PROPPANT PARTICLES FORMED FROM SLURRY DROPLETS AND METHOD OF USE

• Main Authors: ELDRED, BENJAMIN T, WILSON, BRETT A, DUENCKEL, ROBERT J, GARDINIER, CLAYTON F
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 20.09.2012
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CEMENTS; CERAMICS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDINGMATERIALS; CONCRETE; DYES; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; LIME, MAGNESIA; MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FORELSEWHERE; METALLURGY; MINING; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PAINTS; POLISHES; REFRACTORIES; SLAG; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE

Proppant material for hydraulic fracturing is provided. The particles of the proppant are formed by drip casting. A slurry of finely divided ceramic particles is flowed through nozzles and formed into droplets under the influence of vibration. Uniform sized, smooth surface, spherical green particles are formed. The green particles are dried and sintered to form the proppant. The proppant is used in the process of hydraulic fracturing of wells. La présente invention a trait à un agent de soutènement destiné à la fracturation hydraulique. Les particules de l'agent de soutènement sont formées par coulée de gouttes. Une bouillie de particules de céramique finement divisées coule par des buses et est mise en gouttelettes sous l'influence de la vibration. Des particules vertes sphériques, à surface lisse et de taille uniforme sont formées. Les particules vertes sont séchées et fritées de manière à former l'agent de soutènement. L'agent de soutènement est utilisé dans le processus de fracturation hydraulique de puits.