Nut shells out--sintered bauxite in for fracs

Journal Article · Tue Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1978 · Drill Bit; (United States)

OSTI ID:6604880

Sintered bauxite is a high-strength ceramic proppant that may be used with increased frequency in the completion of deep gas wells in the Permian Basin. Although hydraulic fracturing has had wide application in oil and gas completions for many years, its benefits in deep wells have, at times, been questioned. The reason has been the unavailability of a high-strength proppant capable of withstanding the higher pressures encountered in deep formations. Silica sand is presently the most commonly used proppant in hydraulic fracturing. Its major drawback is that when it succumbs to extreme pressures, it crushes into a fine powder which clogs the fracture. A variety of proppant materials, including glass beads, steel shot, aluminum pellets, and even nut shells, have been used experimentally in the deeper formations. All have registered objectionable properties. Researchers found that brine water reduced the strength of glass beads, and some felt that, like sand, crushed glass beads produce a powder of small fragments capable of reducing conductivity. Sintered bauxite may prove to be the most effective proppant available today for deep completions. Tabular data show Exxon field applications of sintered bauxite in 17 wells.

• OSTI ID: 6604880
• Journal Information: Drill Bit; (United States), Journal Name: Drill Bit; (United States); ISSN DRBIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
ALUMINIUM ORES
BAUXITE
COMMINUTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FRACTURING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
ORES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROPPING AGENTS
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
WELL COMPLETION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS