Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving proppant conductivity are disclosed herein. The compositions can include a proppant composition for use in hydraulic fracturing, the composition containing a plurality of particulates. At least one particulate of the plurality of particulates can contain at least one nutrient. The at least one nutrient can separate from the at least one particulate located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing electrically-conductive proppant particles are disclosed. The methods can include preparing a slurry containing water, a binder, and a raw material having an alumina content, atomizing the slurry into droplets, and coating seeds containing alumina with the droplets to form a plurality of green pellets. The green pellets can be contacted with an activation solution containing at least one catalytically active material to provide activated green pellets including the at least one catalytically active material. The method can include sintering the activated green pellets to provide a plurality of proppant particles. The plurality of proppant particles can be contacted with a plating solution containing one or more electrically-conductive material to provide electrically-conductive proppant particles.

Abstract: Smart fluids for use in hydraulic fracturing are disclosed herein. The smart fluids can include a first particulate component containing a magnetic material and a second particulate component having a permeability and a conductivity. The first particulate component and the second particulate component can be mixed with a fluid selected from the group of water, mineral oil, and glycol and any mixture thereof. The first particulate component can include one or more nanoparticles, including one or more nanowires, formed from the magnetic material. The second particulate component can have a size from about 4 mesh to about 120 mesh.

Abstract: Proppant compositions for use in hydraulic fracturing and methods of using same are disclosed herein. The proppant compositions include a plurality of proppant particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of proppant particulates containing at least one tracer, wherein the at least one tracer separates from the at least one particulate located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.

Abstract: Proppant compositions and methods for using same are disclosed herein. In particular, a proppant composition for use in hydraulic fracturing is disclosed herein. The proppant composition can contain a plurality of particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of particulates containing a chemical treatment agent. The at least one particulate having a long term permeability measured in accordance with ISO 13503-5 at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D. The at least one chemical treatment agent can separate from the at least one particulate when located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.

Abstract: Methods for producing solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles from a slurry of a raw material having an alumina content of greater than about 40 weight percent. The slurry is processed to prepare green pellets which are sintered in a furnace with microwave energy at a temperature of 1480 to 1520° C. to produce solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles having an average particle size greater than about 200 microns, a bulk density of greater than about 1.35 g/cm3, and an apparent specific gravity of greater than about 2.60.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining subterranean fracture closure are disclosed herein. The methods can include electrically energizing a casing of a wellbore that extends from a surface of the earth into a subterranean formation having a fracture that is at least partially filled with an electrically conductive proppant and measuring a first electric field response at the surface or in an adjacent wellbore at a first time interval to provide a first field measurement. The methods can also include measuring a second electric field response at the surface or in the adjacent wellbore at a second time interval to provide a second field measurement and determining an increase in closure pressure on the electrically conductive proppant from a difference between the first and second field measurements.

Abstract: Methods and systems for infusing ceramic proppant and infused ceramic proppant obtained therefrom are provided. The method can include introducing ceramic proppant and a chemical treatment agent to a mixing vessel, mixing the ceramic proppant and the chemical treatment agent in the mixing vessel to provide a mixture, introducing microwave energy to the mixing vessel to heat the mixture to a temperature sufficient to produce infused ceramic proppant containing at least a portion of the chemical treatment agent, and withdrawing the infused ceramic proppant from the mixing vessel.

Abstract: Electrically conductive proppants and methods for detecting, locating, and characterizing same are provided. The electrically conductive proppant can include a substantially uniform coating of an electrically conductive material having a thickness of at least 500 nm. The method can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein, injecting into the fracture a fluid containing the electrically conductive proppant, electrically energizing the earth at or near the fracture, and measuring three dimensional (x, y, and z) components of electric and magnetic field responses at a surface of the earth or in an adjacent wellbore.

Abstract: Electrically conductive proppants and methods for detecting, locating, and characterizing same are provided. The electrically conductive proppant can include a substantially uniform coating of an electrically conductive material having a thickness of at least 500 nm. The method can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein, injecting into the fracture a fluid containing the electrically conductive proppant, electrically energizing the earth at or near the fracture, and measuring three dimensional (x, y, and z) components of electric and magnetic field responses at a surface of the earth or in an adjacent wellbore.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a modular secondary containment unit is adapted to surround an above-ground fluid storage tank and includes a plurality of corner assemblies. Two or more components of each of the corner assemblies are composed of one or more reinforced resin composite materials. In several exemplary embodiments, the modular secondary containment units and the above-ground fluid storage tanks are used in oil and gas exploration and production operations. In an exemplary embodiment, an assembly for a modular secondary containment unit includes a track segment including first and second channels, a wall segment mounted on the track segment and extending within the first channel of the track segment, and a brace engaged with the wall segment and extending within the second channel of the track segment. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of constructing a modular secondary containment unit is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery by contacting unconsolidated resin-coated proppant particulates residing in a propped fracture with a reactive crosslinker in order to form a consolidated proppant pack. The present invention also relates to methods for use in water injection wells to consolidate the resin-coated proppant particulates in a gravel packed or frac packed region of a wellbore.

Abstract: A composition and method for hydraulically fracturing an oil or gas well to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery using a porous ceramic proppant infused with a chemical treatment agent is provided. The chemical treatment agent may be a tracer material that provides diagnostic information about the production performance of a hydraulic fracture stimulation by the use of distinguishable both water soluble and hydrocarbon soluble tracers. The tracer can be a biological marker, such as DNA. The porous ceramic proppant can be coated with a polymer which provides for controlled release of the chemical treatment agent into a fracture or well bore area over a period of time.

Abstract: Electrically conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles and methods for producing such electrically conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles from an alumina-containing raw material. Methods for using such electrically conductive sintered, substantially round and spherical particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Abstract: Sintered, substantially round and spherical particles and methods for producing such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles from an alumina-containing raw material and a metal oxide sintering aid. The alumina-containing raw material contains from about 40% to about 55% alumina. Methods for using such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Abstract: Sintered, substantially round and spherical particles and methods for producing such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles from an alumina-containing raw material and a metal oxide sintering aid. The alumina-containing raw material contains from about 40% to about 55% alumina. Methods for using such sintered, substantially round and spherical particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.