Coated proppants and nanites and methods of making and use of coated proppants and nanites

Abstract

Methods and compositions applied to proppants and/or nanites in order to reduce the microorganisms in fracking wells are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for reducing microbial growth using a coated material comprising: Creating a material selected from the group consisting of proppants and nanites, and a solubilized quaternary ammonium organosilane, wherein the material is mixed with the solubilized quaternary organosilane and dried creating the coated material capable of eliminating sulfur containing bacterial at tempertures at or above 300° F. and at or pressures greater than 5000 psi. for at least 24 days, and mixing the created material with fracking fluids for use within fracking wells.

2. The method for reducing microbial growth using a coated material claim 1 wherein the proppants and nanites are selected from metals, ceramics, carbon fibers, silica and mixtures thereof.

3. The method for reducing microbial growth using a coated material claim 1 wherein the solubilized quaternary ammonium organosilane is selected from (3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride, Octadecyldimethyl(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride, Tetradecyldimethyl(3-tri methoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride, Didecylmethyl(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride and mixtures thereof.

4. The method for reducing microbial growth using a coated material claim 1 wherein the material are course particles having a diameter range between 2,500 and 10,000 nanometers.

5. The method for reducing microbial growth using a coated material claim 1 wherein the material are course particles having a diameter range between 100 and 2,500 nanometers.

6. The method for reducing microbial growth using a coated material claim 1 wherein the material are course particles having a diameter range between 1 and 100 nanometers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) In a preferred example of the invention, commercial quaternary ammonium organosilanes are available as:

(2) Dow Corning 5700, Requat, ODTA, TDTA

(3) Company's that make it are Aegis Environmental Management Inc., Sanitize Inc., Gelest Inc., and Wright Chemical Corp. 1. (3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride—42% active in methanol 2. Octadecyldimethyl(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride—(Cat No. 5106620.0) 60% active in methanol 3. Tetradecyldimethyl(3-tri methoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride—(Cat No. SIT7090.0) 50% solution in methanol 4. Didecylmethyl(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride—(Cat No. SID3392.0) 42% solution in methanol

(4) They are often applied from solvent solutions such as lower alcohols.

(5) The present invention will provide the methods and compositions which were applied to proppants and/or nanites in order to reduce the microorganisms in fracking wells.

(6) Proppants

Example #1

(7) A Mixture of 67.5 grams Requat to a stirred solution of 3.375 kg deionized water, and 3 grams of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane.

(8) The Mixture was poured into a bucket and 14 lbs of Ceramic Proppant were submerged in the mixture solution for approximately 10 min.

(9) The proppant was then removed and allowed to air dry, preferably, until 100% dry.

Example #2

(10) A Mixture of 8 parts Requat to 100 parts isopropanol

(11) The mixture was poured into a bucket then 14 lbs of Ceramic Proppant were submerged in the mixture solution for approximately 10 min.

(12) The proppant was then removed and allowed to air dry, preferably, until 100% dry.

Preferred Application Method

(13) 1. Wash material to be coated to clean any residual dust during manufacturing process 2. Dry material, preferably to 0% 3. Soak material in quaternary ammonium organosilane 4. Air dry for 24 hours and then heat 2 hours at 110 degree Celsius in a forced air oven to cure the quaternary ammonium organosilane reagent to the proppant. This then forms a quaternary ammonium orgasnosilane coating.

(14) It is believed that the quaternary ammonium organosilanes amounts may be varied between 0.1 and 20 percent in solution, but preferably, the quaternary ammonium organosilanes is between 0.5 percent and 5 percent. In a most preferred embodiment, water is greater than 98%.

(15) In another preferred embodiment, an alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol, replaces the water.

(16) Other methods of applications are available; for example, incipient wetness technique and wet impregnation.

(17) It is believed that pretreatement of the proppant by washing with water, especially deionized water, and heating of the proppant in a drying atmosphere; for example calcination or heating in nitrogen or heating other inert atmosphere (e.g. helium or argon) may be preferable.

Experimental

(18) According to tests of a coated proppant inoculated with 10.sup.7/ml of bacteria containing sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and both acid producing and non-acid producing, general aerobic bacteria under simulated well conditions (300° F. for 4 hours followed by 5,000 psi for 1 hour) the following was observed:

(19) After 24 days the sample eliminated the sulfate containing bacteria.

(20) Nanites

Example #1

(21) A Mixture of 67.5 grams Requat to a stirred solution of 3.375 kg deionized water, and 3 grams of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane.

(22) The Mixture was poured into a bucket and 14 lbs of Nanites or nano-fibers were submerged in the mixture solution for approximately 10 min.

(23) The nanites or nano fibers was then removed and allowed to air dry, preferably, until 100% dry.

Example #2

(24) A Mixture of 8 parts Requat to 100 parts isopropanol

(25) The mixture was poured into a bucket then 14 lbs of Ceramic Nanites or nano-fibers were submerged in the mixture solution for approximately 10 min.

(26) The nanites or nano-fibers was then removed and allowed to air dry, preferably, until 100% dry.

Preferred Application Method

(27) 1. Wash material to be coated to clean any residual dust during manufacturing process 2. Dry material, preferably, to 0% 3. Soak material in quaternary ammonium organosilane 4. Air dry for 24 hours and then heat 2 hours at 110 degree Celsius in a forced air oven to cure the quaternary ammonium organosilane reagent to the proppant. This then forms a quaternary ammonium orgasnosilane coating. 5. Then mix in to fracking fluid and inject into well

(28) It is believed that the quaternary ammonium organosilanes amounts may be varied between 0.1 and 20 percent in solution, but preferably, the quaternary ammonium organosilanes is between 0.5 percent and 5 percent. In a most preferred embodiment, water is greater than 98%.

(29) In another preferred embodiment, an alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol, replaces the water.

(30) Other methods of applications are available; for example, incipient wetness technique and wet impregnation.

(31) It is believed that pretreatement of the nanites by washing with water, especially deionized water, and heating of the nanites in a drying atmosphere; for example calcination or heating in nitrogen or heating other inert atmosphere (e.g. helium or argon) may be preferable.