Patent ID: 8883693
Filing Date: 2014-11-11
Classification: B01J,C09K

Abstract:
1. A method for making proppant particles, comprising: providing a slurry of bauxite, the slurry containing a reactant comprising a polysaccharide, wherein the slurry has a solids content from about 25 wt % to about 75 wt %; flowing the slurry through a nozzle in a gas while vibrating the slurry to form droplets; receiving the droplets in a vessel containing a liquid having an upper surface in direct contact with the gas, the liquid containing a coagulation agent to react with the reactant in the slurry and cause coagulation of the reactant in the droplets; transferring the droplets from the liquid; drying the droplets to form green pellets; and sintering the green pellets in a selected temperature range to form the proppant particles, wherein the proppant particles have an appropriate strength, appropriate strength being defined as a decrease of less than seventy percent of long-term water permeability, as measured in accord with ISO 13503-5 at 250° F., of a pack of test particles, the test particles having the same composition and method of making as the proppant particles, when a stress applied to the pack of test particles increases from 2,000 psi to 14,000 psi and the test particles are in the size range of 20-40 mesh.