A method for improving the performance of fracturing processes in oil production fields may rely on polymer coated particles carried in the fracturing fluid. The particles may include heavy substrates, such as sand, ceramic sand, or the like coated with polymers selected to absorb water, increasing the area and volume to travel more readily with the flow of fluid without settling out, or allowing the substrate to settle out. Ultimately, the substrate may become lodged in the fissures formed by the pressure or hydraulic fracturing, resulting in propping open of the fissures for improved productivity.

A method of stimulating petroleum production includes introducing a fracturing fluid into a petroleum formation, thereby creating at least one fracture to stimulate the petroleum production. The fracturing fluid is introduced into the petroleum formation at a pressure above the breakdown pressure of the formation. The fracturing fluid includes a plurality of proppants where from 1 to 50 wt. % of the plurality of proppants includes micro proppants having a particle size ranging from 0.5 to 150 μm, and from 50 to 99 wt. % of the plurality of proppants includes macro proppants having a particle size greater than 100 mesh.

A composition for hydraulic fracking is provided, which includes a proppant particle and a ground rubber tire particle.

Catalyst particles and methods for making same are disclosed herein. The catalyst particles can include a ceramic support containing silica and alumina. The ceramic support can have a macropore concentration of about 15% to about 45%, a mesopore concentration of about 20% to 50%, and a micropore concentration of about 8% to about 30% based on the total pore volume of the ceramic support. The ceramic support can also have a surface area of about 0.5 m.sup.2/g to about 50 m.sup.2/g. The catalyst particles can have a long term permeability at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D in accordance with ISO 13503-5.

Producing proppants with nanoparticle proppant coatings includes reacting nanoparticles with at least one of an alkoxysilane solution or a halosilane solution to form functionalized nanoparticles and coating proppant particles with unfunctionalized organic resin, a strengthening agent, and the functionalized nanoparticles to produce the nanoparticle coated proppant. The functionalized nanoparticles include nanoparticles having at least one attached omniphobic moiety including at least a fluoroalkyl-containing group including 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctylsilane. The strengthening agent comprises at least one of carbon nanotubes, silica, alumina, mica, nanoclay, graphene, boron nitride nanotubes, vanadium pentoxide, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, or zirconium oxide. Additionally, increasing a rate of hydrocarbon production from a subsurface formation through the use of the nanoparticle coated proppant includes producing a first rate of production of hydrocarbons from the subsurface formation, introducing a hydraulic fracturing fluid into the subsurface formation, and increasing hydrocarbon production by producing a second rate of production of hydrocarbons.

Method of making and using a proppant from captured carbon in either a carbon mineralization process or in a carbon nanomaterial manufacturing process, followed by treatments to ensure the quality control of the proppants so that they are suitable for use in hydraulic and other reservoir fracturing methods.

A method of stimulating petroleum production includes introducing a fracturing fluid into a petroleum formation, thereby creating at least one fracture to stimulate the petroleum production. The fracturing fluid is introduced into the petroleum formation at a pressure above the breakdown pressure of the formation. The fracturing fluid includes a plurality of proppants each including a proppant particle and a coating. The coating includes a hydrophobic coating, a cross-linked hydrogel, or both. From 1 to 50 wt. % of the plurality of proppants includes micro proppants having a particle size ranging from 0.5 to 150 μm, and from 50 to 99 wt. % of the plurality of proppants includes macro proppants having a particle size of 100 mesh or greater.

Provided herein are coated particles, such as, for example, proppants comprising a coating. A coated particle of the present invention may swell upon contact with a solution having a salinity in a range of about 50 ppm to about 100,000 ppm and/or having a hardness in a range of about 1 ppm to about 150,000 ppm. The amount of swelling may vary by less than 50% over a salinity concentration in a range of about 50 ppm to about 100,000 ppm and/or a hardness concentration in a range of about 1 ppm to about 150,000 ppm. Also provided herein are methods of making coated particles and methods of using the same.

This present application relates generally to enhancing flow of fluids during fracturing operations. More specifically, the application relates to providing a proppant with a low surface energy, introducing the proppant into a subterranean formation with a surfactant selected to interact with the proppant such that the recovery of hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation is enhanced.

Silicon (Si) based high temperature coatings and base materials and methods of making those materials. More specifically, methods and materials having silicon, oxygen and carbon containing polymer derived ceramic liquids that form filled and unfiled coatings, including high temperature crack resistant coatings.