Composition and method for making a proppant
AssigneeOxane Materials, Inc.
InventorsRussell J. Smith, John R. Loscutova, Elizabeth A. Whitsitt, Christopher E. Coker, Andrew R. Barron, Mark Wiesner, Stephen A. Costantino, Rajendra Bordia
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Abstract
The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.
Claims76
A proppant comprising a template sphere having at least one void within the interior of the template sphere and said template sphere having a Krumbein sphericity of at least about 0.3 and a roundness of at least about 0.1, said proppant having a Krumbein sphericity of at least about 0.5 and a roundness of at least about 0.4, and a continuous sintered shell around the entire outer surface of said template sphere, and wherein said shell comprises a ceramic material or oxide thereof and said template sphere comprises a material that withstands sintering at a temperature of 700° C. for 30 minutes, in air or an oxidizing atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.