Project Title: Ultra-low density proppant synthesized via collaborative processing of multiple solid wastes: Key technologies and industrialization

Participating Enterprises: Beijing Kunlun Longyuan Petroleum Extraction Technology Co., Ltd.
Daqing Oilfield Co., Ltd., Downhole Operations Branch
Daqing Oilfield Company Oil Production Technology Research Institute

Award Received: Technological Invention Award

Project Number: ECF-2026-SYE-1010

Main Participants: Ren Longqiang, Zhang Zicheng, Kong Cuilong, Zhang Hailong, Zhang Minghui, Lv Ning, Wang Guang, Wang Lengyao, Ma Qinyue

Expert Review Comments:

This achievement combines industrial-waste utilization with proppant performance, balancing lower density, crush resistance and fracture conductivity. Aggregate engineering, coating and surface modification underpin a manufacturable material and production process. Tests show a 1.3% crush rate for the tested proppant at 103 MPa, demonstrating a relevant strength for high-closure-pressure applications. Production facilities and deployment in multiple oilfields support its commercial feasibility. The project opens a higher-value use for materials such as fly ash and provides a competitive proppant option where transport properties and load-bearing performance must be balanced. This combination of materials engineering and resource utilization is its strongest contribution.

Main Innovations:

Ultra-low density proppant is a novel fracturing proppant that achieves ultra-low density through structural design and coating technology while also possessing ultra-high strength. The excellent suspension performance brought by ultra-low density effectively solves the problems of long-distance transportation and difficulty in carrying sand in slippery water and low-viscosity fluid systems, increases the paving area, provides effective support over a wider range, and enhances the fracturing effect and single-well production of unconventional oil and gas fields. This proppant features good surface smoothness, excellent anti-embedding effect, slow settling speed, and high flow conductivity. It effectively solves the problems of long-distance transportation and difficulty in carrying sand with high sand ratio in low-viscosity fluid systems, achieves the suspension of proppant in clean water sand-carrying systems, and enhances the fracturing effect and single-well production of unconventional oil and gas fields. Its application not only simplifies the fracturing process, reduces water consumption, is suitable for low-water fracturing, lowers costs, but also reduces environmental pollution, thus having good application prospects and promotion value.

Main Uses and Technical Principles:

The main applications include: volume fracturing transformation of low-permeability reservoirs such as shale oil and gas, tight oil and gas, and deep coalbed methane; long-distance sand-carrying fracturing operations under slippery water and low-viscosity fluid systems; effective fracture support in deep, high-temperature, and high-closure pressure well sections. The ultra-low density proppant achieves ultra-low density and ultra-high strength through aggregate structure design and multi-coating technology. The excellent suspension performance brought by ultra-low density effectively solves the problems of long-distance and difficult sand-carrying in slippery water and low-viscosity fluid systems, increases the paving area, provides effective support over a wider range, and helps improve the fracturing effect and single-well production of unconventional oil and gas fields. At the same time, this product features good surface smoothness, excellent anti-embedding effect, slow settling speed, and high flow conductivity. Its application not only simplifies the fracturing process, reduces water consumption, is suitable for low-water fracturing, reduces costs, but also reduces environmental pollution, providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly solution for oil and gas field development.