Characterizations of a New Polymer-Nanocomposite Proppant from Agro-Waste Products for Hydraulic Fracturing Operations

Hydraulic fracturing is the main operation to stimulate wells and starts with pumping fracturing fluids into the well to raise bottom hole pressure above formation fracturing pressure. Once a fracture is induced, a slurry with proppant is injected to keep flow path open for reservoir fluids towards the wellbore at a higher rate. Due to the high expense of conventional proppant types that reaches up to 40% of the stimulation job, the need for new proppants has become a very important topic of research. This research comprises an experimental study to characterize a proppant prepared from Polymer Nano-composite materials added to the rice husk to act as a possible propping agent. The physical and mechanical properties are investigated, and a fracture conductivity test is implemented to characterize the efficiency of the new proppant material. The experimental results are compared to the commonly known walnut hull proppant (ULW-1.25) and Chemically Modified and Reinforced Composite Proppant (CMRCP). The new polymer Nano-composite proppant showed promising results according to the established ISO/API standards. These results may lead to a consequent improvement towards high strength Nano-composite proppants for applications in hydraulic fracturing operations and other petroleum engineering applications.