Hydraulic fracture composition and method

Abstract

A method for improving the performance of fracturing processes in oil production fields may rely on polymer coated particles carried in the fracturing fluid. The particles may include heavy substrates, such as sand, ceramic sand, or the like coated with polymers selected to absorb water, increasing the area and volume to travel more readily with the flow of fluid without settling out, or allowing the substrate to settle out. Ultimately, the substrate may become lodged in the fissures formed by the pressure or hydraulic fracturing, resulting in propping open of the fissures for improved productivity.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of augmenting a fracturing fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a fracturing fluid;   providing a substrate comprising discrete granules of an inorganic material;   providing a binder individually coated onto each of the granules of the substrate, wherein the binder comprises a first volume of a polyacrylamide wetted with a solvent and absent any surfactant;   providing a powder comprising a second volume of a hydrophilic, synthetic polymer and absent any surfactant and secured to the granules of the substrate by the binder;   providing a second powder comprising an aluminosilicate in an amount of about 0.5 wt. % to about 2 wt. % and absent any surfactant and secured to the granules of the substrate by the binder to form proppant particles; and   introducing the proppant particles into the fracturing fluid.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 removing, in response to a pre-determined condition, at least a portion of the powder from the proppant particles while the proppant particles are lodged in a fissure.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the pre-determined condition is selected from the group consisting of:
 an amount of water absorbed by the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer;   a time of exposure of the binder to water;   a time of exposure of the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer to water;   an exposure of the granules to friction from a formation;   an exposure of the granules to shear from a liquid operating as a carrier to carry the granules into the formation; and   exposure to a chemical.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 removing, in response to a pre-determined condition, at least a portion of the second powder from the proppant particles while the proppant particles are lodged in a fissure.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pre-determined condition is selected from the group consisting of:
 an amount of water absorbed by the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer;   a time of exposure of the binder to water;   a time of exposure of the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer to water;   an exposure of the granules to friction from a formation;   an exposure of the granules to shear from a liquid operating as a carrier to carry the granules into the formation; and   exposure to a chemical.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the proppant particles will remain suspended in a brackish solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of about 170° F. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the proppant particles are formed off-site, remote from the fracturing fluid, and introduced directly into the fracturing fluid on-site, proximate the bore. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the substrate has a first density and the powder has a second density, the first density being greater than the second density. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second densities are selected, and the size of the granules is selected to effect sinking the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer, by the substrate, into the fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         30 . A method of augmenting a fracturing fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a fracturing fluid;   providing a substrate comprising discrete granules of frac sand, wherein the frac sand is at least 95% dry;   providing a binder individually coated onto each of the granules of the substrate, wherein the binder comprises a polyacrylamide wetted with a solvent and absent any surfactant;   providing a first powder comprising a first volume of a first hydrophilic, synthetic polymer from about 10 mol. % anionic to about 50 mol. % anionic and absent any surfactant and secured to the granules of the substrate by the binder;   providing a second powder comprising a flowing agent and absent any surfactant and secured to the granules of the substrate by the binder to form proppant particles; and   introducing the proppant particles into the fracturing fluid.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first powder further comprises a second volume of a second hydrophilic, synthetic polymer from about 30 mol. % anionic to about 40 mol. % anionic and absent any surfactant and secured to the granules of the substrate by the binder. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the flowing agent is selected from the group consisting of: sodium aluminosilicate, fumed silica, whey protein, and DFC. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 removing, in response to a pre-determined condition, at least a portion of the first powder and at least a portion of the second powder from the proppant particles while the proppant particles are lodged in a fissure.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the pre-determined condition is selected from the group consisting of:
 an amount of water absorbed by the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer;   a time of exposure of the binder to water;   a time of exposure of the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer to water;   an exposure of the granules to friction from a formation;   an exposure of the granules to shear from a liquid operating as a carrier to carry the granules into the formation; and   exposure to a chemical.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein at least a portion of the first powder is cross-linked. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the proppant particles will remain suspended in a brackish solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of about 170° F. 
     
     
         37 . A method of augmenting a fracturing fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a fracturing fluid;   providing a substrate comprising discrete granules of frac sand;   providing a binder individually coated onto each of the granules of the substrate, wherein the binder comprises a polyacrylamide wetted with a solvent;   providing a first powder comprising a first volume of a first hydrophilic, synthetic polymer from about 10 mol. % anionic to about 50 mol. % anionic and secured to the granules of the substrate by the binder;   providing a second powder comprising a flowing agent and secured to the granules of the substrate by the binder to form self-suspending proppant particles, wherein the self-suspending proppant particles will remain suspended in a brackish solution for at least 30 minutes at a temperature of about 170° F.; and   introducing the proppant particles into the fracturing fluid.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the flowing agent is selected from the group consisting of: sodium aluminosilicate, fumed silica, whey protein, and DFC. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 removing, in response to a pre-determined condition, at least a portion of the first powder and at least a portion of the second powder from the proppant particles while the proppant particles are lodged in a fissure.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the pre-determined condition is selected from the group consisting of:
 an amount of water absorbed by the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer;   a time of exposure of the binder to water;   a time of exposure of the hydrophilic, synthetic polymer to water;   an exposure of the granules to friction from a formation;   an exposure of the granules to shear from a liquid operating as a carrier to carry the granules into the formation; and   exposure to a chemical.