Tagged Propping Agents and Related Methods

Abstract

A proppant particle comprising a sintered proppant composition that comprises a non-radioactive, detectable tracer uniformly distributed throughout a ceramic composition, wherein the tracer is one or more tracer metal oxides and the tracer metals are selected from a group consisting of lanthanides, strontium, barium, gallium, germanium, tantalum, vanadium, and manganese.

1 . A proppant particle comprising a sintered proppant composition that comprises a non-radioactive, detectable tracer uniformly distributed throughout a ceramic composition, wherein the tracer is one or more tracer metal oxides and the tracer metals are selected from a group consisting of lanthanides, strontium, barium, gallium, germanium, tantalum, vanadium, and manganese. 
     
     
         2 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer metals are selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, strontium, barium, gallium, and germanium. 
     
     
         3 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer metals are selected from the group consisting of lanthanum and cerium. 
     
     
         4 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer comprises a plurality of distinct tracer metal oxides. 
     
     
         5 . A proppant particle as set forth in  1  wherein each tracer metal oxide present in the proppant composition is at a concentration that is at least about 0.005 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         6 . A proppant particle as set forth in  1  wherein each tracer metal oxide present in the proppant composition is at a concentration that is at least about 0.01 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         7 . A proppant particle as set forth in  1  wherein each tracer metal oxide present in the proppant composition is at a concentration that is at least about 0.02 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         8 . A proppant particle as set forth in  1  wherein each tracer metal oxide present in the proppant composition is at a concentration that is at least about 0.03 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         9 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer is not present in the ceramic composition or is present in the ceramic composition in a concentration that is less than about 1,000 ppm based on weight. 
     
     
         10 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer is present in the proppant particle at a concentration that is from about 0.005 to about 0.5 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         11 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer is present in the proppant particle at a concentration that is from about 0.01 to about 0.3 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         12 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer is present in the proppant particle at a concentration that is from about 0.03 to about 0.2 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         13 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tracer is present in the proppant particle at a concentration that is from about 0.05 to about 0.15 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         14 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  that is substantially free of resin. 
     
     
         15 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  that consists essentially of the non-radioactive, detectable tracer uniformly distributed in the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         16 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the non-radioactive, detectable tracer is in contact with the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         17 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the particle further comprises a coating material that at least partially coats the composition. 
     
     
         18 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the coating material is resin. 
     
     
         19 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the particle is substantially free of resin. 
     
     
         20 . A proppant particle consisting essentially of a sintered proppant composition that consists essentially of a non-radioactive, detectable tracer uniformly distributed in a ceramic composition, wherein:
 (a) the tracer is one or more tracer metal oxides and the tracer metals are selected from a group consisting of lanthanides, strontium, barium, gallium, germanium, tantalum, vanadium, and manganese;   (b) each tracer metal oxide present in the proppant composition is at a concentration that is at least about 0.005 percent by weight of the ceramic composition;   (c) the tracer is present in the proppant particle at a concentration that is from about 0.005 to about 0.5 percent by weight of the ceramic composition; and   (d) the tracer is not also present in the ceramic composition or is present in the ceramic composition in a concentration less than about 1,000 ppm based on weight.   
     
     
         21 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the tracer metals are selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, strontium, barium, gallium, and germanium. 
     
     
         22 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the tracer metals are selected from the group consisting of lanthanum and cerium. 
     
     
         23 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 20  wherein each tracer metal oxide present in the proppant composition is at a concentration that is at least about 0.01 percent by weight of the ceramic composition and the tracer is present in the proppant particle at a concentration that is from about 0.01 to about 0.3 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         24 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 20  wherein each tracer metal oxide present in the proppant composition is at a concentration that is at least about 0.03 percent by weight of the ceramic composition and the tracer is present in the proppant particle at a concentration that is from about 0.03 to about 0.2 percent by weight of the ceramic composition. 
     
     
         25 . A proppant particle as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the ceramic composition is selected from the group consisting of bauxite, kaolin, other clays, alumina, silica, and combinations thereof.