IP Library Granted Patent US 10,344,206
Granted Patent B2
US 10,344,206 · App. 15/162,595 · Granted Jul 9, 2019

Method of manufacture and using rod-shaped proppants and anti-flowback additives

Inventors: Jean Andre Alary (L'Isle sur la Sorgue, FR); Thomas Parias (Rhode Saint Genese, BE)
Assignee: US Ceramics LLC
C09K8/805C04B35/111C04B35/1115C04B35/6261C09K8/62C09K8/80E21B43/26E21B43/267C04B2235/3232C04B2235/3234C04B2235/349C04B2235/3418C04B2235/5436C04B2235/5472C04B2235/80C04B2235/94
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,344,206
App. No.
15/162,595
Granted
Jul 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of treating a subterranean formation by fracturing the subterranean formation is disclosed. The method may include injecting a fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the fluid comprises a blend of a sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant and a substantially spherical proppant.

Claims (17)

1. A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising injecting a fluid into a fractured subterranean formation,

wherein the fluid comprises a blend of a sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant and a substantially spherical proppant, and

wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant has an average length to width ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 4:1, an average diameter ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm, an average rod length ranging from about 2 mm to about 4 mm, and a narrow rod length distribution such that at least about 60% of the ceramic rod-shaped proppant has a length within 1 mm of the average rod length.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant has an alumina content equal to or greater than about 80% by weight.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant comprises bauxite.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant further has an aluminum titanate level ranging from about 0.2 to about 4%.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant further has an silica content of less than about 4% by weight.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant has a specific gravity ranging from 3.0 to 3.98.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant has an alumina content ranging from about 40% to about 80% by weight.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant comprises kaolin.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant comprises bauxitic kaolin.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant has a packed void volume of greater than 40%.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the spherical proppant has a packed void volume ranging from about 33% to about 38%.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant has an API crush resistance value ranging from about 5% by weight and about 9% crushed at 10,000 psi.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant has an API crush resistance value ranging from about 9% by weight and about 19% crushed at 15,000 psi.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blend of sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant and substantially spherical proppant comprises about 10% by weight of the sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the blend of sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant and substantially spherical proppant comprises about 90% by weight of the substantially spherical proppant.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2019
From: IMERYS OILFIELD MINERALS, INC.
To: US CERAMICS LLC
Reel/Frame 050687/0024 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2019
From: IMERTECH SAS
To: IMERYS OILFIELD MINERALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050720/0058 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2019
From: IMERYS
To: IMERTECH SAS
Reel/Frame 048419/0763 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: ALARY, JEAN ANDRE; PARIAS, THOMAS
To: CENTER FOR ABRASIVES AND REFRACTORIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - C.A.R.R.D. GMBH
Reel/Frame 040003/0486 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: ALARY, JEAN ANDRE; PARIAS, THOMAS
To: IMERYS SERVICES S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 040003/0526 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: CENTER FOR ABRASIVES AND REFRACTORIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - C.A.R.R.D. GMBH
To: IMERYS SERVICES S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 040003/0546 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: IMERYS SERVICES S.A.S.
To: IMERYS
Reel/Frame 040003/0562 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14034169 · Sep 23, 2013
Continuation 11624057 · Jan 17, 2007
Related Publication 20160264854A1 · Sep 15, 2016