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| Grade | Bulk Density (g/cm³) | Apparent Density (g/cm³) | Crush Resistance (%) @ Closure Stress | Acid Solubility (%) | Sphericity / Roundness | Turbidity (FTU / NTU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-Light | <1.65 | <3.00 | <10% @ 52MPa | <5.0% | >0.8 / >0.8 | <100 |
| Light | 1.65–1.80 | 3.00–3.20 | <10% @ 52MPa / 69MPa | <5.0% | >0.8 / >0.8 | <100 |
| Medium | 1.80–2.00 | 3.20–3.40 | <8% @ 69MPa / 86MPa | <5.0% | >0.8 / >0.8 | <100 |
| High | >2.00 | >3.40 | <5% @ 86MPa / 103MPa | <5.0% | >0.8 / >0.8 | <100 |
Ceramic proppant is primarily used in hydraulic fracturing operations within oil, gas, and shale reservoirs. It keeps fractures open after hydraulic injection pressure is released, maintaining fracture conductivity and boosting hydrocarbon recovery.
Compared to silica sand, ceramic proppant features significantly higher crush resistance, superior sphericity, and uniform size. These attributes prevent fines generation and crushing under deep formation pressures, resulting in 30-50% higher well productivity.
Four primary strength grades are provided: 52MPa (7.5K psi) for shallow to medium wells, 69MPa (10K psi) for medium depths, and 86MPa (12.5K psi) to 103MPa (15K psi) engineered for deep and ultra-deep high-pressure reservoirs.
Controlled density determines how efficiently the proppant is carried into the formation fractures by fracturing fluids. Lower density proppants suspend and travel deeper into complex fracture networks, whereas high-density proppants offer the ultimate strength in extreme closure-stress environments.
Low acid solubility ensures that the proppant remains structurally intact when exposed to downhole stimulation chemicals, formation brine, and acidic fluids, preventing degradation of conductivity over the well's lifespan.
The sintered bauxite material provides robust thermal stability, withstanding downhole reservoir temperatures of up to 200°C without mechanical failure or thermal degradation.
