SINGLE COMPONENT NEUTRALLY BUOYANT PROPPANT

摘要

Proppant is used to keep open a fissure in a reservoir created by hydraulic or other action. The proppant demonstrates a reduced specific gravity controlled by the geometry of the structure of the proppant. Proppant must be capable of withstanding the hydrostatic environment of the hydraulic pumping system, pass through a perforation in the casing of the well, travel into the fissure, and, upon reduction of hydrostatic pressure, withstand the closure pressure of the formation. A proppant can have neutral buoyancy or substantial neutral buoyancy and can yet be capable of withstanding the hydraulic and closure pressures and have a tubular structure hollow in the center with a wall of material sufficiently strong to withstand the majority of closure pressures.