Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Oxane Materials, Inc.

Robert D Skala

Christopher E Coker

John Ryan Loscutova

Dilip K Chatterjee

Andrew Ross Barron

Yuming Xie

Christopher Y Fang

Russell James Smith

Elizabeth Whitsitt

Stephen A Costantino

Mark Wiesner

Rajendra Kumar Bordia

Shanghua Wu

Russell J Smith

Elizabeth A Whitsitt

Christopher F Coker

Rajendra Bordia

Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation are described wherein sintered ceramic proppants are used in at least two different stages. Each stage can utilize the same or a different type of proppant relative to one or more of the other stages, and the same or a different type of fracturing fluid relative to one or more of the other stages. At least one of the stages uses a proppant having a monodispersity of 3-sigma distribution or lower. A first stage can be used that exhibits at least one proppant performance property having a first value. A second stage can be used that exhibits the same proppant performance property as the first stage but at a value that differs from the first value by at least 10%.

Methods for fracturing subterranean formations

An extrusion method and apparatus are described for producing ceramics, glass, glass-ceramics, or composites suitable for use as proppants. The method includes forming one or more green body materials, extruding the green body materials to form a green body extrudate, separating and shaping the green body extrudate into individual green bodies, and sintering the green bodies to form proppants. The apparatus includes a means for forming an intimate mixture of green body materials, means to produce a green body extrudate, means for separating and shaping the green body extrudate into individual green bodies, and means to sinter the green green bodies to form proppants.

Extrusion process for proppant production

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.

Method of manufacture and the use of a functional proppant for determination of subterranean fracture geometries

Synthetic ceramic proppants are described. Proppants having a monodispersity of 3-sigma distribution or lower are also described, including methods to make these proppants and methods of using these proppants.

Synthetic proppants and monodispersed proppants and methods of making the same

A proppant having low surface friction is described, which is useful in hydrocarbon recovery. Methods of making low surface friction proppants are further described, as well as uses thereof.

Low surface friction proppants

A cordierite material having an increased &#x3b1;-cordierite phase and a reduced &#x3b2;-cordierite phase is described. Methods of making the cordierite material are further described, and a proppant containing the cordierite is further described, as well as use of the proppant.

Cordierite having an increased alpha-cordierite phase and a proppant containing the same

Proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions are described. Proppant formulations which use one or more proppants of the present invention are described, as well as methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions, and other uses for the proppants and methods of making the proppants.

Proppants with carbide and/or nitride phases

The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Composition and method for making a proppant

Proppants used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations using one or more proppants. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions and other uses for the proppants, as well as methods of making the proppants.

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Katy, TX, United States of America

Robert D Skala