Proppant and proppant delivery system

{
  "publication_number": "US9657219B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Proppant and proppant delivery system",
  "abstract": "A method of increasing hydrocarbon production, the method including fracturing downhole formation and disposing an expandable proppant into the downhole formation. The method further includes expanding the expandable proppant into contact with the downhole formation and holding open the downhole formation with the expandable proppant. A proppant having an expandable outer shell layer, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size at least 10 percent greater in an open position than in a closed position. A proppant delivery system having a tool body, an expandable injector disposed on the side of the tool body, and an expandable proppant disposed within the tool body.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A proppant comprising: an expandable outer shell layer; an internal expandable portion disposed within the expandable outer shell layer, wherein the internal expandable portion is configured to expand beyond the expandable outer shell layer; wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size at least 10% greater in an open position than in a closed position; and wherein a second expandable proppant is disposed substantially within the outer expandable shell of the proppant.",
    "2. The proppant of claim 1, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is expandable in at least one of a radial, latitudinal, longitudinal, and azimuthal direction.",
    "3. The proppant of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to hold the expandable outer shell layer in the open position.",
    "4. The proppant of claim 1, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is at least one of spherical, rhombus, cubical, rectangular, hexagonal, and trapezoidal.",
    "5. The proppant of claim 1, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size between 10% and 100% greater in an open position than in a closed position.",
    "6. The proppant of claim 1, wherein the expandable outer shell layer comprises treating agents in the outer shell layer.",
    "7. The proppant of claim 1, further comprising at least one treating agent disposed within the proppant.",
    "8. The proppant of claim 1, wherein in a closed position the proppant has an external diameter between 0.25 cm and 0.5 cm.",
    "9. The proppant of claim 1, wherein in a closed position the proppant has an external diameter between 0.25 cm and 1.0 cm.",
    "10. The proppant of claim 1, wherein in a closed position the proppant has an external diameter between 0.75 cm and 1.5 cm.",
    "11. The proppant of claim 1, wherein in a closed position the proppant has an external diameter between 1.0 cm and 3.0 cm.",
    "12. The proppant of claim 1, further comprising an outer coating disposed around the expandable outer shell layer.",
    "13. The proppant of claim 1, wherein the proppant is configured to expand by at least one of electrical charge, mechanical force, hydraulic force, explosive force, magnetic force, and pneumatic force.",
    "14. The proppant of a claim 1, wherein the proppant is configured to expand through chemical reaction.",
    "15. The proppant of claim 1, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size more than 100% greater in an open position than in a closed position.",
    "16. A proppant comprising: an expandable outer shell layer; an internal expandable portion disposed within the expandable outer shell layer, wherein the internal expandable portion is configured to expand beyond the expandable outer shell layer; wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size at least 10% greater in an open position than in a closed position, and wherein a second proppant is disposed within the proppant, wherein the second proppant comprises a second expandable outer shell layer configured to expand outwardly to a size at least 10% greater in an open position than in a closed position.",
    "17. The proppant of claim 16, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size between 10% and 100% greater in an open position than in a closed position.",
    "18. The proppant of claim 16, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size more than 100% greater in an open position than in a closed position.",
    "19. The proppant of claim 16, wherein in a closed position at least one of the proppant and the second proppant has an external diameter between 0.75 cm and 1.5 cm.",
    "20. The proppant of claim 16, wherein in a closed position at least one of the proppant and the second proppant has an exterdiameter between 1.0 cm and 3.0 cm."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "In order to increase the productivity of hydrocarbon wells particles may be injected into the borehole in order to allow fluids to flow from the formation to the surface. One type of injectable particle that is commonly used in hydraulic fracturing operations are referred to generally as proppants. Proppants are sized particles that are mixed with fracturing fluid to hold fractures open after a hydraulic fracturing treatment. Typically proppants include, for example, sand grains, resin-coated sand, and high-strength ceramic materials, such as bauxite. While conventional proppants are useful in holding open relatively small fractures, because the proppants are relatively small, they do not efficiently hold open large fractures or keep near wellbore connectivity as efficiently as possible.\n\nAccording to one aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention, a method of increasing hydrocarbon production, the method including fracturing downhole formation and disposing an expandable proppant into the downhole formation. The method further includes expanding the expandable proppant into contact with the downhole formation and holding open the downhole formation with the expandable proppant.\n\nAccording to another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention, a proppant having an expandable outer shell layer, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size at least 10 percent greater in an open position than in a closed position.",
  "cpc": [
    "C09K 8/805",
    "E21B 43/11",
    "E21B 43/267"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 43/116",
    "E21B 43/26",
    "C09K 8/80",
    "E21B 43/267"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "A&O Technologies LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Alejandro Rodriguez"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-03-03",
  "publication_date": "2017-05-23",
  "grant_date": "2017-05-23",
  "priority_date": "2014-11-04",
  "application_number": "US-201514636671-A",
  "family_id": "55851962",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
  "citations": [
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    "US20120225800A1",
    "US20100294510A1",
    "US20120181023A1",
    "US20140262295A1"
  ]
}