Views: 157 Author: SEPROP Publish Time: 2026-09-14 Origin: SEPPE TECH
Hydraulic fracturing creates narrow pathways through reservoir rock so that oil and natural gas can move toward the wellbore. When pumping pressure is reduced, the surrounding formation tends to close those pathways. Proppant particles remain inside the fractures and help preserve the channels needed for production.
The ability to resist closure stress while maintaining flow depends on the raw materials, particle shape, firing conditions and final size distribution. These properties are developed step by step during production rather than created by a single machine.
Different formulations and firing conditions are used to produce light-weight, intermediate-strength and high-strength grades. The production route must therefore be controlled according to the required density, crush resistance, mesh size and application conditions.
To learn more about the advantages of ceramic proppants and their role in oilfield development, read Ceramic Proppants Play An Important Role in Oilfield Development.
Incoming bauxite is generally about 300–500 mm in size and contains a small amount of moisture. It is stacked separately by grade, then crushed by a jaw crusher and a hammer crusher to below 8 mm.
Several kinds of materials such as bauxite, manganese powder and recycled process material are conveyed to separate feed bins. Variable-speed weigh belt feeders installed beneath the bins provide automatic material dosing and measurement. A manganese-based additive may also be used to lower the sintering temperature and color the proppant.
We generally use ball mill to grind bauxite into powder. The hot air for drying materials can come from the waste gas of rotary kiln to achieve waste heat utilization; or we can set up another hot air furnace.
The raw material powder is fed into a small silo, under which a screw metering device or a variable-speed weigh belt feeder is installed to measure the raw material quantity. The measured powder is then fed into a disc pelletizer to form green pellets.
These green pellets enter the slightly inclined rotary kiln for sintering. As the rotary kiln rotates, the pellets move toward the kiln head, while pulverized coal is injected through the burner at the kiln head. The pellets are sintered in the rotary kiln to form high-strength ceramic proppant.
Cooling: The cooling of the newly produced proppant is generally done by rotary cooler, which is simple and reliable.
Screening: The proppant from the cooler can be directly transported to the multi-stage vibrating screen and divided into multiple particle size grades as required.
After screening, representative samples are checked against the required specification. Typical verification items include particle-size distribution, bulk density, apparent density, sphericity, roundness, turbidity, acid solubility and crush resistance. The applicable test program depends on the product grade and customer requirements.
Qualified batches are identified and packed according to the confirmed grade, mesh size and shipment plan. Batch documentation should connect the finished product, test results and packaging information for traceability.
Related Reading：Ceramic Proppant Pre-Shipment Batch Verification
Choosing a suitable proppant can significantly improve well productivity, support a longer producing life and strengthen project profitability. The appropriate grade must match the expected closure stress, fracture design, fluid system and pumping conditions; higher strength or higher density is not automatically the better choice for every well.
Explore the SEPPE ceramic proppant range, or contact info@seppe.cn with the required mesh size, expected closure stress, target conductivity and project information. SEPPE can provide relevant product data and discuss suitable grade options.
Views: 157 Author: SEPROP Publish Time: 2026-09-14 Origin: SEPPE TECH
Hydraulic fracturing creates narrow pathways through reservoir rock so that oil and natural gas can move toward the wellbore. When pumping pressure is reduced, the surrounding formation tends to close those pathways. Proppant particles remain inside the fractures and help preserve the channels needed for production.
The ability to resist closure stress while maintaining flow depends on the raw materials, particle shape, firing conditions and final size distribution. These properties are developed step by step during production rather than created by a single machine.
Different formulations and firing conditions are used to produce light-weight, intermediate-strength and high-strength grades. The production route must therefore be controlled according to the required density, crush resistance, mesh size and application conditions.
To learn more about the advantages of ceramic proppants and their role in oilfield development, read Ceramic Proppants Play An Important Role in Oilfield Development.
Incoming bauxite is generally about 300–500 mm in size and contains a small amount of moisture. It is stacked separately by grade, then crushed by a jaw crusher and a hammer crusher to below 8 mm.
Several kinds of materials such as bauxite, manganese powder and recycled process material are conveyed to separate feed bins. Variable-speed weigh belt feeders installed beneath the bins provide automatic material dosing and measurement. A manganese-based additive may also be used to lower the sintering temperature and color the proppant.
We generally use ball mill to grind bauxite into powder. The hot air for drying materials can come from the waste gas of rotary kiln to achieve waste heat utilization; or we can set up another hot air furnace.
The raw material powder is fed into a small silo, under which a screw metering device or a variable-speed weigh belt feeder is installed to measure the raw material quantity. The measured powder is then fed into a disc pelletizer to form green pellets.
These green pellets enter the slightly inclined rotary kiln for sintering. As the rotary kiln rotates, the pellets move toward the kiln head, while pulverized coal is injected through the burner at the kiln head. The pellets are sintered in the rotary kiln to form high-strength ceramic proppant.
Cooling: The cooling of the newly produced proppant is generally done by rotary cooler, which is simple and reliable.
Screening: The proppant from the cooler can be directly transported to the multi-stage vibrating screen and divided into multiple particle size grades as required.
After screening, representative samples are checked against the required specification. Typical verification items include particle-size distribution, bulk density, apparent density, sphericity, roundness, turbidity, acid solubility and crush resistance. The applicable test program depends on the product grade and customer requirements.
Qualified batches are identified and packed according to the confirmed grade, mesh size and shipment plan. Batch documentation should connect the finished product, test results and packaging information for traceability.
Related Reading：Ceramic Proppant Pre-Shipment Batch Verification
Choosing a suitable proppant can significantly improve well productivity, support a longer producing life and strengthen project profitability. The appropriate grade must match the expected closure stress, fracture design, fluid system and pumping conditions; higher strength or higher density is not automatically the better choice for every well.
Explore the SEPPE ceramic proppant range, or contact info@seppe.cn with the required mesh size, expected closure stress, target conductivity and project information. SEPPE can provide relevant product data and discuss suitable grade options.
