Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture

Details Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture Hollow proppants and a process for their manufacture

1983-06-30

1985-10-15

Doll, John

Compositions: ceramic

Ceramic compositions

Glass compositions, compositions containing glass other than...

252 85LC, 166280, 501 85, C03C 322

Patent

active

045474680

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 2250 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.

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Lightweight Proppants for Deep Gas-Well Stimulation First Annual Report Jul. 1979-Jul. 1980, by Jones, A. H., Cutler, R. A. and Swanson, S. R.
Lightweight Proppants for Deep Gas Well Stimulation Second Annual Report Jul. 1, 1980-Jun. 30, 1981 by Cutler, R. A. and Jones, A. H.
Lightweight Proppants for Deep Gas Well Stimulation Third Annual Report Jul. 1, 1981-Jun. 30, 1982 by Cutler, R. A., Enniss, D. O., Swartz, G. C. and Jones, A. H.
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Copy of Contract and Modification for DE-AC19-79BC10038.
SPE/DOE 9869, New Proppants for Deep Gas Well Stimulation, Society of Petroleum Engineers, U.S. Department of Energy, by Cutler, R. A., Jones, A. H., Swanson, S. R., and Carroll H. B. Jr.
SPE/DOE, Comparison of the Fracture Conductivity of Commercially Available and Experimental Proppants at Intermediate and High Closure Stresses, Society of Petroleum Engineers, U.S. Department of Energy, by Cutler, R. A., Enniss, D. O., Jones, A. H., and Carroll, H. B.
Fracture Analysis of Ceramic Proppants, J. Energy Resources Technology, vol. 105, Jun. 2, 1983, pp. 128-133, by Swanson, S. R., and Cutler, R. A.
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