Patent ID: 8003580

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a consolidated proppant, which process comprises (a) mixing a consolidating agent with a proppant; and (b) curing the consolidating agent mixed with the proppant at elevated pressure and elevated temperature; the consolidating agent comprising (A1) a hydrolysate or condensate of (i) at least one functionalized organosilane of formula (I) (R x ) b R c SiX 4−b−c (I) in which the radicals Rx are identical or different and represent groups which cannot be eliminated hydrolytically and comprise at least one crosslinkable functional group, the radicals R are identical or different and represent groups which cannot be eliminated hydrolytically, the radicals X are identical or different and represent groups which can be eliminated hydrolytically or hydroxyl groups, b is 1, 2 or 3, c is 0, 1 or 2, (b+c) being 1, 2 or 3; (ii) optionally, at least one hydrolyzable silane of formula (II) SiX 4 (II) in which X is as defined in formula (I); and (iii) at least one metal compound of formula (III) MX a (III) in which M is a metal of main groups I to VIII or of subgroups II to VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, including boron, X is as defined in formula (I), it being possible for two groups X to be replaced by an oxo group, and a corresponds to the valency of M; a molar ratio of silicon compounds used to metal compounds used being from 10,000:1 to 10:1, and (A2) an organic crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups.