Low surface friction proppants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9315719-B2
Application number	US-201213548243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2012
Priority date	Jul 13, 2011
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A proppant having low surface friction is described, which is useful in hydrocarbon recovery. Methods of making low surface friction proppants are further described, as well as uses thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A proppant having low surface friction comprising an angle of repose of 30° or less; wherein said proppant comprises:
a) a Krumbein sphericity of at least 0.5;
b) a roundness of at least 0.5;
c) a particle size distribution such that the proppant has a d ps from about 0.001 to about 0.3, wherein d ps =(d p90 −d p10 )/d p50 and wherein d p10 is a particle size wherein 10% of the particles have a smaller particle size, d p50 is a median particle size wherein 50% of the particles have a smaller particle size, and d p90 is a particle size wherein 90% of the particles have a smaller particle size;
d) a porosity, excluding a central void, of from about 6% to about 40%; and
e) proppant pores, wherein at least 90% of the proppant pores have a pore size of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns and at least 80% of the proppant pores are not in contact with each other.

2. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said angle of repose is 15° to 30°.

3. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said angle of repose is 15° to 22°.

4. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said angle of repose is 20° to 25°.

5. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant comprises one or more ceramic materials.

6. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant is a ceramic proppant.

7. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant has a Krumbein sphericity of at least 0.9 and a roundness of at least 0.9.

8. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant has a tight particle size distribution such that the proppant has a d ps from about 0.075 to about 0.3, wherein d ps =(d p90 −d p10 )/d p50 and wherein d p10 is a particle size wherein 10% of the particles have a smaller particle size, d p50 is a median particle size wherein 50% of the particles have a smaller particle size, and d p90 is a particle size wherein 90% of the particles have a smaller particle size.

9. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant has a particle size of from 200 microns to about 2000 microns.

10. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant has a crush strength of 10,000 psi or greater.

11. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant has a crush strength of 5000 psi or greater.

12. The proppant of claim 1 , wherein said proppant has a specific gravity of from about 1.0 to about 2.5.

13. The proppant of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lubricant layer.

14. The proppant of claim 13 , wherein said lubricant layer comprises graphite, molybdenum, disulphide, boron nitride, tungsten disulphide, hexagonal boron nitrite, or any other solid material with a lamellar-type crystal structure, or any combination thereof.

15. The proppant of claim 13 , wherein said lubricant layer comprises carbon particles.

16. A method comprising:
manufacturing a proppant; and
measuring the angle of repose of the proppant, wherein said proppant comprises:
a) a Krumbein sphericity of at least 0.5:
b) a roundness of at least 0.5;
c) a particle size distribution such that the proppant has a d from about 0.001 to about 0.3, wherein d ps =(d p90 −d p10 )/d p50 and wherein d p10 is a particle size wherein 10% of the particles have a smaller particle size, d p50 is a median particle size wherein 50% of the particles have a smaller particle size, and d p90 is a particle size wherein 90% of the particles have a smaller particle size;
d) a porosity, excluding a central void, of from about 6% to about 40%; and
e) proppant pores, wherein at least 90% of the proppant pores have a pore size of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns and at least 80% of the proppant pores are not in contact with each other.

17. A method comprising:
manufacturing a proppant having an angle of repose of 30° or less; and
placing the proppant in a transport fluid or carrying fluid, wherein said proppant comprises:
a) a Krumbein sphericity of at least 0.5;
b) a roundness of at least 0.5;
c) a particle size distribution such that the proppant has a d ps from about 0.001 to about 0.3, wherein d ps =(d p90 −d p10 )/d p50 and wherein d p10 is a particle size wherein 10% of the particles have a smaller particle size, d p50 is a median particle size wherein 50% of the particles have a smaller particle size, and d p90 is a particle size wherein 90% of the particles have a smaller particle size;
d) a porosity, excluding a central void, of from about 6% to about 40%; and
c) proppant pores, wherein at least 90% of the proppant pores have a pore size of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns and at least 80% of the proppant pores are not in contact with each other.

18. A method comprising:
manufacturing a first proppant having an angle of repose of 30° or less, wherein the first proppant comprises a ceramic material;
measuring the agglomeration of the first proppant in a treatment fluid; wherein the first proppant has less agglomeration relative to a second proppant having an angle of repose greater than 30° and comprising the same ceramic material as the first proppant, wherein said first proppant comprises:
a) a Krumbein sphericity of at least 0.5;
b) a roundness of at least 0.5;
c) a particle size distribution such that the proppant has a d from about 0.001 to about 0.3, wherein d ps =(d p90 −d p10 )/d p50 and wherein d p10 is a particle size wherein 10% of the particles have a smaller particle size, d p50 is a median particle size wherein 50% of the particles have a smaller particle size, and d p90 is a particle size wherein 90% of the particles have a smaller particle size;
d) a porosity, excluding a central void, of from about 6% to about 40%; and
e) proppant pores, wherein at least 90% of the proppant pores have a pore size of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns and at least 80% of the proppant pores are not in contact with each other.

19. A method of achieving lower resistance to multi-phase flow in a subterranean formation comprising:
introducing a proppant having an angle of repose of 30° or less into the subterranean formation such that the resistance to multi-phase flow in the subterranean formation is lowered; wherein said proppant comprises:
a) a Krumbein sphericity of at least 0.5;
b) a roundness of at least 0.5;
c) a particle size distribution such that the proppant has a d ps from about 0.001 to about 0.3, wherein d ps =(d p90 −d p10 )/d p50 and wherein d p10 is a particle size wherein 10% of the particles have a smaller particle size, d p50 is a median particle size wherein 50% of the particles have a smaller particle size, and d p90 is a particle size wherein 90% of the particles have a smaller particle size;
d) a porosity, excluding a central void, of from about 6% to about 40%; and
e) proppant pores, wherein at least 90% of the proppant pores have a pore size of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns and at least 80% of the proppant pores ores are not in contact with each other.

20. A method to achieve lower pressure drop in a subterranean formation comprising:
introducing a proppant having an angle of repose of 30° or less into the subterranean formation such that the pressure drop in the subterranean formation is lowered; wherein said proppant comprises:
a) a Krumbein sphericity of at least 0.5;
b) a roundness of at least 0.5:
c) a particle size distribution such that the proppant has a d ps from about 0.001 to about 0.3, wherein d ps =(d p90 −d p10 )/d p50 and wherein d p10 is a particle size wherein 10% of the particles have a smaller particle size, d p50 is a median particle size wherein 50% of the

Assignees

• Fang Christopher Y
• Chatterjee Dilip K
• Skala Robert D
• Coker Christopher E
• Loscutova John R
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Fang Christopher Y
• Chatterjee Dilip K
• Skala Robert D
• Coker Christopher E
• Loscutova John R

Classifications

• C09K8/80 Primary

  Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open · CPC title

• C09K8/805

  Coated proppants · CPC title

• E21B43/267

  reinforcing fractures by propping · CPC title