| abstract |
A self-suspending proppant is a particulate aggregate coated with or partly coated with water soluble polymer material; the aggregate is a solid particle having enough mechanical strength for bearing the closure stress of fractures, and is selected from one or more of quartz sand, ceramicite, metal particles, spherical glass particles, sintered bauxite, sintered alumina, sintered zirconia, synthetic resin, coated sand, and crushed nutshell particles; the amount of the water soluble polymer material is 0.1-5 wt % based on the amount of the aggregate. With the self-suspending proppant of the present invention, fracturing does not need the use of expensive fracturing fluids with added organic polymers, and easily available natural water can be directly used for fracturing, thus reducing pollution and costs; and the self-suspending proppant of the present invention can reduce the frictional resistance of the fracturing fluid. |