Attrition resistant proppant composite and its composition matters

1. A surface modified proppant comprising:

a proppant; and

a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel.

2. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant.

3. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof.

4. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating is non-toxic to humans.

5. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating is not an ionic polymer.

6. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

7. The surface modified proppant of claim 6 where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

8. The surface modified proppant of claim 7 where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

9. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the proppant is substantially dust free.

10. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof.

11. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the chemical coating comprises glycerin-based coating, vegetable oil/wax-based coating, tall oil pitch based coating, alkyl ester based coating, or a combination thereof.

12. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof.

13. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating.

14. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant.

15. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant.

16. The surface modified proppant of claim 15 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating.

17. The surface modified proppant of claim 15 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating.

18. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used.

19. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 further comprising a chemical marker.

20. The surface modified proppant of claim 19 where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof.

21. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating.

22. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent.

23. The surface modified proppant of claim 22 where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof.

24. The surface modified proppant of claim 1 where the coating does not require curing or drying.

25. A surface modified proppant comprising:

a proppant; and

a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel,

where the surface modified proppant has a Turbidity Reduction Factor greater than about 35%.

26. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin.

27. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the chemical coating is not a thermoset polymer, not an ionic polymer, not a thermoplastic elastomer, and not a hydrogel.

28. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant.

29. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof.

30. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating is non-toxic to humans.

31. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

32. The surface modified proppant of claim 31 where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

33. The surface modified proppant of claim 32 where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

34. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the proppant is substantially dust free.

35. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof.

36. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the chemical coating comprises glycerin-based coating, vegetable oil/wax-based coating, tall oil pitch based coating, alkyl ester based coating, or a combination thereof.

37. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof.

38. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating.

39. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant.

40. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant.

41. The surface modified proppant of claim 40 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating.

42. The surface modified proppant of claim 40 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating.

43. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used.

44. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 further comprising a chemical marker.

45. The surface modified proppant of claim 44 where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof.

46. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating.

47. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent.

48. The surface modified proppant of claim 47 where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof.

49. The surface modified proppant of claim 25 where the coating does not require curing or drying.

50. A material for creating a coating on a proppant for use in hydraulic fracturing, the material comprising low molecular weight polyethylene glycol or a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and being less than 2 wt. % of the proppant receiving the material, where the coating is not a hydrogel.

51. The material of claim 50 where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant.

52. The material of claim 50 where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof.

53. The material of claim 50 where the material is non-toxic to humans.

54. The material of claim 50 where the material is less than 1 wt. % of the proppant receiving the material.

55. The material of claim 50 where the material is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the proppant receiving the material.

56. The material of claim 50 further comprising a chemical marker.

57. The material of claim 56 where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof.

58. The material of claim 50 further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent.

59. The material of claim 58 where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof.

60. A method of producing a surface modified proppant, the method comprising:

adding a chemical coating to a proppant, where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel; and

mixing the coating and the proppant or spraying the coating on the proppant to produce the surface modified proppant.

61. The method of claim 60 where the coating is not a thermoset polymer, not an ionic polymer, not a thermoplastic elastomer, and not a hydrogel.

62. The method of claim 60 where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

63. The method of claim 62 where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

64. The method of claim 63 where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

65. The method of claim 60 where the mixing occurs in a powered continuous mechanical blender, a powered batch mechanical blender, a static mixer, or a combination thereof.

66. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

adding a second chemical coating to the surface modified proppant; and

mixing the second chemical coating and the surface modified proppant.

67. The method of claim 60 where the coating does not require curing or drying.

68. The method of claim 60 where the coating comprises multiple coatings and where the multiple coatings are applied simultaneously or sequentially onto the proppant.

69. The method of claim 68 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating.

70. The method of claim 68 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating, the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating.

71. A method of reducing proppant attrition anywhere in a proppant supply chain, the method comprising using a surface modified proppant, where the surface modified proppant comprises:

a proppant; and

a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel.

72. The method of claim 71 where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof.

73. The method of claim 71 where the chemical coating is not a thermoset polymer, not an ionic polymer, not a thermoplastic elastomer, and not a hydrogel.

74. The method of claim 71 where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

75. The method of claim 71 where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

76. The method of claim 71 where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

77. The method of claim 71 where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through mechanical mixing, spray, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof.

78. The method of claim 71 where the coating comprises multiple coatings and where the multiple coatings are applied simultaneously or sequentially onto the proppant.

79. The method of claim 78 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating.

80. The method of claim 78 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating, the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating.

81. The method of claim 71 where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used.

82. The method of claim 71 where the surface modified proppant further comprises a chemical marker.

83. The method of claim 82 where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof.

84. The method of claim 71 where the surface modified proppant further comprises a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent.

85. The method of claim 84 where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof.

86. The method of claim 71 where the coating does not require curing or drying.

87. A surface modified proppant comprising:

a proppant; and

a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating consists essentially of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol or a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel.

88. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant.

89. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof.

90. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

91. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

92. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

93. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the proppant is substantially dust free.

94. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof.

95. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof.

96. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating.

97. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant.

98. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant.

99. The surface modified proppant of claim 98 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating.

100. The surface modified proppant of claim 98 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating.

101. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used.

102. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 further comprising a chemical marker.

103. The surface modified proppant of claim 102 where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof.

104. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating.

105. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent.

106. The surface modified proppant of claim 105 where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof.

107. The surface modified proppant of claim 87 where the coating does not require curing or drying.

108. A surface modified proppant comprising:

a proppant; and

a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating consists essentially of:

low molecular weight polyethylene glycol or a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin; and

water,

and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel.

109. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant.

110. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof.

111. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

112. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

113. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant.

114. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the proppant is substantially dust free.

115. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof.

116. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof.

117. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating.

118. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant.

119. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant.

120. The surface modified proppant of claim 119 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating.

121. The surface modified proppant of claim 119 where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating.

122. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used.

123. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 further comprising a chemical marker.

124. The surface modified proppant of claim 123 where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof.

125. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating.

126. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent.

127. The surface modified proppant of claim 126 where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof.

128. The surface modified proppant of claim 108 where the coating does not require curing or drying.