Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture
Abstract
Hollow, fine-grained ceramic proppants are less expensive and improve fracture control when compared to conventional proppants (dense alumina, mullite, bauxite, zirconia, etc.). Hollow proppants of the present invention have been fabricated by spray drying, followed by sintering in order to obtain a dense case and a hollow core. These proppants generally have high sphericity and roundness (Krumbein sphericity and roundness greater than 0.8), have diameters on average between 2,250 and 125 [mu]m, depending on proppant size required, and have strength equal to or greater than that of sand. The hollow core, the size of which can be controlled, permits better fracture control in hydraulic fracturing treatments since the proppant can be transported in lower viscosity fluids. Hollow proppants produced at the same cost/weight as conventional proppants also provide for lower costs, since less weight is required to fill the same volume. The fine-grained (preferably less than 5 [mu]m in diameter) ceramic case provides the strength necessary to withstand closure stresses and prevent crushing. 6 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Terra Tek Inc
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7147014
- Patent Number(s):
- 4547468
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 6-509991
- Assignee:
- Terra Tek, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC19-79BC10038
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 30 Jun 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; 02 PETROLEUM; PROPPING AGENTS; FABRICATION; POROSITY; WELLS; HYDRAULIC FRACTURING; BULK DENSITY; CERAMICS; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; PARTICLE SIZE; SHAPE; DENSITY; FRACTURING; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; SIZE; 422000* - Engineering- Mining & Underground Engineering- (1980-); 020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
Citation Formats
Jones, A H, and Cutler, R A. Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Jones, A H, & Cutler, R A. Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture. United States.
Jones, A H, and Cutler, R A. Tue .
"Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture". United States.
@article{osti_7147014,
title = {Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture},
author = {Jones, A H and Cutler, R A},
abstractNote = {Hollow, fine-grained ceramic proppants are less expensive and improve fracture control when compared to conventional proppants (dense alumina, mullite, bauxite, zirconia, etc.). Hollow proppants of the present invention have been fabricated by spray drying, followed by sintering in order to obtain a dense case and a hollow core. These proppants generally have high sphericity and roundness (Krumbein sphericity and roundness greater than 0.8), have diameters on average between 2,250 and 125 [mu]m, depending on proppant size required, and have strength equal to or greater than that of sand. The hollow core, the size of which can be controlled, permits better fracture control in hydraulic fracturing treatments since the proppant can be transported in lower viscosity fluids. Hollow proppants produced at the same cost/weight as conventional proppants also provide for lower costs, since less weight is required to fill the same volume. The fine-grained (preferably less than 5 [mu]m in diameter) ceramic case provides the strength necessary to withstand closure stresses and prevent crushing. 6 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1985},
month = {10}
}