Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation by fracturing the subterranean formation is disclosed. The method may include injecting a fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the fluid comprises a blend of a sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant and a substantially spherical proppant.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure suitable for particulate filters, having an inlet face and an outlet face, comprising a plurality of inlet cells and a plurality of outlet cells extending through the structure from the inlet face to the outlet face, the inlet cells being open at the inlet face and closed where adjoining the outlet face, and the outlet cells being open at the outlet face and closed where adjoining the inlet face. The inlet and/or outlet cells are quadrangular in cross-section and are arranged in an alternating pattern; the outlet cells may have a cross-sectional area generally smaller than that of inlet cells and no point of a given inlet cell is closer to an adjacent inlet cell than to an adjacent outlet cell. A process for preparing the ceramic honeycomb structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of grinding a particulate material, comprising grinding said material in a stirred mill in the presence of a grinding media comprising rod-shaped particles, wherein said rod-shaped particles have an aspect ratio of equal to or greater than about 2:1.

Abstract: A sintered rod-shaped proppant and anti-flowback agent possesses high strength and high conductivity. The sintered rods comprise between about 0.2% by weight and about 4% by weight aluminum titanate. In some embodiments, the sintered rods are made by mixing bauxitic and non-bauxitic sources of alumina that may also contain several so-called impurities (such as TiO2), extruding the mixture, and sintering it. The starting material may optionally be milled to achieve better compacity and crush resistance in the final sintered rod. A fracturing fluid may comprise the sintered rods alone or in combination with a proppant, preferably a proppant of a different shape.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure suitable for particulate filters, having an inlet face and an outlet face, comprising a plurality of inlet cells and a plurality of outlet cells extending through the structure from the inlet face to the outlet face, the inlet cells being open at the inlet face and closed where adjoining the outlet face, and the outlet cells being open at the outlet face and closed where adjoining the inlet face. The inlet and/or outlet cells are quadrangular in cross-section and are arranged in an alternating pattern; the outlet cells may have a cross-sectional area generally smaller than that of inlet cells and no point of a given inlet cell is closer to an adjacent inlet cell than to an adjacent outlet cell. A process for preparing the ceramic honeycomb structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of grinding a particulate material, comprising grinding said material in a stirred mill in the presence of a grinding media comprising rod-shaped particles, wherein said rod-shaped particles have an aspect ratio of equal to or greater than about 2:1.

Abstract: Spherical and rod-shaped proppants and anti-flowback agents made from sillimanite minerals possess high strength and high conductivity. The sillimanite minerals may be selected from the group consisting of kyanite, sillimanite, and andalusite and may be used alone or in combination with other materials, such as bauxite, kaolin, meta-kaolin, pure or technical grade alumina (about 98%-99.9% alumina by weight), alumina-containing slag, zirconia, silica, iron, alkali elements (such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium), and virtually any other mineral containing alumina. The starting material may optionally be milled to achieve better compacity and crush resistance in the final proppant or anti-flowback agent. A fracturing fluid may comprise the rods or spheres alone, or in combination with each other or other proppants or anti-flowback agents of different shapes.

Abstract: Spherical and rod-shaped proppants and anti-flowback agents made from sillimanite minerals possess high strength and high conductivity. The sillimanite minerals may be selected from the group consisting of kyanite, sillimanite, and andalusite and may be used alone or in combination with other materials, such as bauxite, kaolin, meta-kaolin, pure or technical grade alumina (about 98%-99.9% alumina by weight), alumina-containing slag, zirconia, silica, iron, alkali elements (such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium), and virtually any other mineral containing alumina. The starting material may optionally be milled to achieve better compacity and crush resistance in the final proppant or anti-flowback agent. A fracturing fluid may comprise the rods or spheres alone, or in combination with each other or other proppants or anti-flowback agents of different shapes.

Abstract: An embodiment consistent with the present invention is a high strength proppant comprising an electrofused pellet. In another embodiment, a high strength proppant comprises a substantially solid and substantially spherical pellet produced by electrofusion of at least one metal oxide. A method of making a proppant is also provided, with that method comprising melting at least one metal oxide in an electrical arc furnace, pouring the molten metal oxide to create a pour stream, and separating the pour stream to form at least one electrofused pellet. A method of fracturing subterranean formations is also provided, with that method comprising injecting a fluid containing at least one electrofused pellet.