which are substantially homogeneous, having a sonic velocity substantially different from that of the remainder of the composition and having a particle size less than about 10 microns.
A liquid explosive composition suitable for geological fracturing comprising essentially by weight percent about 40-75% nitroparaffin, about 5-30% blasting gelatin, about 5-20% inert non-reactive solid ballistic modifier, the particles of which are substantially homogeneous, with an average particle size less than 10 microns and having a sonic velocity substantially different from that of the remainder of the composition, and about 1-8% stabilizers and processing aids including thickening agents sufficient to maintain the homogeneity of the composition.
A method of reducing the critical diameter of a nitroparaffin or nitrate-based liquid explosive composition suitable for geological fracturing without unduly increasing its brisance, comprising adding thereto between about 5 and 20 weight percent of a solid inert non-reactive ballistic modifier, the particles of which are substantially homogeneous, having an average particle size less than about 10 microns and a sonic velocity substantially different from that of the remainder of such composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.