CARBO proppant technologies prove worth in deepwater Gulf of Mexico
HOUSTON -- CARBO Ceramics has announced the successful application of two of its proppant technologies, KRYPTOSPHERE HD and SCALEGUARD, for a major E&P operator in the Gulf of Mexico's Lower Tertiary trend, marking the largest and deepest job for these proprietary technologies to date.
KRYPTOSPHERE HD, an ultra-high conductivity proppant technology for deep wells, is engineered to withstand high closure stresses and extreme cyclic loading conditions, for the life of the well. This technology provides higher production and estimated ultimate recovery (EUR), maximizing the operator's return on investment.
SCALEGUARD is the first production enhancement technology in which scale inhibiting chemicals are infused into a ceramic proppant. This technology provides a controlled release of the scale inhibitor, resulting in long term protection against the formation of common oilfield scales. SCALEGUARD is designed to safeguard the entire production network—from the fracture through the wellbore to the subsea/surface processing equipment—without compromising fracture conductivity, thereby protecting the operator's entire asset. In this well, KRYPTOSPHERE HD was the base proppant for SCALEGUARD.
To address the operator's production challenges for its Gulf of Mexico Lower Tertiary development, CARBO engineered a tailored solution incorporating these two innovative technologies. Combining KRYPTOSPHERE HD and SCALEGUARD enables the operator to maximize both conductivity and the treatment of scale.
"The KRYPTOSPHERE HD and SCALEGUARD solution applied in the Lower Tertiary Gulf of Mexico is well-suited for the production enhancement and flow assurance demands in this challenging deep well environment," said Don Conkle, V.P. of marketing and sales. "CARBO is excited by the opportunities for these technologies around the globe and is committed to remaining at the forefront of production enhancement innovation."
"The company's long-term commitment to enhance production in wells is being recognized by E&P operators," said Gary Kolstad, president and CEO. "Our ongoing investments to develop and deploy breakthrough technology will continue to improve reservoir recovery and lower costs."
