PropShield™ Proppant Flowback Control Additive

Proppant flowback occurs when well production carries unbonded proppant out of the fracture. This can have a detrimental effect on the success of a well by causing:

• Frac width reduction
• Wellbore deposition
• Pump and surface equipment damage

With the evolution of completion designs leveraging longer lateral lengths and increased proppant intensity, proppant flowback control has become a critical challenge. In some cases, conventional solutions do not provide the cost-benefit ratio operators are looking for when addressing proppant flowback.

Hexion’s PropShield^TM proppant flowback control additive is an economical liquid agent developed specifically for uncoated frac sand completions. This unique solution is applied at the blender tub on location using a standard liquid additive pump, and is suitable for all sand mesh sizes. The PropShield additive is compatible with most commonly used fracturing fluids and is effective over a wide range of bottom-hole temperatures. Contact us for more information.

This laboratory video demonstrates the ease of application and the resulting bond strength of the treated sand.

Permian Basin Case Study

The PropShield additive continues to be used successfully in the Permian Basin, Anadarko Basin, and Viking formation to control proppant flowback.

Compared to offset wells, the PropShield additive user experienced:

• 50% less proppant returned during drillout
• 80% less proppant flowback once the wells were put on production

"We set up a two-well trial in the Permian Basin. During the stimulation, there were no signs of increased friction while pumping the PropShield additive down the pipe and into the formation.

The well in which the PropShield additive was utilized produced half the sand that the offset well produced. The flowback phase yielded positive results as well. The well utilizing the PropShield additive averaged 0.5 to 3 gallons/hour of sand recovered, while the offset well averaged 6 to 8 gallons/hour of sand recovered.

In conclusion, we were very pleased with the results and will continue to evaluate the PropShield additive in various areas at varying concentrations across our acreage."

- Permian Basin Operator

Technical Advantages and Benefits

• On-demand, cost-effective means of minimizing proppant flowback
• Applied at the blender tub on location using a standard liquid additive pump
• Helps control proppant flowback at bottom-hole static temperatures ranging 90°F–215˚F (32°C–102°C)
• Is effective on any size or type of proppant

Third Party Critical Flow Rate Testing

Sand treated with the PropShield additive can withstand flow rates that are eight times higher than uncoated frac sand.*

Unconfined Compressive Strength Testing

At 90°F (32°C), sand treated with the PropShield additive showed much higher bond strength compared to a commonly used low temperature resin coated proppant.

Crush Resistance Testing

Crush resistance testing demonstrates the PropShield additive’s ability to encapsulate fines, which could otherwise migrate and have a negative impact on well production.

*Data from PropTester, Inc.