Neutron-Absorbing Ceramic Proppant for Fracture Height Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing proppant technologies fail to meet the requirements of low density and high strength, leading to inaccurate and potentially radioactive measurement of fracturing crack height, with limitations in quantification and safety.
Innovation Solution
A ceramic tracing proppant prepared from bauxite, kaolin, fluorite, and a neutron absorbing material, such as samarium oxide or boron carbide, which is sintered at high temperatures to achieve low density and high strength, allowing for precise neutron capture and imaging of crack height using thermal neutron capture detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bauxite is used as raw material for proppant, then the proppant has high strength, but the density is too high and neutron capture ability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining bauxite with lighter materials such as expanded perlite, expanded vermiculite, or foam glass beads. This composite approach allows the proppant to maintain the high strength characteristics of bauxite while incorporating low-density materials to reduce overall density to the target range of 1.8-2.2 g/cm³. The composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of mechanical strength requirements and density optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates porous materials including expanded perlite and expanded vermiculite which possess inherent porous structures. These porous materials provide low density while maintaining adequate mechanical strength when combined with bauxite. The porosity of these materials contributes to reducing the overall proppant density without significantly compromising strength, achieving the desired balance between these two properties.
2Reliability
If gadolinium oxide is added to proppant for neutron capture, then the neutron capture ability improves, but the proppant density increases and strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of neutron absorbing materials by limiting gadolinium oxide content to 0.1-5% by weight. This parameter control ensures sufficient neutron capture ability for tracing while preventing excessive density increase and strength degradation. The controlled dosage allows the proppant to maintain its mechanical properties while achieving the required neutron absorption characteristics for effective crack height measurement.
3Measurement precision
If radioactive isotopes are used for crack height measurement, then the measurement can be performed, but the measurement accuracy is low and construction safety is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful radioactive isotopes into beneficial non-radioactive neutron-absorbing materials such as gadolinium oxide, samarium oxide, or boron carbide. These materials capture thermal neutrons without emitting harmful radiation, enabling safe crack height measurement. The neutron capture process produces detectable signals that allow accurate determination of proppant distribution and crack geometry without the safety hazards of radioactivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the radioactive isotope measurement system with a neutron logging system. Instead of using radioactive materials that emit gamma rays, the system uses external neutron sources that interact with the neutron-absorbing materials in the proppant. This substitution eliminates the need for handling and disposing of radioactive waste while providing comparable or superior measurement capabilities through neutron capture cross-section differences.
4Reliability
If proppant with high capture cross section materials is used, then the tracing function is provided, but the proppant cannot guarantee low density and high strength requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material formulation combining bauxite (for strength), low-density expandeds (for light weight), and controlled amounts of neutron-absorbing materials (for tracing). This multi-component composite approach allows each ingredient to contribute its primary advantage while minimizing its drawbacks, achieving simultaneous optimization of strength, density, and neutron capture ability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating neutron-absorbing materials at specific locations or interfaces within the composite proppant structure rather than uniformly distributing them throughout. This localized placement ensures sufficient neutron capture signal for tracing while minimizing the overall amount of dense material required, thereby maintaining low overall density and high strength characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, non-radioactive, and cost-effective measurement of fracturing crack height, providing intuitive crack morphology analysis and reducing environmental impact, while ensuring strong conductivity and low construction costs.
Implementation Method 1
the neutron absorbing material distributed in the proppant produces a capture cross section response to the neutron source
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a ceramic tracing proppant, and belongs to the field of oil and gas exploitation aids. The ceramic tracing proppant of the present invention is mainly prepared from a neutron absorbing material and the following raw materials in parts by weight: 60-90 parts of bauxite, 30-90 parts of kaolin, and 1-5 parts of fluorite. The ceramic tracing proppant of the present invention has a very high compressive strength under a relatively low density, can effectively prop formation cracks, ensure a fracturing effect and provide an efficient channel for oil and gas output, and has a wide raw material source and a relatively low cost. In addition, the neutron absorbing material is used and fused with an existing neutron logging technology, such that permanent tracing can be achieved under non-radioactive conditions, and the crack height can be effectively, accurately, and quantitatively determined.