Patents Assigned to CARBO Ceramics Inc.
  • Patent number: 7255815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a round and spherical titanium dioxide scouring media and a method for producing the media. The scouring media is effective in removing titanium dioxide buildup on the walls of a titanium dioxide reaction vessel. The method consists of forming green titanium dioxide pellets in a high intensity mixer by mixing commercially available titanium dioxide dust and water. The high intensity mixer produces substantially round and spherical green pellets which are subsequently sized and sintered in a kiln to form round and spherical titanium dioxide sintered pellets that are suitable as a scouring media. The high intensity mixer allows the operator to closely control the size and shape of the pellets during the forming process to produce substantially round and spherical green pellets. Because the sintered titanium dioxide pellets are substantially round and spherical in shape, they are much less abrasive to the walls of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Carbo Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Krause, Steve Canova
  • Publication number: 20070099793
    Abstract: Foundry media having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and methods and materials for producing the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventor: Brett Wilson
  • Publication number: 20070059528
    Abstract: Foundry media having a low surface porosity and methods for producing the media are disclosed. One method includes minimizing a moisture content of the media prior to sintering the media, which minimized moisture content minimized the surface porosity of the sintered media. The media can be coated with resin, and a mold made therefrom. The media requires less resin than conventional media because of the low porosity, and stronger molds can be made from the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Palamara, Brett Wilson
  • Publication number: 20070023187
    Abstract: Sintered, spherical composite pellets having high strength and low density, are described, along with processes for their manufacture. One method includes forming a green pellet from a mixture of clay, bauxite or a clay-bauxite mixture with a sacrificial phase such that upon sintering of the pellet, the sacrificial phase is removed from the pellet. The use of such sintered pellets in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Canova, Claude Krause
  • Patent number: 7119039
    Abstract: Round and spherical titanium dioxide scouring media and a method for producing the media are disclosed. The scouring media is effective in removing titanium dioxide buildup on the walls of a titanium dioxide reaction vessel. The method consists of forming green titanium dioxide pellets in a high intensity mixer by mixing commercially available titanium dioxide dust, water and a surfactant. The high intensity mixer produces substantially round, and spherical green pellets which are subsequently sized and sintered in a kiln to form round and spherical titanium dioxide sintered pellets that are suitable as a scouring media. The high intensity mixer allows the operator to closely control the size and shape of the pellets during the forming process to produce substantially round and spherical green pellets. Because the sintered titanium dioxide pellets are substantially round and spherical in shape, they are much less abrasive to the walls of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Carbo Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Claude A. Krause, William Scott Woolfolk
  • Publication number: 20060219600
    Abstract: Methods for producing substantially round, spherical and sintered particles from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of more than 55% by weight, and a mullite growth promoter in an amount of from about 2 to about 10% dry weight of the total solids in the slurry. Methods for using such substantially round, spherical and sintered particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: Carbo Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Palamara, Brett Wilson
  • Patent number: 7036591
    Abstract: A low density, spherical proppant made from kaolin clay having an alumina content distributed homogeneously throughout the pellets, an apparent specific gravity of from about 1.60 to about 2.10 g/cc, and a bulk density of from about 0.95 to about 1.30 g/cc. The low density is achieved by controlling the time and temperature of the firing process to be from about 1200 to about 1350° C. This low density proppant is useful in hydraulic fracturing of shallow oil and gas wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Chad D. Cannan, Thomas C. Palamara
  • Publication number: 20060081371
    Abstract: Sintered, spherical composite pellets or particles comprising alumina fines, at least one of clay and bauxite and optionally a sintering aid, are described, along with a process for their manufacture. The use of such pellets in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations and in grinding is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Duenckel, Mark Edmunds, Steve Canova, Benjamin Eldred, Brett Wilson
  • Publication number: 20060006589
    Abstract: Methods for producing solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of greater than about 40 weight percent. The slurry is processed with spray drying methods into solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles having an average particle size greater than about 200 microns, a bulk density of greater than about 1.40 g/cc, and an apparent specific gravity of greater than about 2.60.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Canova, Thomas Palamara, Jimmy Wood
  • Publication number: 20050244641
    Abstract: Surface modified oil and gas well hydraulic fracturing proppants for improving wettability, altering chemical reactivity, altering surface topography, imparting lubricity or controlling relative permeability to flow of fluids of such proppants. The use and preparation of such coated proppants in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Vincent
  • Publication number: 20040239012
    Abstract: Round and spherical titanium dioxide scouring media and a method for producing the media are disclosed. The scouring media is effective in removing titanium dioxide buildup on the walls of a titanium dioxide reaction vessel. The method consists of forming green titanium dioxide pellets in a high intensity mixer by mixing commercially available titanium dioxide dust, water and a surfactant. The high intensity mixer produces substantially round, and spherical green pellets which are subsequently sized and sintered in a kiln to form round and spherical titanium dioxide sintered pellets that are suitable as a scouring media. The high intensity mixer allows the operator to closely control the size and shape of the pellets during the forming process to produce substantially round and spherical green pellets. Because the sintered titanium dioxide pellets are substantially round and spherical in shape, they are much less abrasive to the walls of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Claude A. Krause, William Scott Woolfolk
  • Publication number: 20040187392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a round and spherical titanium dioxide scouring media and a method for producing the media. The scouring media is effective in removing titanium dioxide buildup on the walls of a titanium dioxide reaction vessel. The method consists of forming green titanium dioxide pellets in a high intensity mixer by mixing commercially available titanium dioxide dust and water. The high intensity mixer produces substantially round and spherical green pellets which are subsequently sized and sintered in a kiln to form round and spherical titanium dioxide sintered pellets that are suitable as a scouring media. The high intensity mixer allows the operator to closely control the size and shape of the pellets during the forming process to produce substantially round and spherical green pellets. Because the sintered titanium dioxide pellets are substantially round and spherical in shape, they are much less abrasive to the walls of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Claude Krause, Steve Canova
  • Patent number: 5188175
    Abstract: A lightweight propping agent made from kaolin clay or mixtures of kaolin clay and lightweight aggregate and having an alumina content between 25% and 40%, a specific gravity of from 2.20 to 2.60 and better conductivity than sand at pressures up to 8,000 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Carbo Ceramics Inc.
    Inventor: Larrie Sweet
  • Patent number: 5120455
    Abstract: A high strength propping agent for use in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations comprising solid, spherical particles having an alumina content of between 40 and 60%, a density of less than 3.0 gm/cc and an ambient temperature permeability of 100,000 or more millidarcies at 10,000 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignees: Carbo Ceramics Inc., A/S Niro Atomizer
    Inventor: Eugene P. Lunghofer
  • Patent number: 4879181
    Abstract: Sintered, spherical composite pellets or particles comprising one or more clays as a major component and bauxite, alumina, or mixtures thereof, are described, along with the process for their manufacture. The pellets may have an alumina-silica (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2) ratio from about 9:1 to about 1:1 by weight. The use of such pellets in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Carbo Ceramics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah J. Fitzgibbon