Sintered particles and methods for producing sintered particles from a slurry of an alumina-containing raw material
AssigneeCarbo Ceramics Inc.
InventorsWilliam H. Pope, Chad Cannan, Jimmy C. Wood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sintered, substantially round and spherical particles and methods for producing such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles from an alumina-containing raw material and a metal oxide sintering aid. The alumina-containing raw material contains from about 40% to about 55% alumina. Methods for using such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.
Claims27
A sintered, substantially round and spherical particle, comprising:
- an alumina content of from about 41.5% to 49% by weight;
- a metal oxide sintering aid content of from about 1% to about 6% by weight;
- an apparent specific gravity of from about 2.50 to about 3.00;
- and
- a bulk density of from about 1.35 g/cm3 to about 1.55 g/cm3.
A gas and oil well proppant comprising a plurality of sintered, substantially round and spherical particles, comprising:
- a crush strength at 10,000 psi of from about 5 percent to about 8.5 percent;
- a long term conductivity at 10,000 psi of from about 2500 mD-ft to about 3000 mD-ft;
- a long term permeability at 10,000 psi of more than 140D;
- and
- a Darcy volume factor at 10,000 psi of more than 110 Darcy-cm3/g;
- wherein said particles comprise:
- an alumina content of from about 41.5% to 49% by weight;
- a metal oxide sintering aid content of from about 1% to about 6% by weight;
- an apparent specific gravity of from about 2.50 to about 3.00;
- and
- a bulk density of from about 1.35 g/cm3 to about 1.55 g/cm3.
A sintered, substantially round and spherical particle, comprising:
- an alumina content of from about 40% to about 55% by weight;
- a silica content, wherein the ratio of alumina to silica is from about 0.8:1 to 0.9:1;
- a metal oxide sintering aid content of from about 1% to about 6% by weight;
- an apparent specific gravity of from about 2.50 to about 3.00;
- and
- a bulk density of from about 1.35 g/cm3 to about 1.55 g/cm3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.