Improved Well Stimulation With Resin-Coated Proppants

ABSTRACT Resin-coated proppants improve well stimulation results by preventing flowback, or fracture evacuation, near the wellbore, a phenomenon that effectively "decouples" the wellbore and the productive formation. In addition, the deformable coating protects the resin-coated proppants from crushing and helps resist embedment in softer formations. The tough coating is chemically inert in crude oils, brines, and most acids. The resin-coated materials work best under actual down-hole conditions since the closure stress and temperature help lock the materials in the fracture for the 1ife of the well. This paper reviews case histories from four wells in which resin-coated proppants were used. In addition, simple lab tests of the resin-coated proppants in an API crush cell confirm their excellent properties and potential. Together, these results show the need for resin-coated proppants in many types of wells. In many ways they act as "ideal" proppants that can be economically justified over uncoated proppants.