PROPPANTS HAVING FINE, NARROW PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND RELATED METHODS
A proppant may include particles including a sintered ceramic composition, wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 25 wt. % of the particles have a particle size less than 100 mesh, and wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 1 wt % of the particles have a particle size greater than 60 mesh. The particles may have a sphericity ranging from 0.4 to 0.9. A proppant may include particles including a sintered ceramic composition, wherein the proppant has a conductivity of at least 1.5 times the conductivity of 100 mesh sand. A method of treating a subterranean area around a well bore may include providing a fracturing fluid including such proppants, and injecting the fracturing fluid into the subterranean area around the well bore.
1 . A proppant comprising:
particles comprising a sintered ceramic composition,
wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 25 wt. % of the particles have a particle size less than 100 mesh,
wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 1 wt % of the particles have a particle size greater than 60 mesh, and
wherein the particles have a sphericity ranging from 0.4 to 0.9.
2 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 20 wt. % of the particles have a particle size less than 100 mesh.
3 - 5 . (canceled)
6 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that at least 75 wt. % of the particles have a particle size ranging from 80 mesh to 100 mesh.
7 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 20 wt % of the particles have a particle size greater than 80 mesh.
12 - 14 . (canceled)
15 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a sphericity ranging from 0.5 to 0.9.
16 - 24 . (canceled)
25 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a roundness ranging from 0.4 to 0.9.
26 - 35 . (canceled)
36 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the sintered ceramic composition is formed from a composition comprising at least 35 wt % alumina.
37 . (canceled)
38 . (canceled)
39 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the proppant has an absolute density ranging from 2.45 grams per cubic centimeter to 2.80 grams per cubic centimeter.
40 . (canceled)
41 . (canceled)
42 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the proppant has a bulk density ranging from 1.3 grams per cubic centimeter to 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter.
43 . (canceled)
44 . (canceled)
45 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the proppant has a 10,000 psi crush strength of less than 10% fines generated.
46 . (canceled)
47 . (canceled)
48 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the proppant has a turbidity of less than 150 NTU.
49 - 51 . (canceled)
52 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the proppant has a conductivity of at least 200 md-ft at 2 lb/ft 2 at 10,000 psi.
53 - 56 . (canceled)
57 . A proppant comprising:
particles comprising a sintered ceramic composition,
wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 25 wt. % of the particles have a particle size less than 100 mesh,
wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 1 wt % of the particles have a particle size greater than 60 mesh, and
wherein the proppant has a conductivity of at least 1.5 times the conductivity of 100 mesh sand.
58 . The proppant of claim 57 , wherein the proppant has a conductivity of at least 2.5 times the conductivity of 100 mesh sand.
59 - 61 . (canceled)
62 . A proppant comprising:
particles comprising a sintered ceramic composition,
wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 25 wt. % of the particles have a particle size less than 100 mesh,
wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that less than 1 wt % of the particles have a particle size greater than 60 mesh, and
wherein the particles have an irregular shape configured to form voids in a subterranean proppant pack.
63 . A method of treating a subterranean area around a well bore, the method comprising:
providing a fracturing fluid including a proppant according to claim 1 ; and
injecting the fracturing fluid into the subterranean area around the well bore.
64 - 68 . (canceled)
69 . The proppant of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a particle size distribution such that at least 75 wt. % of the particles have a particle size ranging from 80 mesh to 100 mesh.
70 - 74 . (canceled)