Delivery of particulate material below ground
US9388334B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2033 |
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 fibers suspended therein, hydrophobic particulate material also suspended in the carrier liquid, and a gas to wet the surfaces of the particles and fibers and bind them together as agglomerates. The wellbore fluid may be a slickwater fracturing fluid and may be used for fracturing a tight gas reservoir. Using a combination of hydrophobic particulate material, hydrophobic fibers and gas inhibits settling out of the particulate material from an aqueous liquid. Because the gas acts to wet the surfaces of both materials and agglomerates them, the particulate material is made to adhere to the fibers; the fibers form a network which hinders settling of the particulate material adhering to them, and the agglomerates contain gas and so have a bulk density which is less than the specific gravity of the solids contained in the agglomerates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.