© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Importance of Size & Shape for Proppants Quality
Ian Treviranus ASTM D18.26
Jacksonville, FL January 2013
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Measuring the Size and Shape of Frac Sand and other Proppants
The size and shape of frac sands and other proppants plays a critical role in keeping fractures open and at the desired conductivity. Learn how the CAMSIZER has greatly improved the accuracy and speed of frac sand and proppant analysis. This information will be useful for any petroleum engineer or proppant supplier referencing ISO 13503-2 or API RP 56/58/60 standards. This talk will cover the following topics:
* Faster, more accurate size measurement * Reporting sphericity and roundness * Objective results in only 3 minutes * Example measurement results
Summary
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Benefits of Dynamic Image Analysis for Hydraulic Fracking
• Instead of size measurement with sieve shaker and shape analysis by visual inspection you can do a CAMSIZER analysis of both in a much shorter time
• Reproducible results because of high statistics and accurate calibration
• Measuring easily in compliance of API specifications of grain size (90%), oversize and dust (<1%), roundness and sphericity and measure the dust content before and after the crush resistance test
• Measure the increase of layer coating thickness and change of roundness because of the resin coating of sand grains or ceramic proppants
• Also possible: Measuring diameter and length of extrudates
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Benefits of Dynamic Image Analysis for Hydraulic Fracking
Accurate Size and Shape results from Frac Sand and Ceramic Proppants
lead to better Proppant products for Hydraulic Fracturing
Better proppants make well production
more effective and avoid Additional Chemical Stimulation
of the oil and gas well
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Different Types of Proppants
Image courtesy of CARBO Ceramics *original located here: http://www.carboceramics.com/hierarchy_of_conductivity/
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Classic Sizing Technique
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Classic Shape Technique
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Two-Camera-System
Basic-Camera
Measuring Principle
Zoom-Camera
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Features
Quality Control
>90% within specification => API conform
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Separation of fine and coarse particles
Separation happens during - Transport processes (container, train and truck) - Feeding processes (funnels, vibration feeders, belts) - and Storage (bulk pile, silo)
Sampling and Sample Splitting
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sampling and Sample Splitting
Hell
Sampling and Sample Splitting
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Comparison to Sieving • easy and robust
Advantages
Disadvantages
• low resolution, high effort • limited sample amount • Many possible sources of error
Competing Measuring Methods
Worn out sieves
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
F2
F1
1. Move
2. Sliding friction
3. Static friction
xc_min [mm]0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.00
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Q3 [%]
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
q3 [%/mm]5454_PT100_xc_min_008.rdf5454_random_xc_min_009.rdf5454_Huntsman-sieve.ref
Round particles
are captured without
rerelease
Applications - Proppants
Sieving Problems (Overloading)
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sampling problems: wrong sampling (pouring and “spooning“)
Sieve problems: overloading of sieves (blinding / blocking), cross contamination from trapped material, nominal size real sizes of meshes (wide specification and worn out sieves), sieving machines are not calibrated
Balance problems: low resolution (0.1 grams), not sensitive for small weights (contamination) of joints and moving parts, interference with air flow
Problems and Risks of Common Technologies for Industry
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Systematic problems (sphericity & roundness): Multiple Krumbein charts, magnification and lighting of the microscope can vary, poor statistics (small number of particles) Operator/user effects (sphericity & roundness):
biased by last grain, roundness results vary between operators because of brightness of particles (Wisconsin white, Brady brown)
Problems and Risks of Common Technologies for Industry
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
CAMSIZER Results of Different Natural (Frac Sand) Proppants
xc_min [µm]500 1000 15000
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
q3 [%/µm]
Natural-Brown-Sand-C-#12-#20-2.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-#12-#20-3.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-#16-#30-1.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-#16-#30-2.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-#20-#40-3.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-#20-#40-4.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-#30-#50-43.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-#30-#50-44.rdfNatural-White-Sand-US-#40-#70-1.rdf
xc min
Size analysis of 5 different natural sand proppant samples (#12/20, #16/30, #20/40 and #30/50). Each sample was measured twice. The repeatability is excellent. One sample of white sand #40/70 is shown for comparison.
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
xc_min [mm] 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Q3 [%]
#16-#30-Shipment – CAMSIZER Result – width xc_min.rdf Sieve - Results - #16 - #30 — First time 1.ref Sieve - Results - #16 - #30 — Second time 2.ref
Comparison of sieve (* black) and CAMSIZER data (red). The agreement is excellent. The CAMSIZER measurement can directly replace the sieve analysis, without changing the product specifications.
Sieve Correlation
xc min
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mining, Production, Storage and Truck Loading Facility for Frac Sand
For the quick load out for many trucks
at a high frequency a fast measurement
technology is required
For the size control of the continuous feeding of large stock a fast measurement
technology is required
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Shape Comparison
AspctRatio0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.80
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Q3 [%]Ceramic-Prop-EP-20-40-Mesh-40.rdfCeramic-Prop-SB-20-40-Mesh1.rdfCeramic-Prop-SG-V-1.rdfSand-Prop-SIB-20-40-MIS-9.rdfNatural-Brown-Sand-C-20-40.rdfWhite-Sand-Prop-UNF-20-40-17.rdfWhite-Sand-Prop-SIB-20-40-CHF-10.rdfWhite-Sand-Prop-UNF-20-40-1.rdfWhite-Sand-Prop-UNF-20-40-8.rdf
l
w
Shape comparison between natural sand proppants and ceramic proppants. There are two clearly different ranges of Aspect Ratio (Krumbein’s Sphericity). Analysis of other shape parameters are possible as well (Convexity for ceramic bead twins, Symmetry for good and broken ceramic beads, Krumbein’s Roundness etc.)
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
3rd Krumbein‘s* Chart
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Danke
Gracias
Большое спасибо
Grazie Σας ευχαριστούμε اُشْكر
감사합니다 Obrigado
Tacka
谢谢 ขอบคณุครบั
ありがとうございました
धन्यवा நன்
Cảm ơn Dziękuję
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Breadth-/ Length- ratio
• Roundness
• Symmetry
• Convexity
xFe max
xc min
A
r1
r2
C
A convex
A real
Particle Shape Measurement Results
P
© 2013 HORIBA, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Measurement Results
b/l0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.90
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Q3 [%]AK_22,15g_0,3%_BZ_LB_n Ü_xc_min_001.rdfIA_22,15g_0,3%_BZ_LB_n Ü_mit Aerosil_xc_min_001.rdfIA + AK_je 22,15g_0,3%_BZ_LB_n Ü_als Mischung_xc_min_001.rdf
B
A
80
90
Q3 [%]
A B A + B
B A
Measurement of the
Amounts of Proppant
Beads and crushed interlocking particles in a
mixture
Mixture of Ceramic Proppant with Interlocking Particles