US 7,030,064 B2Granted

Bentonite nodules

AssigneeBenterra Corporation

InventorsMaurice L. James, Kieth A. Hejl

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Compressed bentonite-containing nodules are disclosed as are methods for their production and methods for using them to plug wells.

Dependent claims

A method for forming a material for plugging a well comprising

a. obtaining a feedstock comprising bentonite in admixture with a proportion of water to permit the formation of compacted nodules having a density of at least 2.0 g/cm3 and a mean particle survival at a crush force of at least 800 newtons and capable of having at least 50% survival when dropped 1.5 meters onto a concrete surface,
b. feeding the feedstock under pressure to a continuous roll press machine under conditions to permit the formation of said compacted nodules and
c. recovering the compacted nodules.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

C04B 14/104
Clay: bentonite, e.g. montmorillonite
C04B 28/001
Compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, containing inorganic binders or the reaction product of an inorganic and an organic…
C09K 8/426
Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells: for plugging
C09K 8/428
Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells: for squeeze cementing,…

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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