NANOHMICS INC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 18b

Description

A method to visualize where the proppant load is distributed within a fracture has yet to be realized. Without this information it is difficult to determine whether a set of hydraulic fracture conditions has resulted in complete penetration into a particular energy deposit. Therefore it is impossible to tell whether all of the resources will be completely extracted. An emerging electromagnetic technique has been creating that will be able to map the underground distribution of proppant, provided that the proppant is electrically active. Nanohmics proposes to develop a continuous process for the fabrication of electrically conductive ceramic proppant. By creating a continuous manufacturing process for electrically conductive proppant, it will be possible to create a cost effective product that can be implemented industry wide for fracture optimization. Nanohmics has already demonstrated a batch process for the metallization of proppant that has been implemented on the 100-ton scale. The design and implementation of a continuous catalyst applicator apparatus in a production facility will be demonstrated. Laboratory results will lead to the proof-of-concept demonstration and provide improved design parameters for the final product. The Phase I will culminate in a demonstration of a novel metallization technique that has the possibility of creating a completely continuous process that can be implemented at existing production facilities. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Electrically conductive proppant is a product that will enable the implementation of a newly developed electromagnetic imaging technique. This technique will allow for the proppant distribution within hydraulic fractures to mapped and optimized for other wells within the same formation. Making the production of metallized proppant as cost effective as possible will allow for this imaging technology to be implemented across the oil and gas industry, which will enable more efficient and complete energy extractions from a given amount of resources.