US4068718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hydraulic fracturing method using sintered bauxite propping agent
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1976-10-26
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Granted: 1978-01-17
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Expires: 1996-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An improved method of fracturing a subterranean formation wherein particles composed of sintered bauxite are placed in the formation fracture to maintain the walls of the fracture spaced apart. The sintered bauxite particles have a specific gravity greater than 3.4 and are prepared from bauxite material having a grain size of about 12 microns or less.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude E. Cooke, Jr.
- 👤 Walter A. Hedden
- 👤 William C. Chard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:05
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/80; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/267
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
In a hydraulic fracturing method in which a fluid is injected into a subterranean formation to open a fracture therein, said formation being located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, the improvement wherein said fracture is propped with a slightly deformable, high strength propping agent having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said high strength propping agent comprising particles of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said particles prepared from bauxite material, substantially all of the grains of said bauxite material being about 12 microns or less.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a hydraulic fracturing method in which a fluid is injected into a subterranean formation to open a fracture therein, said formation being located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, the improvement wherein said fracture is propped with a slightly deformable, high strength propping agent having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said high strength propping agent comprising particles of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said particles prepared from bauxite material, substantially all of the grains of said bauxite material being about 12 microns or less.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles of sintered bauxite are well rounded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said sintered bauxite particles have a mesh size between about 6 and about 80 on the U.S. Standard Sieve Series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said sintered bauxite particles have a specific gravity of at least about 3.5.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said sintered bauxite particles have a specific gravity of from about 3.5 to about 3.8.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, which comprises injecting into said formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein a hydraulic fluid; injecting into said fracture a fluid containing slightly deformable, high strength propping agent particles having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said propping agent particles being composed of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said sintered bauxite prepared from calcined natural bauxite material having a grain size of about 12 microns or less; and thereafter permitting the fracture to close on said propping agent particles.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, which comprises injecting into said formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein a hydraulic fluid; injecting into said fracture a fluid containing slightly deformable, high strength propping agent particles having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said propping agent particles being composed of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said sintered bauxite prepared from calcined natural bauxite material having a grain size of about 12 microns or less; and thereafter permitting the fracture to close on said propping agent particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the particles of sintered bauxite are well rounded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said particles are made by agglomerating under pressure grains of calcined natural bauxite to form discrete particles of approximate size of propping agent particles, most of said grains being between about 1 and about 12 microns, and thereafter sintering said agglomerated particles at conditions which induce limited grain growth, the final size of most grains being about 25 microns or less.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the grains of the sintered particle have a grain size between about 8 and about 25 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said bauxite particles have a specific gravity of at least 3.5.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said bauxite particles have a specific gravity of from about 3.5 to about 3.8.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the concentration of said particles in said fluid is sufficient to provide a multilayer propping pattern in said fracture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a hydraulic fracturing method in which a fluid is injected into a subterranean formation to open a fracture therein, said formation being located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, the improvement wherein said fracture is propped with a slightly deformable, high strength propping agent having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said high strength propping agent comprising particles of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said particles prepared from bauxite material, substantially all of the grains of said bauxite material being about 12 microns or less and having an average grain size of about 4 to about 5 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a hydraulic fracturing method in which a fluid is injected into a subterranean formation to open a fracture therein, said formation being located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, the improvement wherein said fracture is propped with a slightly deformable, high strength propping agent having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said high strength propping agent comprising particles of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said particles prepared from bauxite material, substantially all of the grains of said bauxite material being about 12 microns or less and having an average grain size of about 4 to about 5 microns.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, which comprises injecting into said formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein a hydraulic fluid; injecting into said fracture a fluid containing slightly deformable, high strength propping agent particles having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said propping agent particles being composed of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said sintered bauxite prepared from calcined natural bauxite material having a grain size of about 12 microns or less and an average grain size of about 4 to about 5 microns; and thereafter permitting the fracture to close on said propping agent particles.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, which comprises injecting into said formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein a hydraulic fluid; injecting into said fracture a fluid containing slightly deformable, high strength propping agent particles having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said propping agent particles being composed of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said sintered bauxite prepared from calcined natural bauxite material having a grain size of about 12 microns or less and an average grain size of about 4 to about 5 microns; and thereafter permitting the fracture to close on said propping agent particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a hydraulic fracturing method in which a fluid is injected into a subterranean formation to open a fracture therein, said formation being located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, the improvement wherein said fracture is propped with a slightly deformable, high strength propping agent having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said high strength propping agent comprising particles of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said particles prepared from bauxite material having a grain size of about 12 microns or less and an average grain size of about 5 microns or less.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a hydraulic fracturing method in which a fluid is injected into a subterranean formation to open a fracture therein, said formation being located at a depth in excess of about 7150 feet, the improvement wherein said fracture is propped with a slightly deformable, high strength propping agent having a permeability to brine at about 200° F which decreases not more than about three-fourths when the applied stress on said propping agent is increased from 1000 to 10,000 psi, said high strength propping agent comprising particles of sintered bauxite having a specific gravity greater than about 3.4, said particles prepared from bauxite material having a grain size of about 12 microns or less and an average grain size of about 5 microns or less.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-16 | 1981-07-18 | 1982-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-16 | 1985-07-18 | 1986-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-16 | 1989-07-18 | 1990-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |