METHOD OF PRODUCING MAGNESIUM SILICATE PROPPANT Russian patent published in 2024 - IPC C09K8/80 C04B35/20 

FIELD: oil and gas industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the oil and gas industry, namely to the technology of producing low and medium density proppants. Method of producing magnesium silicate proppant includes steps of: calcination of magnesium silicate rock — serpentinite, or olivinite, or dunite, or a combination thereof at temperature of 950–1,350 °C, its combined grinding with silicate-containing raw material and plasticising and binding additives, granulation of the obtained mixture, followed by annealing of raw granules and screening of the obtained material, wherein a plasticising and binding material containing clay is added to the grindable and/or ground material. Silicate-containing raw material used is crushed low-grade coal or brown coal, which is added to the magnesium silicate rock before the calcination step and before the raw granules calcination step. In both cases, the coal is added at the ratio: weight of dry magnesium silicate rock or dry part of granules to weight of coal of not less than 100:4.5/n, where n is weight fraction of carbon in the composition of coal. Roasting of raw granules with added coal is carried out at 1,100–1,400 °C. Plasticising and binding material containing clay is used in the form of an aqueous suspension with concentration of the latter in both cases of 15–25% and the ratio: weight of calcined magnesium silicate rock to total weight of suspension ranges from 5:1 to 10:1.

EFFECT: described is production of low- and medium-density proppants intended for use as propping agents in oil or gas production by hydraulic fracturing method.

5 cl, 5 ex