CERAMIC PROPPANTS PRESENTED BY: JAMES HUGHES AND MICHAEL LUKETICH PRESENTED BY: JAMES HUGHES AND MICHAEL LUKETICH As shown below in the cross section of a horizontal well, the hydraulic fracturing process uses a fracturing solution that is injected into the wellbore at pressures up to 15,000 psi. The purpose is to create fissures in shale up to 10,000 feet below the Earth’s surface. After the fissures are made, the fracturing solution composed of approximately 90% water, 7% proppants, and 3% acids and bases fills the fractures in the shale. After the fracturing process is completed, the fracturing fluid is pumped out of the well and the proppants in the solution are left behind in the fissures. A proppant is a solid material transported by a fracturing solution into fissures created in the fracturing process. The function of the proppant is to hold the fissures open enabling natural gas to be extracted. The proppant’s function is depicted in the graphic in the middle. In the table to the right, sand is compared with possible alternative proppants, bauxite and ceramic. Bauxite’s statistics are listed only for comparison to the other proppants due to economical reasons. Because bauxite is too costly, it is not a suitable substitute proppant. Sand is the common proppant, but lacks sustainability. Fissures close due to sand’s weak crush resistance. Therefore ceramic proppants will be viewed as the most suitable substitute and will be the main alternative proppant. From the statistics described, the ceramic proppant proves to be the superior proppant when it comes to the hydraulic fracturing process. Because ceramic proppants can create a fissure in shale three times the size and withstand much greater pressures than sand, it is estimated to improve a single horizontal well up to 40% in productivity. This ultimately solidifies the necessity to make the switch from sand to synthetic ceramic proppants for sustainability. Specific Gravity measure of proppant density Similar to solution density is better Krumbein Roundness Measures roundness of proppant Closer to 1.0 is preferred Crush Resistance % that disintegrates under 10,000 psi Lower percentage has higher sustainability Fracture Conductivity Measures width and depth of fissures made by proppants High fracture conductivity is better Specific Gravity measure of proppant density Similar to solution density is better Krumbein Roundness Measures roundness of proppant Closer to 1.0 is preferred Crush Resistance % that disintegrates under 10,000 psi Lower percentage has higher sustainability Fracture Conductivity Measures width and depth of fissures made by proppants High fracture conductivity is better Hydraulic Fracturing Measurable Data Alternative Proppants Proppants Sustainability Components Nepheline syenite Mineral Particulates Alumina Binder Size: 0.5 mm – 1.25 mm Fired in kilns: 1300°C Added to fracturing solution High permeability Components Nepheline syenite Mineral Particulates Alumina Binder Size: 0.5 mm – 1.25 mm Fired in kilns: 1300°C Added to fracturing solution High permeability Ceramic Proppants Ceramic proppants in the fissures