Electrofused proppant, method of manufacture, and method of use
AssigneeImerys
InventorsJean Andre Alary, Sebastian Sachse, Thomas Parias
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Abstract
An embodiment consistent with the present invention is a high strength proppant comprising an electrofused pellet. In another embodiment, a high strength proppant comprises a substantially solid and substantially spherical pellet produced by electrofusion of at least one metal oxide. A method of making a proppant is also provided, with that method comprising melting at least one metal oxide in an electrical arc furnace, pouring the molten metal oxide to create a pour stream, and separating the pour stream to form at least one electrofused pellet. A method of fracturing subterranean formations is also provided, with that method comprising injecting a fluid containing at least one electrofused pellet.
Claims125
A high strength proppant comprising an electrofused pellet, wherein the proppant has an apparent specific gravity less than about 3.9, and wherein the proppant has a bulk density of between about 1.7 g/cm3 and about 2.7g/cm3.
A high strength proppant comprising a substantially solid and substantially spherical pellet produced by electrofusion of at least one metal oxide wherein the proppant has an apparent specific gravity less than about 3.9, and the proppant has a bulk density of between about 1.7 g/cm3 and about 2.7 g/cm3.
A method of making a proppant, comprising:
- melting at least one metal oxide in an electrical arc furnace;
- pouring the molten metal oxide to create a pour stream;
- and
- separating the pour stream to form at least one electrofused pellet, wherein the proppant has an apparent specific gravity less than about 3.9, and
- wherein the electrofused pellet has a bulk density of between about 1.7 g/cm3and about 2.7 g/cm3.
A method of fracturing subterranean formations comprising injecting a fluid containing at least one electrofused pellet wherein the electrofused pellet has an apparent specific gravity less than about 3.9, and wherein the electrofused pellet has a bulk density of between about 1.7 g/cm3 and about 2.7 g/cm3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.