The exploration of making acidproof fracturing proppants using red mud

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Fracturing proppants are crucial in hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction.
• Traditional proppants can degrade in acidic reservoir conditions.
• Red mud is an industrial waste product with potential for material development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of producing acidproof fracturing proppants using red mud.
• To enhance the acid resistance of fracturing proppants.
• To evaluate the performance of red mud-based proppants in acidic environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing red mud and refractory waste as primary raw materials.
• Exploring three distinct methods to improve proppant acid resistance.
• Incorporating barium carbonate and a plasticizer in the final formulation.
• Sintering the mixture to form the proppant structure.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced acidproof fracturing proppants with good acid resistance.
• Achieved an acid solubility of less than 4.5%, meeting Chinese petroleum industry standards (SY/T5108-2006).
• Demonstrated that barium carbonate addition significantly reduces acid solubility.
• Identified monoclinic celsian (BaAl2Si2O8) formation during sintering as the key protective mechanism.

Conclusions:

• Red mud is a viable and promising raw material for manufacturing acidproof fracturing proppants.
• The developed proppants offer a sustainable alternative for oil and gas operations in acidic formations.
• The inclusion of barium carbonate is critical for achieving high acid resistance in these novel proppants.