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Proppants

Oceanit has developed innovative proppant solutions designed to establish and maintain fracture conductivity to increase productivity and profitability. Oceanit's NBP (Neutral Buoyancy Proppant) improves the proppant transport, while HOPS (High-Strength Oil & Gas Proppant Substitute) provides significantly higher strength to Frac sands regardless of quality. We can help you choose the best proppant for your application or develop a solution tailored specifically to your needs.
Slot test results for untreated silica sand proppant and Oceanit’s neutrally buoyant proppant (NBP). Untreated proppant settles quickly to the bottom of the slot channel, while NBP's neutrally buoyant properties carry the proppant through the length of the slot channel.
Vials with Oceanit's HOPS (High-Strength Oil & Gas Proppant Substitute) on the right and untreated brown sand on the left.

The need for energy has spawned numerous new techniques for recovering hydrocarbons from extremely challenging reservoir environments. To improve proppant transport, Oceanit developed NBP using a novel technology to effectively modify the proppant to achieve neutral buoyancy in low viscosity fluids. This gives the proppant the ability to maintain suspension in the fracturing fluids (slick water) and also travel deeper into the fractures without settling. With less proppant settling and greater distribution in the fracture sites, NBP economically increases production.

  • Enhanced proppant transport deep into the fractures with minimal settling increases stimulated reservoir volume
  • Higher proppant pack conductivity at high formation pressures for increased production
  • Reduced amount of proppant needed to completely fill the features compared to silica sand
  • Minimizes usage of fracturing fluid additives, like gaur, crosslinkers, and friction reducers, for pumping proppant through the fractures

Recognizing the need for stronger proppants, Oceanit's HOPS technology is a nanomaterials treatment for sand proppants to improve flow, maintain production, and reduce the need for remediation. The HOPS treatment imparts significantly higher crush resistance and improved chemical compatibility. HOPS can be applied to locally harvested proppant/sand directly at the well site as needed, greatly reducing logistical challenges and providing significant cost savings over traditional proppant. Applications include deep onshore wells and formations with closure stresses up to 10,000 psi and wells with easy access to "lower quality" sand, but limited resources to procure "high quality" proppant.

  • Doubling of crush strength to 10,000 psi allows for deployment in deep wells and formations
  • Substantially reduced fines generation over Brady and Northern White proppants
  • Chemical compatibility with all fracturing fluids, including strong acid, oil, and slickwater
  • Applicable on site, allows for local sourcing of proppant, and reduced cost to store excess imported proppant
  • Compatible with current proppant storage, handling, blending, and pumping operations