# US 9,752,072 B2 · Propping compositions for enhancing fracture conductivity

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- Number: US 9,752,072 B2
- Document ID: US9752072B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/558,813
- Filed: 2014-12-03
- Published: 2015-03-26
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-27
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Inventors: Lewis A. Norman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752072B2

## CPC

- C09K 8/80: Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
- C04B 28/02: containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates
- C09K 8/473: Density reducing additives, e.g. for obtaining foamed cement compositions
- C09K 8/64: Oil-based compositions
- C09K 8/665: {containing inorganic compounds (proppants C09K8/80)}
- C09K 8/68: containing organic compounds
- C09K 8/70: characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. foams
- C09K 2208/08: Fiber-containing well treatment fluids
- C09K 2208/10: Nanoparticle-containing well treatment fluids
- C09K 2208/28: Friction or drag reducing additives
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE

## Abstract

Propping compositions comprising: a hardenable, liquid external phase comprising an element selected from the group consisting of: a cement, a cement foam, a polymer, a resin, an aluminum, a flowable carrier fluid, and any combination thereof; and an internal phase that is either gas or liquid and that is immiscible with the external phase; wherein the internal phase exits the propping composition as the hardenable external phase hardens, leaving behind an hardened, interconnected porous network. Some propping compositions may require contact with a treatment for removal from the hardenable external phase and the treatment for removal may comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of: an acid, a base, a chelant, an oxidizer, a solvent, and any combination thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A propping composition comprising:
a hardenable, liquid phase selected from the group consisting of: a cement, a cement foam, a polymer, a resin, and any combination thereof; and
an internal phase that is either gas or liquid and that is immiscible with the liquid phase and the internal phase is present in an amount from about 30% to about 70% by volume;
wherein the internal phase exits the propping composition as the hardenable liquid phase hardens, leaving behind a hardened, interconnected porous network material,
wherein the propping composition is not a discrete particulate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The propping composition of claim 1 wherein the hardenable, liquid phase of the propping composition is a resin selected from the group consisting of: a polyepoxide resin, a polyester resin, a urea-aldehyde resin, a furan resin, a urethane resin, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The propping composition of claim 1 wherein the hardenable, liquid phase further comprises a filler material comprising a solid selected from the group consisting of: a carbon nanotube, a buckyball, a silica, a metal and any combination of these.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The propping composition of claim 1 wherein the internal phase comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, air, oil, silicone oil, water, polylactic acid, a polyester, polycaprolactone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene teraphtalte, chitin, a chitosan; a protein, an aliphatic polyester, a poly(glycolide), a poly(hydroxybutyrate), a poly(anhydride), an aliphatic polycarbonate, a poly(orthoester), a poly(amino acid), a poly(ethylene oxide), a polyphosphazene, an anhydrous borate, an anhydrous borax, an anhydrous boric acid, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The propping composition of claim 1 wherein the internal phase of the flowable propping composition is degradable.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The propping composition of claim 1 further comprising a fracturing fluid comprising: a base fluid and a gelling agent.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The propping composition of claim 6 wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a water, a hydrocarbon, a gel, a gelling polymer, a friction reducer, a crosslinker, a breaker, a nitrogen gas, a carbon dioxide gas, a surfactant, a buffer, a stabilizer, a drag reducer, a fluid loss additive, and any combination thereof.