US4072193A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Propping agent and method of propping open fractures in the walls of a bored well
Assignee: Societe Europeenne des Produits Refractaires SAS
•
Filing: 1976-03-19
•
Granted: 1978-02-07
•
Expires: 1996-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well comprising a granular or particulate product containing on the basis of its oxide content up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide (ZrO2) in a quantity which is such that the weight ratio of ZrO2/SiO2 is equal to or greater than 1.5, alumina (Al2O3) in a quantity which is such that the weight ratio Al2O3/SiO2 is between 0 and 1.5 and sodium oxide (Na2O) in a quantity which is such that the weight ratio Na2O/SiO2 is between 0 and 0.04.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Paul Sarda
- 👤 Pierre Le Tirant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:24
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/267
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a manufactured product in granular form containing crystallized zirconium oxide embedded in an amorphous mineral binding material, the product containing, on an oxide basis, up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, a quantity of alumina Al 2 O 3 such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.5, and a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a manufactured product in granular form containing crystallized zirconium oxide embedded in an amorphous mineral binding material, the product containing, on an oxide basis, up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, a quantity of alumina Al 2 O 3 such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.5, and a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A propping agent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product is in the form of balls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, contains up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, alumina Al 2 O 3 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.5 and a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.4, said product further containing at least one of the oxides MgO and CaO in a quantity such that the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is between 0 and 1 and the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is between 0 and 1.45.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, contains up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, alumina Al 2 O 3 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.5 and a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.4, said product further containing at least one of the oxides MgO and CaO in a quantity such that the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is between 0 and 1 and the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is between 0 and 1.45.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A propping agent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is approximately 0.4.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A propping agent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is approximately 0.82.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A propping agent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is between 0 and 0.77, the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is between 0 and 1.21 and the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is between 0 and 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A propping agent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is between 1.5 and 2.33.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A propping agent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is approximately equal to 2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, contains up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04, and alumina Al 2 O 3 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is between 0.1 and 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, contains up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04, and alumina Al 2 O 3 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is between 0.1 and 1.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of propping open fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising injecting into the well a fluid suspension of a propping agent comprising a product in granular form containing crystallized zirconium oxide embedded in an amorphous mineral binding material, the product having a composition which, on an oxide basis, comprises up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, a quantity of alumina Al 2 O 3 such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.5, and a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of propping open fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising injecting into the well a fluid suspension of a propping agent comprising a product in granular form containing crystallized zirconium oxide embedded in an amorphous mineral binding material, the product having a composition which, on an oxide basis, comprises up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in a quantity such that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, a quantity of alumina Al 2 O 3 such that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.5, and a quantity of sodium oxide Na 2 O such that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of propping open fractures produced in the walls of a bored well as claimed in claim 10, comprising using in said fluid suspension grains of said propping agent having a zirconia content selected in dependence with the hardness of a geological formation, the zirconia content increasing in proportion to the hardness of the geological formation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of propping open fractures as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least two different granulometries of said product are injected successively.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of propping open fractures as claimed in claim 12, wherein the largest granulometry is injected last in order to keep open the lips of the fractures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, consists essentially of up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in such a quantity that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 in such a quantity that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0.1 to 1, sodium oxide Na 2 O in such a quantity that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04, and at least one of the oxides MgO and CaO in a quantity such that the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1 and the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.45.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, consists essentially of up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in such a quantity that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 in such a quantity that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0.1 to 1, sodium oxide Na 2 O in such a quantity that the weight ratio (Na 2 O/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 0.04, and at least one of the oxides MgO and CaO in a quantity such that the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1 and the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is from 0 to 1.45.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, consists essentially of up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in such a quantity that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, aluminum oxide in such a quantity that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0.1 to 1, sodium oxide Na 2 O in such a quantity that the weight ratio is from 0 to 0.04, magnesium oxide MgO in such a quantity that the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is approximately 0.4 and, calcium oxide CaO in such a quantity that the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is approximately 0.82.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
134 words
A propping agent for fractures produced in the walls of a bored well, comprising a product in granular form which, on an oxide basis, consists essentially of up to 85% by weight zirconium oxide ZrO 2 , silica SiO 2 in such a quantity that the weight ratio (ZrO 2 /SiO 2 ) is at least equal to 1.5, aluminum oxide in such a quantity that the weight ratio (Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ) is from 0.1 to 1, sodium oxide Na 2 O in such a quantity that the weight ratio is from 0 to 0.04, magnesium oxide MgO in such a quantity that the weight ratio (MgO/SiO 2 ) is approximately 0.4 and, calcium oxide CaO in such a quantity that the weight ratio (CaO/SiO 2 ) is approximately 0.82.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |