high density ceramic have much higher densities

Sintered bauxite proppant or high grade alumina have been used as proppant materials at well depths greater than 20,000 feet, but these high density ceramic have much higher densities than sand and therefore require high viscosity pumping fluids or high pumping rates. Larger pumping equipment is required, and wear rates on fracturing fluid carrying equipment is accelerated. In addition, the raw materials used to make the proppant materials are more costly.

Low density proppant have generally resulted in failure

Previous efforts undertaken to employ Low density proppant have generally resulted in failure because of insufficient strength to maintain fracture conductivity at even the lowest of closure stresses (1,000 psi). Recent research on material properties has at last led to the development of an ultralight weight(ULW) material with particle strength more than sufficient for most hydraulic fracturing applications. The current ultra lightweight proppant have apparent specific gravities of 1.25 and 1.75 g/cm3. Laboratory tests will demonstrate exceptional fracture conductivity at stresses to 8,000 psi. This paper presents data illustrating the performance of the new ULW proppant over a broad range of conditions and a discussion of relative performance in field applications.

Today's commonly used proppants include various sands

Since the earliest fracturing treatments more than 50 years ago, many different materials have been used including sand, glass beads, walnut hulls, and metal shot. Today's commonly used proppants include various sands,resin coated frac sand,resin coated silica sand, intermediate-strength ceramic proppants, and sintered bauxite proppant—each employed for its ability to cost-effectively withstand the respective reservoir closure stress environment. As the relative strength of the various materials increases, so too have the respective particle densities, ranging from 2.65 g/cm3 for sands to 3.4 g/cm3 for the sintered bauxite.  Unfortunately, increasing particle density leads directly to increasing degree of difficulty with proppant transport and a reduced propped-fracture volume for equal amounts of the respective proppant, thereby reducing fracture conductivity. Intuitively, one expects that a lesser-density proppant would be easier to transport, allowing for reduced demands on the fracturing fluids, and if it had sufficient strength, would provide increased width, and hence, enhanced fracture conductivity

Shale oil cost advantage is not obvious

Although the mainstream institutions statement shale oil development costs vary, but generally accepted view is that shale oil cost at least $ 75 / barrel and above. Although hydraulic fracturing another breakthrough,Unconventional gas a single horizontal well costs from $ 25 million down $ 8 million, but the current crude oil prices are still not very attractive.
In early June this year, Sinopec acquired from Pioneer Resources Division West Texas 207,000 acres of shale oil assets, for example, the cumulative output of only one million barrels / day, according to the region's oil fields, the average decline rate calculation, the next five years, the cumulative production of approximately of 500 million barrels. Mined at the lowest cost, only the amortized cost of drilling close to $ 65 / barrel, while taking into account the maintenance of hydraulic fracturing and drilling, mining costs will be $ 80 or more. The costs for the current shale oil mining the main - small independent oil companies, the current oil price is not very impressive attraction. From the perspective perspective,ceramic ball in 2015 the WTI forward price is always $ 80 or less, difficult to enhance oil production support.
Thus, with the restoration of supply and demand structure, the second half of the upstream oil market appears more likely. Half of the U.S. and European oil fast convergence, reflecting the U.S. since last year structural imbalance between supply and demand shift to the global market, but with the second quarter of the U.S. recovery in consumption and supply growth slowed, the structure of supply and demand will also radiate repair.fracturing proppants In this context, it is expected in the second half of New York and London oil prices will rise again to $ 105 and $ 112 above the level.

OPEC's internal contradictions

The economy riddled, food and housing scarce Algeria also need high oil prices. International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the oil price is not less than 121 U.S. dollars / barrel, Algeria to balance domestic spending.Fracturing proppant Government data show that in the first four months, the Algerian oil and gas revenues declined by 9%. The finance ministers will be directly attributed to the U.S. shale oil production increased. Important source of foreign exchange blocked, Algeria had to reduce public spending. Responsible for security affairs consulting firm NorthAfricaRisk Jeff Potter pointed out that in the case of not rising wages slashed social allowances will only increase instability.

2008 economic crisis caused by the global financial crisis, oil prices fell to lows. The face of external difficulties,ceramic ball then abandoned the hatchet of OPEC member states unanimously agreed to cut 400 million barrels / day of production quotas to support oil prices. However, the supply of crude oil in North America once again highlighted the dramatic increase in OPEC's internal conflicts, opposing sides have said that the current to reach a unified position is much more difficult than before.

International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that by 2018, crude oil production in the United States and Canada, based on an increase in the current 21%. This is undoubtedly a stunning reversal. Since the 1970s peak, U.S. oil production has continued to decline until 2008 because the contribution of shale oil before re-see the improvement.unconventional gas Hydraulic fracturing technology breakthrough liberated USA North Dakota and Texas and other states buried shale oil resources, so that U.S. crude oil production hit a 21 year high.

Preparation of oil shale residue proppant

Preparation of oil shale residue proppant research hydraulic fracturing technology is an efficient technology of oil field production. The process is to use the high pressure pump group on the ground, the high viscosity of fracturing fluid to greatly exceed  resin coated frac sand displacement of the absorptive capacity is injected into the borehole, at the bottom to suppress high pressure; When the pressure is greater than the wall near the formation stress and formation rock tensile strength, near the bottom of the formation of cracks; Continue to inject with natural gas fracturing sand fluid, crack extension forward and is filled with fracturing proppant, shut-in after fracture closure on the filling of proppant, finally have emerged near the bottom hole formation has certain geometry dimension and flow conductivity of fracture, is advantageous for the crude oil around faster into the bottom of the well, achieve the goal of production. Hydraulic fracturing proppant as the important filling medium, its performance directly affects the whole well production capacity. So, the research of high performance oil proppant for oilfield production is very necessary. Oil fracturing proppant * main points of natural quartz sand, artificial ceramsite proppant, resin coated proppant (i.e., resin coated proppant) three categories, the effect of coated sand and resin coated ceramsite proppant and points two kinds. Natural quartz sand because of the sphericity is bad, low intensity, but the lowest cost, so generally used in great quantities in the shallow well; Artificial ceramsite proppant due to its good sphericity, high strength, corrosion resistance is strong, as well as good conductivity, by a large number of used for medium and deep well fracturing..

Shale gas reservoir fracturing proppant settlement

Shale gas reservoir fracturing proppant settlement regularity and the experimental research on shale gas development is a system, a vast amount of engineering, its high technical requirements and more money. Horizontal well development and technology of hydraulic fracturing is the core of the shale gas development. Than with conventional guanidine gum fracturing fluids, gliding water to form complex fracture network, greatly improve the effect of well stimulation. As a result, the shale gas reservoir fracturing slippery water often used as a fracturing fluid, large displacement, low viscosity construction method. Low viscosity, but due to slippery water carrying capacity is poor, proppant settlement regularity with different conventional petroleum proppant gum fracturing fluid. At present, China about shale gas reservoir, fracturing proppant settlement rule research focuses on the theoretical aspects, construction technology and main draw lessons from foreign practices, or software simulation based on the experience, lack of effective means of experiment; Especially for gliding water carrier proppant settlement, the migration regularity of research is still in its infancy, lack the necessary indoor experiment and system theory to guide the shale gas reservoir fracturing design and construction. To this end, the author designed a model device, and through the device simulation gliding water carrier in the fracture process, studies the construction capacity, seam width, proppant sand particle size and viscosity of fracturing fluid and than within the fracture parameters such as Hydraulic Fracturing Proppants settlement and the influence of the conveyance speed, so as to provide reference for establishing reasonable construction parameters.

Ceramic proppant

The main raw materials are bauxite, while China is a country rich bauxite , bauxite distribution is highly concentrated, Shanxi, Guizhou, Henan and Guangxi in four provinces (regions ) ceramic proppant suppliers accounted for 90.9% of the total reserves of the country's total reserves ( Shanxi 41.6% , 17.1%, Guizhou , Henan, 16.7% , 15.5%, Guangxi ) , and the rest owned bauxite 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities accounted for only 9.1% of the total reserves of the country's total reserves. Chinese ceramic proppant manufactured good support for its ability to gradually replace conventional proppant sand, into the U.S. market . So far, the bauxite proppant Chinese -made ceramic proppant ceramic proppant has occupied the entire North American market share of 13% , the average annual business volume of $ 3 billion .

Oil fracturing proppant is a ceramic particle product

Oil fracturing proppant ( ceramic proppants ) is a ceramic particle product with high fracture strength , mainly for oilfield downhole support to increase production of oil and gas , an environmentally friendly product .
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This product is the use of high-quality bauxite , coal and other raw materials, ceramic sintering , is a substitute for natural quartz sand , glass beads , metal balls and other low- strength proppant , to increase production of oil and gas has a positive effect .
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 Practice has proved that the use of high-alumina fracturing proppant wells can increase production by 30-50% , but also to extend the service life of oil and gas wells , is the key material oil, gas wells in low permeability oil and gas exploration, construction . Products used in deep fracturing when it is filled to the low permeability fractured rock deposits in high closed fracturing treatment to split hydrocarbon formations , play a supporting fissure is closed not because of stress release , thereby maintaining oil and gas high flow capacity , not only to increase oil and gas production , and more to extend the service life of oil and gas wells .