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U.S. Department of Energy
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New proppant for deep hydraulic fracturing

Journal Article · · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6047302

Much work has focused on developing and evaluating various materials for use as proppants for hydraulic fracturing. Sand is used most often as a fracturing proppant in shallow wells. Deep wells with high closure stresses require a proppant, such as sintered bauxite, that will not crush under adverse conditions. Ceramic and zirconium oxide beads and resin-coated sand proppants also have been developed for deep hydraulic fracturing. A new fracturing proppant has been developed that exhibits the properties necessary for use in deep hydraulic fracturing. This proppant is produced by precuring a specially modified phenolformaldehyde resin onto sand. The new proppant maintains conductivity and resists crushing much better than does sand. The new proppant was compared to intermediate-density sintered bauxitic proppants and cured-in-place proppants and the tests were confirmed by an independent laboratory.

Research Organization:
Baker Sand Control
OSTI ID:
6047302
Journal Information:
J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 37:1; ISSN JPTJA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English