Method of estimating fracture geometry, compositions and articles used for the same

1. A method of determining the fracture geometry of a subterranean fracture comprising:

introducing into the fracture an electrically non-conducting target particle and/or proppant;

transmitting into the fracture electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of about 300 megahertz to about 100 gigahertz; and

analyzing a returned electromagnetic signal, for reflected or absorbed waves, from the target particle and/or a fracture surface to determine fracture geometry.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target particle and/or proppant occupies a position at the end of the fracture or the end of a branch emanating from the fracture.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target particles and/or proppant comprise a high dielectric constant particle and/or proppant having a dielectric constant greater than or equal to about 2.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the high dielectric constant particle and/or proppant comprise a metal substrate upon which is disposed a ceramic coating; wherein the ceramic coating has a dielectric constant greater than or equal to about 2.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the metal substrate comprises copper, aluminum, steel, iron, brass, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, silver, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing metals.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ceramic comprises perovskites.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ceramic comprises lithium tantalum oxide (LiTaO 3 ), lithium niobium oxide (LiNbO 3 ), CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 12 sintered yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ), lanthanum strontium gallium magnesium oxide (LSGM), aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing ceramics.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the high dielectric constant particle comprises a ceramic having a dielectric constant greater than or equal to about 2.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target particles and/or proppant comprise a high dielectric constant particle and/or proppant having a dielectric constant greater than or equal to about 6.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a frequency of about 300 megahertz to about 3 gigahertz.

11. A method of determining the fracture geometry of a subterranean fracture comprising:

introducing into the fracture an electrically non-conducting target particle and/or proppant; wherein the target particle and/or proppant comprises a high dielectric constant ceramic having a dielectric constant of greater than or equal to about 2;

transmitting into the fracture electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of less than or equal to about 3 gigahertz; and

analyzing a returned electromagnetic signal, for reflected or absorbed waves, from the target particle to determine fracture geometry.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the target particles and/or proppant comprise a high dielectric constant ceramic having a dielectric constant greater than or equal to about 6.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the target particle and/or proppant comprise a metal substrate upon which is disposed a ceramic coating; wherein the ceramic coating has a dielectric constant greater than or equal to about 20.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the metal substrate comprises copper, aluminum, steel, iron, brass, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, silver, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing metals.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the high dielectric constant ceramic comprises perovskites.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the high dielectric constant ceramic comprises lithium tantalum oxide (LiTaO 3 ), lithium niobium oxide (LiNbO 3 ), CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 12 , sintered yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ), lanthanum strontium gallium magnesium oxide (LSGM), aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing ceramics.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a frequency of less than or equal to about 1 gigahertz.