Proppants with carbide and/or nitride phases
AssigneeOxane Materials, Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Skala, John R. Loscutova, Christopher E. Coker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Proppants used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations using one or more proppants. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions and other uses for the proppants, as well as methods of making the proppants.
Claims74
A proppant comprising at least one metal-nitride phase or respective metal-carbide phase or both, wherein said metal-nitride phase or metal-carbide phase is a continuous phase that has a thickness of from about 5 microns to 150 microns, and said proppant has a specific gravity of 0.01 g/cc to about 3.2 g/cc, and said proppant has a crush strength of about 1,500 psi or greater, and wherein said proppant has an outer surface and a radius and said metal-nitride phase or said metal-carbide phase or both is primarily present from the outer surface of the proppant to a depth of about 50% of the radius.
A method of making a proppant comprising forming a mixture of a micron or sub-micron metal carbide powder and/or metal nitride powder, with at least one metal powder that has a corresponding metal to the metal carbide or metal nitride and having a micron or sub-micron particle size and optionally a binder, suspending said mixture in a liquid carrier system to form a slurry and forming the slurry into one or more proppants.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.