Method of manufacture and the use of a functional proppant for determination of subterranean fracture geometries
US8168570B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2993
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Proppants having added functional properties are provided, as are methods that use the proppants to track and trace the characteristics of a fracture in a geologic formation. Information obtained by the methods can be used to design a fracturing job, to increase conductivity in the fracture, and to enhance oil and gas recovery from the geologic formation. The functionalized proppants can be detected by a variety of methods utilizing, for example, an airborne magnetometer survey, ground penetrating radar, a high resolution accelerometer, a geophone, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultra-sound, impedance measurements, piezoelectric activity, radioactivity, and the like. Methods of mapping a subterranean formation are also provided and use the functionalized proppants to detect characteristics of the formation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.