A synthetic turf system includes a plurality of synthetic turf fibers and a plurality of ceramic pellets interspersed among the synthetic turf fibers. The ceramic pellets have a hardness on the Mohs scale of 6 to 8, a density of 0.5 to 2.15 g/cm3, and a sphericity and roundness rating of 0.7 to 0.99. The ceramic pellets include a mixture of alumina fines and at least one of kaolin or bauxite. The ceramic pellets are chemically inert and free from respirable quartz silica dust. The ceramic pellets may include a ceramic pellet core and a coating. The coating may be configured to control thermal properties of the ceramic pellets. The synthetic turf system may include small ceramic pellets configured to remain near a surface and large ceramic pellets configured to settle towards a bottom of the system.
2.
PELLETS CONTAINING AGRICULTURAL TREATMENT MATERIALS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME
Pellets for use in agricultural applications are disclosed herein. The pellets can include a porous substrate having an internal interconnected porosity. An agricultural treatment material can be disposed into at least a portion of the internal interconnected porosity of the porous substrate.
C05G 3/40 - Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specifically fertilising activity for affecting fertiliser dosage or release rateMixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specifically fertilising activity for affecting solubility
The present disclosure is directed to methods for evaluating a gravel pack, a frac-pack, or cement in a wellbore. In at least one embodiment, a method for evaluating a gravel pack, frac-pack or cement in a wellbore, includes pumping a first material into the wellbore, wherein the first material comprises a first tracer that is not radioactive. The method includes pumping a second material into the wellbore, wherein the second material comprises a second tracer that is not radioactive. The method includes obtaining a set of data using the downhole tool in the wellbore after the first and second materials are pumped into the wellbore. The method includes obtaining a baseline using the downhole tool in the wellbore in a depth interval without the first or second material. The method includes comparing the set of data with the baseline.
A composite particle is described herein. The composite particle can contain a seed particle of an agricultural treatment material and a shell disposed on the seed particle, wherein the shell comprises a clay.
A mullite shell mold for casting includes a facecoat layer containing ceramic flour. The mullite shell mold also includes a first layer disposed on the facecoat layer. The first layer can contain sintered ceramic media. The facecoat layer and the first layer can each contain less than 1 wt% crystalline silica.
B22C 3/00 - Selection of compositions for coating the surfaces of moulds, cores, or patterns
B22C 1/00 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds
B22C 1/02 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds characterised by additives for special purposes, e.g. indicators, breakdown additives
B22C 1/08 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds characterised by additives for special purposes, e.g. indicators, breakdown additives for decreasing shrinkage of the mould, e.g. for investment casting
B22C 1/16 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds characterised by the use of binding agentsMixtures of binding agents
B22C 1/18 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds characterised by the use of binding agentsMixtures of binding agents of inorganic agents
A method for producing an electrically-conductive pellet includes reducing a size of a first material. The method also includes wetting the first material to produce a first slurry. The method also includes introducing the first slurry into a fluidizer to produce a first pellet. The method also includes reducing a size of a second material. The second material is an electrically-conductive material. The method also includes wetting the second material to produce a second slurry. The method also includes applying the second slurry to the first pellet.
A method for determining a location of a proppant in a subterranean formation includes obtaining a first set of data in a wellbore using a downhole tool. The proppant is pumped into the wellbore after the first set of data is obtained. The proppant is pumped while or after the subterranean formation is fractured. A second set of data is obtained in the wellbore using the downhole tool after the proppant is pumped into the wellbore. The first set of data and the second set of data include a gravitational field measurement. The first and second sets of data are compared, and in response to the comparison, the location of the proppant in the subterranean formation is determined.
A foundry media pellet includes a sintered ceramic material having a size from about 10 AFS GFN to about 110 AFS GFN, and a surface roughness of less than about 4 microns.
B22C 1/02 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds characterised by additives for special purposes, e.g. indicators, breakdown additives
B22C 1/08 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds characterised by additives for special purposes, e.g. indicators, breakdown additives for decreasing shrinkage of the mould, e.g. for investment casting
B22C 1/22 - Compositions of refractory mould or core materialsGrain structures thereofChemical or physical features in the formation or manufacture of moulds characterised by the use of binding agentsMixtures of binding agents of organic agents of resins or rosins
B22C 3/00 - Selection of compositions for coating the surfaces of moulds, cores, or patterns
B22C 9/10 - CoresManufacture or installation of cores
B22C 9/12 - Treating moulds or cores, e.g. drying, hardening
C04B 35/14 - Shaped ceramic products characterised by their compositionCeramic compositionsProcessing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxides based on silica
9.
NON-RADIOACTIVE TRACERS TO EVALUATE FRACTURING PROCEDURES
A method for evaluating induced fractures in a wellbore includes obtaining a first set of data in a wellbore using a downhole logging tool. A first proppant is pumped into the wellbore, after the first set of data is captured. The first proppant includes a first tracer that is not radioactive. A second proppant is also pumped into the wellbore, after the first proppant is pumped into the wellbore. The second proppant includes a second tracer that is not radioactive, and the second tracer is different than the first tracer. A second set of data is obtained in the wellbore using the downhole tool after the first and second proppants are pumped into the wellbore. The first and second sets of data are compared.
The present disclosure relates to a micromesh proppant for use in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells. In one embodiment, a process for forming proppant particles includes providing a slurry comprising a ceramic raw material containing alumina, atomizing the slurry into droplets, coating seeds comprising alumina with the droplets to form green pellets, sintering the green pellets to form sintered pellets, and breaking the sintered pellets to form proppant particles comprising a sintered ceramic material and having a size of from about 150 mesh to about 500 mesh and a crush strength at 7,500 psi of from about 1% to about 20%. In one embodiment, a proppant particle includes a sintered ceramic material and having a size of from about 150 mesh to about 500 mesh and a crush strength at 7,500 psi of from about 1% to about 20%.
C09K 8/80 - Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
C09K 8/60 - Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
C09K 8/00 - Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wellsCompositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
11.
CATALYTIC PROPPANT AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME
A catalytic proppant and methods for making and using same are disclosed herein. The catalytic proppant can include a proppant support containing silica and alumina. The proppant support can have a macropore concentration of about 15% to about 45%, a mesopore concentration of about 20% to 50%, and a micropore concentration of about 8% to about 30%) based on the total pore volume of the proppant support. The proppant support can also have a surface area of about 0.5 m2/g to about 50 m2/g. The catalytic proppant can have a long term permeability at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D in accordance with ISO 13503-5.
Methods of making sintered ceramic particles include preparing an aqueous slurry containing an alumina-containing raw material and a binder containing a raw plant material, forming the slurry into green pellets, and sintering the green pellets to provide the sintered ceramic particles.
According to several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a proppant composition is provided that includes a plurality of unconsolidated particulates having a resin coating on the surface of the particulates, such that chemically active amine sites remain on the surface of the proppant particulates. The proppant composition can remain unconsolidated under storage conditions, inside a wellbore, and inside a subterranean fracture in the absence of an activator. For example, the proppant composition can remain unconsolidated in a gravel pack region or frac pack region in a wellbore in the absence of an activator. According to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the proppant composition remains unconsolidated under storage conditions of temperatures of up to 150F, up to 100F, or up to 50F and atmospheric pressure from about one month to about eighteen months.
Methods of using capture gamma-ray spectroscopy for analyzing gravel-packs, frac-packs, and cement are disclosed herein. The methods can include distinguishing particles placed in a borehole region from particles placed in a subterranean formation outside of the borehole region, by utilizing a slurry comprising a liquid, particles, and a thermal neutron absorbing material to place the particles into the borehole region. The methods can also include obtaining first and second data sets by lowering into a borehole traversing the borehole region a pulsed neutron logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, emitting pulses of neutrons from the pulsed neutron source into the borehole region at intervals of one pulse per about 1,000 µsec for the first data set and about one pulse per about 100 µsec for the second data set, and detecting capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation.
E21B 47/10 - Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
G01V 5/00 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
G01V 5/04 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging
G01V 5/08 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging using primary nuclear radiation sources or X-rays
G01V 5/10 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging using primary nuclear radiation sources or X-rays using neutron sources
Ceramic particles for use in a solar power tower and methods for making and using the ceramic particles are disclosed. The ceramic particle can include a sintered ceramic material formed from a mixture of a ceramic raw material and a darkening component comprising MnO as Mn2+. The ceramic particle can have a size from about 8 mesh to about 170 mesh and a density of less than 4 g/cc.
F24J 2/07 - Receivers working at high temperature, e.g. for solar power plants
H01L 25/18 - Assemblies consisting of a plurality of individual semiconductor or other solid-state devices the devices being of types provided for in two or more different main groups of the same subclass of , , , , or
16.
LIGHTWEIGHT PROPPANT AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME
Lightweight proppant particles are disclosed. The lightweight proppant particle can include a proppant particle having an apparent specific gravity of at least about 1.5 g/cc, a coating of a hydrophobic material formed on an outer surface of the proppant particle, and a coating of an amphiphilic material formed on an outer surface of the coating of the hydrophobic material.
C09K 8/80 - Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
C09K 8/00 - Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wellsCompositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
C09K 8/60 - Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
E21B 43/00 - Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
E21B 43/267 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures reinforcing fractures by propping
17.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING SUBTERRANEAN FRACTURE CLOSURE
Methods and systems for determining subterranean fracture closure are disclosed herein. The methods can include electrically energizing a casing of a wellbore that extends from a surface of the earth into a subterranean formation having a fracture that is at least partially filled with an electrically conductive proppant and measuring a first electric field response at the surface or in an adjacent wellbore at a first time interval to provide a first field measurement. The methods can also include measuring a second electric field response at the surface or in the adjacent wellbore at a second time interval to provide a second field measurement and determining an increase in closure pressure on the electrically conductive proppant from a difference between the first and second field measurements.
E21B 43/267 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures reinforcing fractures by propping
E21B 47/09 - Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wellsIdentifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
E21B 47/12 - Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
C09K 8/80 - Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
G01V 3/08 - Electric or magnetic prospecting or detectingMeasuring magnetic field characteristics of the earth, e.g. declination or deviation operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices
18.
ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE PROPPANT AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME
Methods for manufacturing electrically-conductive proppant particles are disclosed. The methods can include preparing a slurry containing water, a binder, and a raw material having an alumina content, atomizing the slurry into droplets, and coating seeds containing alumina with the droplets to form a plurality of green pellets. The green pellets can be contacted with an activation solution containing at least one catalytically active material to provide activated green pellets including the at least one catalytically active material. The method can include sintering the activated green pellets to provide a plurality of proppant particles. The plurality of proppant particles can be contacted with a plating solution containing one or more electrically-conductive material to provide electrically-conductive proppant particle.
B05D 7/00 - Processes, other than flocking, specially adapted for applying liquids or other fluent materials to particular surfaces or for applying particular liquids or other fluent materials
C09K 8/80 - Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
E21B 43/267 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures reinforcing fractures by propping
19.
PROPPANT PARTICLES FORMED FROM SLURRY DROPLETS AND METHODS OF USE
Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.
C09K 8/80 - Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
C04B 35/01 - Shaped ceramic products characterised by their compositionCeramic compositionsProcessing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxides
C04B 35/10 - Shaped ceramic products characterised by their compositionCeramic compositionsProcessing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxides based on aluminium oxide
C04B 35/622 - Forming processesProcessing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
C04B 35/636 - Polysaccharides or derivatives thereof
Methods for logging a well utilizing natural radioactivity originating from clay based particulates are disclosed. The methods can include utilizing a gravel pack slurry containing a liquid and gravel pack particles to hydraulically place the particles into a gravel pack zone of a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation and obtaining a post gravel pack data set by lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a gamma ray detector and detecting gamma rays resulting from a native radioactivity of the gravel pack particles. The methods can further include using the post gravel pack data set to determine a location of the gravel pack particles and correlating the location of the gravel-pack particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location, height, and/or percent fill of gravel-pack particles placed in the gravel pack zone of the borehole.
Electrically conductive proppant particles having non-uniform electrically conductive coatings are disclosed. The non-uniform electrically conductive coatings can have a thickness of at least about 10 nm formed on an outer surface of a sintered, substantially round and spherical particle, wherein less than 95% of the outer surface of the sintered, substantially round and spherical particle is coated with the electrically conductive material. Methods for making and using such electrically conductive proppant particles having non-uniform electrically conductive coatings are also disclosed.
Methods and compositions using surface chemistry and internal porosity of proppant particulates to consolidate the proppant particulates are described herein. The methods can include a method of gravel packing a wellbore. The method can include mixing an activator, a thickener, a crosslinker and a plurality of resin-coated proppant particulates to provide a gravel pack fluid and introducing the gravel pack fluid into a gravel pack region of the wellbore. The method can also include consolidating at least a portion of the plurality of resin-coated proppant particulates to provide a consolidated gravel pack, wherein the consolidated gravel pack has a UCS of at least about 60 psi when formed under a pressure of about 0.01 psi to about 50 psi and a temperature of about 160 °F to about 250 °F.
A method for making proppant particles is provided. The method can include providing a slurry of ceramic raw material, the slurry containing a reactant including a polycarboxylic acid, and flowing the slurry through a nozzle in a gas while vibrating the slurry to form droplets. The method can also include receiving the droplets in a vessel containing a liquid having an upper surface in direct contact with the gas, the liquid containing a coagulation agent. The method can further include reacting the reactant with the coagulation agent to cause coagulation of the reactant in the droplets. The droplets can then be transferred from the liquid and dried to form green pellets. The method can include sintering the green pellets in a selected temperature range to form the proppant particles. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the reactant can be or include a PMA:PAA copolymer.
Electrically-conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles and methods for producing such electrically-conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles from an alumina-containing raw material. Methods for using such electrically-conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles in hydraulic fracturing operations. A proppant pack comprising: a plurality of particles, each said particle, comprising a substantially uniform coating of an electrically-conductive metal having a thickness of at least 10 nm formed on the outer surface of each said particle, wherein each particle has a specific gravity of less than 4 and a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, wherein the pack has an electrical conductivity of at least about 5 S/m, and wherein increasing a load on the pack by a factor of 2 increases the electrical conductivity of the pack by at least 50%.
Proppant compositions and methods for using same are disclosed herein. In particular, a proppant composition for use in hydraulic fracturing is disclosed herein. The proppant composition can contain a plurality of particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of particulates containing a chemical treatment agent. The at least one particulate having a long term permeability measured in accordance with ISO 13503-5 at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D. The at least one chemical treatment agent can separate from the at least one particulate when located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.
Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.
Proppant compositions for use in hydraulic fracturing and methods of using same are disclosed herein. The proppant compositions include a plurality of proppant particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of proppant particulates containing at least one tracer, wherein the at least one tracer separates from the at least one particulate located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.
Systems and methods for generating a three-dimensional image of a proppant-filled hydraulically-induced fracture in a geologic formation are provided. The image may be generated by capturing electromagnetic fields generated or scattered by the proppant-filled fracture, removing dispersion and/or an attenuation effects from the captured electromagnetic fields, and generating the image based on the dispersion and/or attenuation corrected fields. Removing the dispersion and/or attenuation effects may include back propagating the captured electromagnetic fields in the time domain to a source location. The image may be generated based on locations at which the back propagated fields constructively interfere or may be generated based on a model of the fracture defined using the back propagated fields.
G01V 3/18 - Electric or magnetic prospecting or detectingMeasuring magnetic field characteristics of the earth, e.g. declination or deviation specially adapted for well-logging
29.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR INFUSING POROUS CERAMIC PROPPANT WITH A CHEMICAL TREATMENT AGENT
Methods and systems for infusing ceramic proppant and infused ceramic proppant obtained therefrom are provided. The method can include introducing ceramic proppant and a chemical treatment agent to a mixing vessel, mixing the ceramic proppant and the chemical treatment agent in the mixing vessel to provide a mixture, introducing microwave energy to the mixing vessel to heat the mixture to a temperature sufficient to produce infused ceramic proppant containing at least a portion of the chemical treatment agent, and withdrawing the infused ceramic proppant from the mixing vessel.
Born Scattering Inversion (BSI) systems and methods are disclosed. A BSI system may be incorporated in a well system for accessing natural gas, oil and geothermal reserves in a geologic formation beneath the surface of the Earth. The BSI system may be used to generate a three-dimensional image of a proppant-filled hydraulically-induced fracture in the geologic formation. The BSI system may include computing equipment and sensors for measuring electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the fracture before and after the fracture is generated, adjusting the parameters of a first Born approximation model of a scattered component of the surface electromagnetic fields using the measured electromagnetic fields, and generating the image of the proppant-filled fracture using the adjusted parameters.
The present invention relates to methods for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery by contacting unconsolidated resin-coated proppant particulates residing in a propped fracture with a reactive crosslinker in order to form a consolidated proppant pack. The present invention also relates to methods for use in water injection wells to consolidate the resin-coated proppant particulates in a gravel packed or frac packed region of a wellbore.
A composition and method for hydraulically fracturing an oil or gas well to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery using a porous ceramic proppant infused with a chemical treatment agent is provided. The chemical treatment agent may be a tracer material that provides diagnostic information about the production performance of a hydraulic fracture stimulation by the use of distinguishable both water soluble and hydrocarbon soluble tracers. The tracer can be a biological marker, such as DNA. The porous ceramic proppant can be coated with a polymer which provides for controlled release of the chemical treatment agent into a fracture or well bore area over a period of time.
Electrically conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles and methods for producing such electrically conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles from an alumina-containing raw material. Methods for using such electrically conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles in hydraulic fracturing operations. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to hydraulic fracturing of geological formations, and more particularly to electromagnetic (EM) methods for detecting, locating, and characterizing electrically conductive proppants used in the hydraulic fracture stimulation of gas, oil, or geothermal reservoirs.
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.
Methods are provided for identifying the location and height of induced subterranean formation fractures and the presence of any associated frac-pack or gravel pack material in the vicinity of the borehole using pulsed neutron capture (PNC) logging tools. The proppant/sand used in the fracturing and packing processes is tagged with a thermal neutron absorbing material. When proppant is present, increases in detected PNC formation and/or borehole component cross-sections, combined with decreases in measured count rates, are used to determine the location of the formation fractures and the presence and percent fill of pack material in the borehole region. Changes in measured formation cross-sections relative to changes in other PNC parameters provide a relative indication of the proppant in fractures compared to that in the borehole region
E21B 43/267 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures reinforcing fractures by propping
G01V 5/10 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging using primary nuclear radiation sources or X-rays using neutron sources
36.
LITHOLOGY AND BOREHOLE CONDITION INDEPENDENT METHODS FOR LOCATING TAGGED PROPPANT IN INDUCED SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION FRACTURES
Subterranean formation locations/heights of tagged proppant doped with a high thermal neutron capture cross-section material are determined using data obtained from before and after frac logging passes through a well of a logging tool having near and far neutron dectors. Proppant location inaccuracies arising from changes in lithology between a zone of no interest and a proppant-containing formation zone are made, after any required normalization for a between-log change in borehole fluid, using an observed difference between the near/far detector count rate ratios in the two passes to determine a count rate differential correction to be applied to the before frac detector count rate. The corrected before frac count rate log is then overlaid with the after frac count rate log such that suppression in the after frac count rate og relative to the corrected before frac count rate log indicates the presence of proppant.
Sintered, substantially round and spherical particles and methods for producing such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles from an alumina-containing raw material and a metal oxide sintering aid. The alumina-containing raw material contains from about 40% to about 55% alumina. Methods for using such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.
C04B 35/10 - Shaped ceramic products characterised by their compositionCeramic compositionsProcessing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxides based on aluminium oxide
C09K 8/80 - Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
38.
PROPPANT PARTICLES FORMED FROM SLURRY DROPLETS AND METHOD OF USE
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.
C04B 35/10 - Shaped ceramic products characterised by their compositionCeramic compositionsProcessing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxides based on aluminium oxide
C09K 8/80 - Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
C09K 8/60 - Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
Proppant placed in a subterranean fracture zone is detected with a spectral identification method in which capture gamma ray spectra are obtained during a logging run carried out with a logging tool having a neutron emitting source and at least one detector sensitive to thermal neutron capture gamma rays. Capture gamma rays from one or more high thermal neutron cross-section materials in the proppant are distinguished from capture gamma rays produced by thermal neutron capture reactions with other downhole formation and borehole constituents utilizing a spectral processing/deconvolution technique. The capture gammas rays from the high thermal neutron capture cross section material in the proppant are used to identify propped fracture zones either alone or in combination with other proppant identification methods which rely on measuring thermal neutron related count rates and/or thermal neutron capture cross-sections from neutron, compensated neutron, and/or pulsed neutron capture logging tools.
G01V 5/14 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging using primary nuclear radiation sources or X-rays using a combination of several sources, e.g. a neutron and a gamma source
40.
METHODS OF IDENTIFYING HIGH NEUTRON CAPTURE CROSS SECTION DOPED PROPPANT IN INDUCED SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION FRACTURES
Methods for determining the locations/heights of fractures in a subterranean formation use a post-fracture log obtained with a compensated neutron or pulsed neutron logging tool. Utilizing predetermined relationships between tool count rates and associated near/far count rate ratios, the methods detect the presence of proppant containing high thermal neutron capture cross-section material, substantially eliminating proppant determination uncertainty resulting from changes in formation hydrogen index. In an interval of a well with given borehole and formation conditions, and not containing proppant, a relationship is developed between detector count rate and near/far ratio. This relationship is used to compute count rate from the ratio in intervals of the well possibly containing proppant and which have similar formation and borehole conditions. The count rate computed from the ratio is compared with the observed detector count rate, with proppant indicated from suppression in observed count rate relative to count rate computed from the ratio.
Methods are provided for determining the locations and heights of fractures in a subterranean formation using a neutron-emitting logging tool. Utilizing predetermined relationships (1) between logging tool count rates and associated apparent formation hydrogen index values and (2) between logging tool count rate ratios and associated apparent formation hydrogen index values, the methods detect the presence and heights in the formation of proppant containing high thermal neutron capture cross section material in a manner substantially eliminating proppant determination uncertainty resulting from a prior change in formation hydrogen index values. A second, associated, method employing logging tool count rates and count rate ratios to determine the presence of proppant containing high thermal neutron capture cross section absorbers utilizes a crossplot of count rate versus ratio. Logged intervals containing no proppant will fall on a trend/trendline on the crossplot, whereas logged intervals containing proppant will fall off from this trend/trendline.
G01V 5/10 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging using primary nuclear radiation sources or X-rays using neutron sources
42.
METHOD OF LOGGING A WELL USING A THERMAL NEUTRON ABSORBING MATERIAL
A method for determining the location and height of a fracture in a subterranean formation using a neutron emitting logging tool. The method includes obtaining a pre-fracture data set, fracturing the formation with a slurry that includes a proppant doped with a high thermal neutron capture cross-section material, obtaining a post-fracture data set, comparing the pre-fracture data set and the post-fracture data set to determine the location of the proppant, and correlating the location of the proppant to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location and height of the fracture. Using the PNC tool, it is also possible to determine whether the proppant is located in the fracture, in the borehole adjacent to the fracture, or in both. The method may also include a plurality of post-fracture logging procedures used to determine various fracture and production characteristics in the formation.
Methods of incorporating a chemical breaker onto a proppant that will permit release of the breaker after the proppant has been placed in a hydraulic fracture are provided. The methods utilize a chemical breaker coated on the surface of a non-porous proppant grain or placed in the pore space of a porous proppant grain and secondarily coated with an outer layer which can be tailored to delay the release of the breaker.
Foundry media having a low surface porosity and methods for producing the media are disclosed. One method includes minimizing a moisture content of the media prior to sintering the media, which minimized moisture content minimized the surface porosity of the sintered media. The media can be coated with resin, and a mold made therefrom. The media requires less resin than conventional media because of the low porosity, and stronger molds can be made from the media.
E21B 27/00 - Containers for collecting or depositing substances in boreholes or wells, e.g. bailers for collecting mud or sandDrill bits with means for collecting substances, e.g. valve drill bits
45.
LOW BULK DENSITY PROPPANT AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
Materials and methods for making low bulk density proppant capable of providing permeability at subterranean pressures. The low bulk density proppant is made from kaolin clay and at least one of calcined diatomaceous earth and burned kaolin clay.
E21B 43/267 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures reinforcing fractures by propping
C09K 8/00 - Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wellsCompositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
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