Self-suspending proppant manufacturing method and its property evaluation

Abstract

In recent years, a new technique involving the use of a self-suspending proppant has been a focus of research in relation to fracturing operations. The technique combines a proppant and sand-carrying fluid through the swelling and tackifying produced by the hydration material coating on the proppant surface. In this study, a self-suspending proppant was created using ceramic sand, polymer, guar gum, sucrose, and SiO2 nanoparticles. In laboratory evaluation experiments, this self-suspending proppant showed a good suspension effect in tap water, as well as a good temperature resistance. When each 100 g of proppant had 6.6 g of HAWP powder adhering to it, and the sand ratio was greater than 10%, the self-suspending proppant was found to be completely suspended in 120 s with no settlement occurring before 200 min. Furthermore, its core damage rate was low. In a field application, self-suspending proppant fracturing was used in the M block of the H Oilfield, which is located in the southern section of Qinshui Basin, China. For the two wells in the M block, well M13-X and well M13-Y, the volumes of fracturing fluid required for construction were reduced by 334 m3 and 351 m3, respectively, compared with untreated proppant fracturing. In addition, the fracturing construction times were reduced by 53.4 min and 88.2 min, and the CBM production values were increased by 286 m3 and 320 m3, respectively. The self-suspending proppant fracturing increased the construction efficiency and CBM production, and decreased the construction difficulty and risk of overpressure. These are important research findings and show its wide applicability.