Dry liquid concentrate slurries for hydraulic fracturing operations

Abstract

Fracturing-fluid products and a method of making up an expanded list of viable chemical carriers that improve the economic considerations and competition in the industry, improve carrier stability and chemical retention duration, and provide the most effective and safest fracturing fluid for each of the many varied conditions and varied processes which use some form of hydraulic fracturing, by loading liquids, solutions of solids dissolved in liquids, suspensions, or solids heated to reduce viscosity onto scoria, perlite, pumice, aerogels, activated alumina, fullerenes, graphite, molybdenum, magnetite, vermiculite, and activated charcoal to achieve a dry liquid concentrate (“DLC”) or slurry, for use in processes where a substance or substrate is to be expanded by a pressurized propellant and held in an expanded state by a proppant of granular solid material, including, without limitation, hydraulic fracturing for hydrocarbons, manufacturing, oil well treatment and production chemicals, biological treatment and remediation systems, bio-reactor substrates, animal attractants or repellants, flavors (such as in coffee and tea packets), fragrances, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, vitamins, fertilizers, combinations of the above, and any material, manufacturing process, or remediation process benefitting from a DLC or slurry.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fracturing-fluid product for hydraulic-fracturing operations on a formation, said fracturing-fluid product comprising:
 (i) a carrier substrate of chosen from a group consisting of scoria, perlite, pumice, aerogels, activated alumina, fullerenes, graphite, molybdenum, magnetite, vermiculite, and activated charcoal;   (ii) a liquid-state fluid comprising at least one substance chosen from a group consisting of liquids, solutions of solids dissolved in liquids, suspensions, or solids heated to reduce viscosity;   where said liquid-state fluid is loaded onto said carrier substrate to form a dry liquid concentrate slurry;   where, in use, said dry liquid concentrate slurry is introduced into the formation by means known in the art, including mixing with propellants; and   where, in use, said dry liquid concentrate slurry imparts at least one desired characteristic to said fracturing-fluid product.   
     
     
         2 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises a cleaning chemical, where said cleaning chemical may be a surfactant; and where said desired characteristic further comprises cleaning of hydrocarbon-contaminated formations. 
     
     
         3 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises microbial and enzymatic systems; and where said desired characteristic further comprises enhanced microbial growth, oil and stain remediation of concrete and gravel, and treatment of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, radioactivity, salt, and contaminants. 
     
     
         4 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises microbial and enzymatic systems; and where said desired characteristic further comprises activity of a microbial delivery system in a bio-reactor tank. 
     
     
         5 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises animal attractants and repellants; and where said desired characteristic further comprises extending the shelf life of normally temperature-sensitive, oxygen-sensitive, and light-sensitive agents, and allows time-release action and decreases movement in the soil. 
     
     
         6 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said carrier substrate further comprises activated carbon; where said liquid-state fluid further comprises flavors and fragrances; and
 where said desired characteristic further comprises avoidance of premature reaction with other components of a brewed and filtered beverage.   
     
     
         7 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises fragrances that are incompatible solid substrates; and where said desired characteristic further comprises improved compatibility with said solid, increasing of shelf life, and acting as a time release system. 
     
     
         8 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides; and where said desired characteristic further comprises improved UV resistance, soil retention, and bulking, dilution, and mechanical delivery of the active ingredients. 
     
     
         9 . The fracturing-fluid product of  claim 1 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises vitamins for aquaculture; and where said desired characteristic further comprises improved UV resistance, temperature resistance, and oxygen resistance of said vitamins, time-release of the nutrients into the water, decreased loss due to dilution in open water systems, and cleaning of the water. 
     
     
         10 . A method of creating an expanded list of viable chemical carriers for improved economic conditions, competition, carrier stability, and chemical retention duration, as well as effective and safe fracturing fluid for each of the many varied conditions and varied processes that use hydraulic fracturing on a formation, said method comprising:
 (i) providing a fracturing-fluid product, said fracturing-fluid product comprising:
 (a) a carrier substrate chosen from a group consisting of scoria, perlite, pumice, aerogels, activated alumina, fullerenes, graphite, molybdenum, magnetite, vermiculite, and activated charcoal; and 
 (b) a liquid-state fluid comprising at least one substance chosen from a group consisting of liquids, solutions of solids dissolved in liquids, suspensions, or solids heated to reduce viscosity; 
 where said liquid-state fluid is loaded onto said carrier substrate to form a dry liquid concentrate slurry; and 
   (ii) introducing said dry liquid concentrate slurry into the formation by means known in the art, including mixing with propellants; and   where, in use, said dry liquid concentrate slurry imparts at least one desired characteristic to said fracturing-fluid product.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises a cleaning chemical, where said cleaning chemical may be a surfactant; and where said desired characteristic further comprises cleaning of hydrocarbon-contaminated formations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises microbial and enzymatic systems; and where said desired characteristic further comprises enhanced microbial growth, oil and stain remediation of concrete and gravel, and treatment of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, radioactivity, salt, and contaminants. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises microbial and enzymatic systems; and where said desired characteristic further comprises activity as a microbial delivery system in a bio-reactor tank. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises animal attractants and repellants; and where said desired characteristic further comprises extending the shelf life of normally temperature-sensitive, oxygen-sensitive, and light-sensitive agents, and allows time-release action and decreases movement in the soil. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , where said carrier substrate further comprises activated carbon;
 where said liquid-state fluid further comprises flavors and fragrances; and where said desired characteristic further comprises avoidance of premature reaction with other components of a brewed and filtered beverage.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises fragrances that are incompatible solid substrates; and where said desired characteristic further comprises improved compatibility with said solid, increasing of shelf life, and acting as a time release system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides; and where said desired characteristic further comprises improved UV resistance, soil retention, and bulking, dilution, and mechanical delivery of the active ingredients. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , where said liquid-state fluid further comprises vitamins for aquaculture; and where said desired characteristic further comprises improved UV resistance, temperature resistance, and oxygen resistance of said vitamins, time-release of the nutrients into the water, decreased loss due to dilution in open water systems, and cleaning of the water.