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Frac Sands
Frac Sands
Frac Sands
Frac Sand
In Spec
John Getty, MS, Instructor II and Lab Director
Petroleum Engineering, Montana Tech
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Topics for Discussion
Where the money is
How Frac Sand is Evaluated
Testing for Exploration
Testing for Production
Published Standards
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Shale gas provides the largest sources of
growth in U.S. natural gas supply
Figure 91. Natural gas production by source, 1990-2040 (trillion cubic feet)
From Energy Information Administration DOE/EIA-0383(2013) Annual Energy Outlook 2013, April 2013 3
2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Lower 48 onshore tight oil development
spurs increase in U.S. crude oil production
million barrels per day
Figure 96. Domestic crude oil production by source 2000-2040 (million bpd)
From DOE/EIA-0383(2013) Annual Energy Outlook 2013, April 2013, pg 81
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Tight oil formations account for a significant
portion of total U.S. production
million barrels per day
Figure 97. Total U.S. tight oil production by geologic formation, 2008-2040
From DOE/EIA-0383(2013) Annual Energy Outlook 2013, April 2013, pg 82
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
North American Shale Gas and Frac Sand
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/712129main_8247975848_88635d38a1_o.jpg 7
2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
North America at Night
Regina
Bakken
Minneapolis
Bismark
Billings
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Proppant
n. Particles used to prop open a fracture
induced in an oil and gas reservoir via
hydraulic fracturing treatment.
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Required RP19C Protocols
for Exploration, Production and Marketing
Protocol E P M
Minerology (99% Silica) (Not API Spec)
Sieve Analysis (6)
Sphericity and Roundness (7)
Acid Solubility (8)
Turbidity (9)
Densities (Bulk, App, Abs) (10)
Crush-Resistance(11)
Loss on Ignition (12) (Resin coat only)
2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Sampling and Sample Handling
ISO 13502-2 (API RP19C) 4 and 5
Collection methods
Frequency
Bagging
Splitting
Record keeping
20
40
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Sieve Analysis (Particle Size)
ISO 13503-2 6
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Sieve Results
Proppant weight 92 g API Size 20/40
Sieve Size 16 20 25 30 35 40 50 Pan
Original weight 321.7 315.0 305.5 307.6 295.5 285.1 277.5 355.1
10 min test 322.2 317.4 329.1 325.9 320.1 305.5 279.3 355.9
Grams in cut 0.5 2.3 23.6 18.3 24.6 20.4 1.8 0.8 92.3 g returned
Frequency (=n) 0.5% 2.5% 25.5% 19.8% 26.7% 22.1% 1.9% 0.9%
% in range 94.1% 0.36% Error
Mesh (um) 1190 841 707 595 500 420 397 0
Average size (=d) 1440 1016 774 651 547.5 460 408.5 198.5 um
n*d 7.8 25.6 197.6 129.0 146.0 101.7 8.0 1.7 617.4 Mean Dia (um)
50 16
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Image from Retsch/Horiba Camsizer brochure (no endorsement implied)
2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
One image PSA Results
(of 1,000s)
Frequency
Plot
Computes
Sphericity
and
Roundness
from the
same images
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Importance of Sieve Analysis
Exploration Production
covers a broad range Regular schedule is
of sizes (usually not a part of QC program
API) Can detect process
Determines cut issues
fractions (and Sizing input can
economics) reveal changes in
Characterizing each source material.
cut can be Costly, but critical
informative Commonly checked
at the well head
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Sphericity and Roundness
ISO 13503-2 7
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Proppant shape
Increasing Sphericity
Increasing Roundness
(from Krumbein/Schloss) 23
2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Micrograph of Part#
1
Spher Round
0.9 0.5
2 0.9 0.9
> 20 particles 3
4
0.5 0.5
0.7 0.5
5 0.7 0.9
6 0.9 0.9
8 10
7 0.5 0.7
19 8 0.5 0.3
20 9 0.7 0.7
10 0.5 0.5
1 18 5 11 0.7 0.9
2 4
12 0.7 0.7
3 13 0.5 0.3
12 9 7 14 0.7 0.7
14 11 15 0.7 0.9
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17 16 0.7 0.7
13 17 0.7 0.5
15 18 0.5 0.7
16 19 0.9 0.9
20 0.5 0.5
Photo: Rory Lapka, Montana Tech, 2011
Ave 0.67 0.66
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Crush resistance
ISO 13503-2 11
Sieve material to ensure desired cut
Load the crush cell loose pack
Ramp to desired stress, hold 2 minutes
Sieve to determine fines produced
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Determine K Value
5k sand
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Effects of Handling on Crush Results
Boxplot of Std, 2Min, Jarring, Bluv, Pluv
11
10
8
Percent Crush
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Data
2
Std 2Min Jarring Bluv Pluv
http://www.ce.gxnu.edu.cn/organic/net_course/content
/Crystallization/Filtration.htm
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Turbidity (Fines and Impurities)
ISO 13503-2 9
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Density
ISO 13503-2 10
Bulk Density
How much can we get in a rail car?
Apparent density
Excludes extra-granular porosity
Used to compute frac fluid densities
Absolute density
Grain density, or specific gravity, of the matrix
Sand =2.65g/cc
Ceramic =2.8g/cc 3.2g/cc
Novel materials, goal: =1.0g/cc (=water)
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
US Silica 20/40 Ottowa
Obtaining these
measurements at
StimLab earns an
entry in their data
base, which is
used by a large
number of O&G
operators.
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2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Required RP19C Protocols
for Exploration, Production and Marketing
Protocol E P M
Minerology (99% Silica) (Not API Spec)
Sieve Analysis (6)
Sphericity and Roundness (7)
Acid Solubility (8)
Turbidity (9)
Densities (Bulk, App, Abs) (10)
Crush-Resistance(11)
Loss on Ignition (12) (Resin coat only)
2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Making Frac Sand In Spec
ISO13503-2 (2006) plus Amendment 1 (2009)
Protocol Spec
Sieve Analysis (6) (btwn 1st & 2nd Primary) 90%
Sphericity and Roundness (7) (sand) 0.6, 0.6
Acid Solubility (8) <2%
Turbidity (9) <250NTU
Densities (Bulk, App, Abs) (10) No spec
Crush-Resistance(11) (rec. for sand) >2000psi
Loss on Ignition (12) No spec
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http://www.phudpucker.com/images/oilpatch/Flare-1%20small.jpg
2013 John Getty, Montana Tech
Proppant Testing Labs
Anderson Engineering Assured Testing Services
2417 W. Main St., Suite 1A 198 River Road
Bozeman, MT 59718 Ridgway Pa 15853
(406) 585-1484, bozeman@andersonmontana.com 814.773.3224, sales@assuredtestingservices.com