5 indicators of high quality fracturing quartz sand

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In the petroleum industry, fracturing quartz sand does not really value the content of silica. There is another set of evaluation criteria for good fracturing sand. If your fracturing sand can achieve the following 5 points, then congratulations, you and your fracturing sand will be warmly welcomed by the oil industry.

1. sphericity and roundness

Sphericity, well understood, refers to how close the fracturing proppant (ie, quartz sand) is to a spherical shape.

The roundness is interpreted as the degree to which the cross-section of the workpiece is close to the theoretical circle.

In the eyes of unfamiliar people, the concept of roundness is a bit abstract. In fact, roundness can be understood as &#;roundness&#; in simple terms. The more sharp and sharp the particles are, the worse the roundness is;

The sphericity and roundness of natural quartz sand should not be less than 0.6. In actual testing, the proppant sphericity and roundness plates are used to test the proppant sphericity and roundness, see the figure below.

2. Acid solubility

Acid solubility refers to the percentage of the mass of a certain mass of proppant dissolved by acid and the mass of the total proppant under the specified acid solution and reaction conditions.

Acid resistance is an important indicator of fracturing proppants. Propants with good acid resistance can work longer in acid rock formations and maintain good conductivity.

The allowable acid solubility values for proppants of various particle size specifications are shown in the figure below. It is worth noting that the acid solubility index of quartz sand and ceramsite proppant are the same.

3. Turbidity

The turbidity of the proppant is the degree of turbidity of the liquid after adding a certain amount of proppant to the specified volume of distilled water and shaking and placing it for a certain period of time. The unit is FTU.

The turbidity mainly characterizes the surface finish of the proppant, reflecting the number and size of particles on the surface. According to regulations, the turbidity of quartz sand for fracturing should not be higher than 100FTU.

4. Anti-crushing ability

For a certain amount of quartz sand proppant, the crushing rate determined by the pressure test under the rated pressure characterizes the proppant&#;s resistance to crushing. The main factors affecting the crushing rate are the roundness, sphericity, surface finish, and microstructure of the quartz sand proppant.

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The fracture rate of quartz sand proppant affects the fracture conductivity. The crushing capacity test of natural quartz sand proppant should use the crushing chamber of the specified size range, see the following figure.

5. Volume density and apparent density

The bulk density of the quartz sand proppant is the mass of proppant per unit volume (unit g/cm3) and reflects the overall density of the proppant stack. The main factors affecting the bulk density are the apparent density, roundness, sphericity, surface finish, etc. of the sample.

The apparent density of the proppant is the mass of proppant per unit particle volume (unit g/cm3). The difference from volume density is that the volume when calculating apparent density does not include the void volume between particles. The main factors affecting the apparent density of the proppant are the phase composition, structure and porosity of the sample.

For different densities of fracturing proppants, different test indexes are used. In summary, the quartz sand for fracturing has the following requirements: uniform particle size, low density; high strength, low crushing rate; high roundness and sphericity; low impurity content; wide source and low price.

Quartz sand proppants are a crucial component in the hydraulic fracturing process used in the extraction of oil and gas. These proppants help keep the fractures open to allow the oil and gas to flow freely to the surface. There are several different types of quartz sand proppants available on the market, each with unique characteristics that make them suitable for different applications.

**White Sand Proppants**

White sand proppants are one of the most commonly used types of quartz sand proppants in hydraulic fracturing. They are known for their high crush resistance, which helps to maintain the integrity of the fractures over time. White sand proppants are also chemically inert, making them an ideal choice for environments where the composition of the rock formation is unknown. Additionally, white sand proppants have a low solubility, which means they are less likely to dissolve in the fluids used during hydraulic fracturing.

**Brown Sand Proppants**

Brown sand proppants are another popular type of quartz sand proppants that are used in hydraulic fracturing. They are typically less expensive than white sand proppants, making them an attractive option for some operators. Brown sand proppants have good crush resistance and conductivity, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. However, they may not be as chemically inert as white sand proppants, so they may not be suitable for all types of rock formations.

**Resin-coated Proppants**

Resin-coated proppants are quartz sand proppants that have been coated with a layer of resin to improve their performance. The resin coating helps to increase the crush resistance of the proppants, making them more durable and long-lasting. Resin-coated proppants also have a higher conductivity than uncoated proppants, allowing for better flow of oil and gas. However, resin-coated proppants can be more expensive than uncoated proppants, so they may not be suitable for all projects.

**Ceramic Proppants**

Ceramic proppants are a high-performance alternative to quartz sand proppants. They are made from ceramic materials that are engineered to have high crush resistance and conductivity. Ceramic proppants are more durable than quartz sand proppants and can withstand higher pressures and temperatures. However, ceramic proppants are typically more expensive than quartz sand proppants, so they may not be suitable for all budgets.

In conclusion, there are several different types of quartz sand proppants available for use in hydraulic fracturing. Each type has its own unique characteristics that make it suitable for different applications. Whether you choose white sand, brown sand, resin-coated, or ceramic proppants will depend on your specific project requirements and budget. It's important to work with a reputable quartz sand proppant supplier to ensure you are using the right type of proppants for your project. If you have any questions or need assistance in selecting the right proppants for your hydraulic fracturing project, please contact us.