Patents Assigned to PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLC
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Patent number: 11760924Abstract: Polymer-coated proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells have an outer layer portion that comprises an organofunctional coupling agent, preferably an organofunctional silane coupling agent. The use of an organofunctional silane coupling agent in the outer layer portion of the proppant coating is preferably chosen to expose functionalities that will be reactive towards similar functionalities of adjacent and similarly coated proppants so that, when introduced downhole, these proppants form interparticle bonds at the temperatures and crack closure pressures found downhole in fractured strata. Such enhanced interparticle bonding helps keep the proppant in the fracture and maintains conductivity with reduced flowback. The invention also helps proppants designed for low temperature well to bond more firmly and allows proppants designed for high temperature wells to bond well even at lower downhole temperatures, thereby extending their useful range.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Spyridon Monastiriotis, Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Ralph Edward Barthel
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Patent number: 11208591Abstract: Compositions and methods for coated or uncoated particulates, such as proppants, are provided that can, among other things, provide a hydrophobic surface that can enhance well productivity and other compositions and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2017Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Spyridon Monastiriotis, Magnus Ufumwen Legemah, Neomi Nishith Sanghrajka, Anthony Paul Haddock
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Patent number: 11098242Abstract: Polymer coated proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells have an outer layer portion that comprises an organofunctional coupling agent, preferably an organofunctional silane coupling agent. The use of an organofunctional silane coupling agent in the outer layer portion of the proppant coating is preferably chosen to expose functionalities that will be reactive towards similar functionalities of adjacent and similarly coated proppants so that, when introduced downhole, these proppants form interparticle bonds at the temperatures and crack closure pressures found downhole in fractured strata. Such enhanced interparticle bonding helps keep the proppant in the fracture and maintains conductivity with reduced flowback. The invention also helps proppants designed for low temperature well to bond more firmly and allows proppants designed for high temperature wells to bond well even at lower downhole temperatures, thereby extending their useful range.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Spyridon Monastiriotis, Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Ralph Edward Barthel
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Patent number: 10590337Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide coated particles that can be used, for example, in the extraction of oil and gas from subterranean formations.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Spyridon Monastiriotis, Yu-Chin Li, Jada Shuchen Leung
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Patent number: 10544358Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a pre-cured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent comprising a monofunctional alcohol, amine or amide. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity. Such proppants also form good unconfined compressive strength without use of an bond activator, are substantially unaffected in bond formation characteristics under downhole conditions despite prior heat exposure, and are resistant to leaching with hot water.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Spyridon Monastiriotis, Ralph Edward Barthel
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Patent number: 10208242Abstract: Proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells are coated with a polyurea-type coating. In a preferred embodiment, the polyurea-type coating is formed by contacting a polymeric isocyanate with an amount of water a blowing catalyst at a rate and quantity sufficient to generate a reactive amine in situ on the outer surface of the proppant which thereby reacts with unconverted polymeric isocyanate to form a thin polyurea-type surface coating that is substantially solid and lacks foam or substantial porosity. Alternatively, the polyurea-type can be produced by selecting reactive amine compounds and isocyanates to develop the coated proppant. The coated proppants retain the discrete, free-flowing character of the original core solids but with the beneficial effects of the polyurea-type coating of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Avis Lloyd McCrary, Robert Ray McDaniel, Ralph Edward Barthel, Spyridon Monastiriotis
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Patent number: 10100247Abstract: Polymer-coated proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells have an outer layer portion that comprises an organofunctional coupling agent, preferably an organofunctional silane coupling agent. The use of an organofunctional silane coupling agent in the outer layer portion of the proppant coating is preferably chosen to expose functionalities that will be reactive towards similar functionalities of adjacent and similarly coated proppants so that, when introduced downhole, these proppants form interparticle bonds at the temperatures and crack closure pressures found downhole in fractured strata. Such enhanced interparticle bonding helps keep the proppant in the fracture and maintains conductivity with reduced flowback. The invention also helps proppants designed for low temperature well to bond more firmly and allows proppants designed for high temperature wells to bond well even at lower downhole temperatures, thereby extending their useful range.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Spyridon Monastiriotis, Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Ralph Edward Barthel
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Patent number: 10087360Abstract: Proppants for use in fractured or gravel packed/frac packed oil and gas wells are provided with a contaminant removal component to remove one or more of the contaminants found in subterranean water/hydrocarbon from a production well. The water/hydrocarbon cleaning proppant solids may be used as discrete particles in a proppant formulation, as a coating on proppant solids in pores of a porous proppant solid or as part of the proppant's internal structure. The contaminant removal component removes contaminants, especially dissolved contaminants, in the subterranean water or hydrocarbon before the water/hydrocarbon leaves the well. For those contaminant removal components that can be regenerated, such as ion exchange resins, a measured quantity of an acidic regeneration solution can be injected into the fractured stratum for regeneration and recovered when the well resumes production.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
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Patent number: 9862881Abstract: Compositions and methods for coated or uncoated particulates, such as proppants, are provided that can, among other things, provide a hydrophobic surface that can enhance well productivity and other compositions and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Kerry Drake, Spyridon Monastiriotis, Amr M. Radwan, Anthony P. Haddock, Robert Ray McDaniel, Andrew F. Nordquist
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Patent number: 9790422Abstract: The invention relates to a propped, fractured, subterranean field with (a) a first proppant and (b) a second proppant that exhibits a relatively higher average crush strength and/or an ability to form a particle to particle bonded structure than the first proppant. Preferably, the first proppant is uncoated sand and the second proppant is resin-coated sand. The proppants can be deposited as a substantially homogeneous mixture or in layered structures (vertical or horizontal) within the fractured field. Deformation of the second proppant under closure stress acts to spread out the compression pressures in a mixture so as to reduce failure of the first proppant. Similar protective effects are found when the proppants are deposited in layers. When formed as vertical pillar structures, the second proppant structures can also act as in-situ screens that inhibit formation fines from migrating through the proppant pack to the detriment of field conductivity.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventor: Robert Ray McDaniel
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Patent number: 9725645Abstract: Proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells have a polymeric coating that is strengthened with reinforcing particulates that are reactive with, or chemically bonded to, the polymeric proppant coating. Preferably, these particulates are added into the coating during the coating process. In one embodiment, functionalized particulates are used that become grafted into the polymer of the proppant coating through the chemical functionality imparted to the particulates. If non-functionalized particulates are used, a coupling agent is preferably added to enhance the bond strength between the added particulates and the polymeric matrix of the proppant coating.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Spyridon Monastiriotis, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Robert Ray McDaniel, Ralph Edward Barthel
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Patent number: 9624421Abstract: Proppants for use in fractured or gravel packed/frac packed oil and gas wells are provided with a contaminant removal component to remove one or more of the contaminants found in subterranean water/hydrocarbon from a production well. The water/hydrocarbon cleaning proppant solids may be used as discrete particles in a proppant formulation, as a coating on proppant solids in pores of a porous proppant solid or as part of the proppant's internal structure. The contaminant removal component removes contaminants, especially dissolved contaminants, in the subterranean water or hydrocarbon before the water/hydrocarbon leaves the well. For those contaminant removal components that can be regenerated, such as ion exchange resins, a measured quantity of an acidic regeneration solution can be injected into the fractured stratum for regeneration and recovered when the well resumes production.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
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Patent number: 9562187Abstract: Solid proppants are coated in a process that includes the steps of: (a) coating free-flowing proppant solids with a first component of either a polyol or an isocyanate in mixer; (b) adding a second component of either an isocyanate or a polyol that is different from the first component at a controlled rate or volume sufficient to form a polyurethane coating on the proppant solids; and (c) adding water at a rate and volume sufficient to retain the free-flowing characteristics of the proppant solids.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Avis Lloyd McCrary, Robert Ray McDaniel
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Patent number: 9518214Abstract: Proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells are coated with a polyurea-type coating. In a preferred embodiment, the polyurea-type coating is formed by contacting a polymeric isocyanate with an amount of water and a blowing catalyst at a rate and quantity sufficient to generate a reactive amine in situ on the outer surface of the proppant which thereby reacts with unconverted polymeric isocyanate to form a thin polyurea-type surface coating that is substantially solid and lacks foam or substantial porosity. Alternatively, the polyurea-type can be produced by selecting reactive amine compounds and isocyanates to develop the coated proppant. The coated proppants retain the discrete, free-flowing character of the original core solids but with the beneficial effects of the polyurea-type coating of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Avis Lloyd McCrary, Robert Ray McDaniel, Ralph Edward Barthel, Spyridon Monastiriotis
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Patent number: 9290690Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a pre-cured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent comprising a monofunctional alcohol, amine or amide. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity. Such proppants also form good unconfined compressive strength without use of an bond activator, are substantially unaffected in bond formation characteristics under downhole conditions despite prior heat exposure, and are resistant to leaching with hot water.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Spyridon Monastiriotis, Ralph Edward Barthel
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Publication number: 20150315892Abstract: The invention relates to a propped, fractured, subterranean field with (a) a first proppant and (b) a second proppant that exhibits a relatively higher average crush strength and/or an ability to form a particle to particle bonded structure than the first proppant. Preferably, the first proppant is uncoated sand and the second proppant is resin-coated sand. The proppants can be deposited as a substantially homogeneous mixture or in layered structures (vertical or horizontal) within the fractured field. Deformation of the second proppant under closure stress acts to spread out the compression pressures in a mixture so as to reduce failure of the first proppant. Similar protective effects are found when the proppants are deposited in layers. When formed as vertical pillar structures, the second proppant structures can also act as in-situ screens that inhibit formation fines from migrating through the proppant pack to the detriment of field conductivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2014Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: Preferred Technology, LLCInventor: Robert Ray McDaniel
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Patent number: 9040467Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a precured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
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Publication number: 20150119301Abstract: Treatment methods for coated or uncoated proppants that can, among other things, control fugitive dust during typical handling procedures with typical transport equipment and/or add functional features to the proppant solid are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Robert McDaniel, Kerry Drake, Spyridon Monastiriotis, Ralph Barthel
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Patent number: 8993489Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a phenol-urethane coating in one or more layers by a method comprising coating a proppant solid and then curing the coated proppant under conditions sufficient to substantially cure said proppant, wherein said coating comprises a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) an isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, (ii) an amine reactant, and optionally (iii) an amine that is a latent curing agent for said isocyanate.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Preferred Technology, LLCInventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
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Publication number: 20140309149Abstract: Proppants for use in fractured or gravel packed/frac packed oil and gas wells are provided with a contaminant removal component to remove one or more of the contaminants found in subterranean water/hydrocarbon from a production well. The water/hydrocarbon cleaning proppant solids may be used as discrete particles in a proppant formulation, as a coating on proppant solids in pores of a porous proppant solid or as part of the proppant's internal structure. The contaminant removal component removes contaminants, especially dissolved contaminants, in the subterranean water or hydrocarbon before the water/hydrocarbon leaves the well. For those contaminant removal components that can be regenerated, such as ion exchange resins, a measured quantity of an acidic regeneration solution can be injected into the fractured stratum for regeneration and recovered when the well resumes production.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary