Delivery of particulate material below ground
US9234415B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K2208/28
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A wellbore fluid comprises an aqueous carrier liquid, hydrophobic particulate material suspended therein and a gas to wet the surface of the particles and bind them together as agglomerates. The hydrophobic particulate material has a specified maximum volume median particle size d50 of not more than 200 micron, and/or a minimum surface area of at least 30 m2 per liter. Agglomerates of the particles contain gas and so have a bulk density lower than the density of the particles. This reduces the rate of settling. The fluid is particularly envisaged as a slickwater fracturing fluid in which the suspended particles are proppant. The small particle size and/or substantial surface area increases the amount of gas which can be retained within agglomerates and so enhances the buoyancy of the agglomerates. The end result is that a greater proportion of a hydraulic fracture is propped open.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.