Measurement of and Specifications for Proppants Used in Hydraulic Fracturing and Gravel-packing Operations

API STANDARD 19C

SECOND EDITION, AUGUST 2018 ERRATA 1, SEPTEMBER 2020

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iii

Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Abbreviations 1

4. Standard Proppant Sampling Procedure 2

   1. General 2

   2. Particle Segregation 2

   3. Equipment 2

   4. Number of Required Samples-Bulk 6

   5. Sampling-Bulk Material 6

   6. Sampling-Sacked and Bagged Material 6

5. Sample Handling and Storage 6

   1. Sample Reduction 6

   2. Sample Splitting 6

   3. Sample, Record Retention, and Storage 6

6. Sieve Analysis 7

   1. Purpose 7

   2. Description 7

   3. Apparatus and Materials 7

   4. Procedure 8

   5. Specifications-Sieve Analysis of Proppants 9

   6. Sieve Calibration 13

7. Proppant Sphericity and Roundness 16

   1. Purpose 16

   2. Description 16

   3. Apparatus Capability 17

   4. Procedure 17

   5. Alternate Method for Determining Average Sphericity and Roundness 18

   6. Specifications-Proppant Roundness and Sphericity. 18

8. Acid Solubility 18

   1. Purpose 18

   2. Description 18

   3. Apparatus and Materials 19

   4. Procedure 20

   5. Specifications-Acid Solubility 21

9. Turbidity 21

   1. Purpose 21

   2. Description 21

   3. Apparatus and Materials 22

   4. Apparatus Calibration 22

   5. Procedure-Turbidity Measurement 22

   6. Specification-Turbidity 22

10. Procedures for Determining Proppant Loose Pack Bulk Density, Apparent Density,

    and Absolute Density 22

    1. Purpose 22

       v

       Contents

       Page

    2. Description 23

    3. Loose Pack Bulk density (ρbulk) 23

    4. Apparent Density (ρap) 27

    5. Absolute Density (ρabs) 29

11. Proppant Crush Resistance 30

    1. Purpose 30

    2. Description 30

    3. Apparatus 30

    4. Sample Preparation 35

    5. Assemble and Set Up the Crush Cell and Pluviator Loading Device 36

    6. Procedure-Crush Resistance Testing 38

    7. Specification-Crush Resistance of Fracturing Proppants 39

    8. Specification-Crush Resistance of Gravel-packing Proppants 40

12. Loss on Ignition (LOI) of Whole Grain Proppant 41

    1. Purpose 41

    2. Apparatus and Materials 41

    3. Procedure 41

Annex A (informative) ASTM E11 Sieve Table 44

Bibliography 47

Figures

1. Typical Box Sampling Device 3

2. Typical 16:1 Sample Reducer 4

3. Typical Sample Splitter 5

4. Graphical Method for Determination of Median Diameter 13

5. Chart for Visual Estimation of Sphericity and Roundness 17

6. Loose Pack Bulk Density Device 24

7. Design of the Crush Cell 32

8. Assembled View of Pluviator Device 33

9. Exploded View of Pluviator Device 34

10. Dimensional View of the Pluviator Device 35

Tables

1. ASTM Test Sieve Sizes 7

2. Example Sieve Analysis and Calculations (Fracturing 16/30 Proppant) 10

3. Example Calculation of Median Diameter (Fracturing 16/30 Proppant) 12

4. Example of Absolute Relative Difference Calculations 16

5. Suggested Magnification 18

6. Proppant Maximum Acid Solubility 21

7. Density of Water at Various Temperatures 26

8. Pluviator Cell Loading Device, Parts, and Accessories 33

9. Wire Cloth Sizes Used in the Pluviator Device 37

10. Guidelines for Testing Various Proppant Types 38

11. 10 % Crush Classification Table for Fracturing Proppants 40

12. Maximum Fines for Gravel-packing Proppant 41

vi

Introduction

The procedures presented in this document have been developed to improve the quality of proppants delivered to the well site. They are for use in evaluating certain physical properties used in hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations. These tests should enable users to compare the physical characteristics of various proppants tested under the described conditions and to select materials useful for hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations. Each section contains proppant specifications and replaces API 19C, First Edition.

The procedures presented in this document are not intended to inhibit the development of new technology, material improvements, and improved operational procedures. Qualified engineering analysis and judgment are required for their application to a specific situation.

As with any laboratory procedure requiring the use of potentially hazardous chemicals and equipment, the user is expected to have received proper training and knowledge in the use and disposal of these potentially hazardous materials. The user is responsible for compliance with all applicable local, regional, and national requirements for worker and local health, safety, and environmental liability.

This document uses a format for numbers that follows the examples given in API Document Format and Style Manual, First Edition, June 2007 (Editorial Revision, January 2009). This numbering format is different than that used in API 19C, Second Edition. In this document, the decimal mark is a period and separates the whole part from the fractional part of a number. No spaces are used in the numbering format. The thousands separator is a comma and is only used for numbers greater than 10,000, i.e. 5000 items, 12,500 bags.

In this document, where practical, U.S. Customary units are included in parentheses for information.

The units do not necessarily represent a direct conversion of metric units (SI) to U.S. Customary units, or U.S. Customary to SI. Consideration has been given to the precision of the instrument making the measurement. Consideration has also been given to the nature of the measurement, determining if it is critical or simply informational. The document was originally based on API RP 56, API RP 58, and API RP 60, which are no longer in effect.

Measurement of and Specifications for Proppants Used in Hydraulic Fracturing and Gravel-packing Operations

1. Scope

   
   

   This document provides specifications and standard testing procedures for evaluating proppants used in hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations.

   
   

   The objective of this document is to provide specifications and a consistent methodology for testing performed on hydraulic fracturing and/or gravel-packing proppants. Methodologies and specifications (where applicable) are provided for:

   
   

   • sieve analysis and median diameter determination;

     
     

   • sphericity and roundness;

     
     

   • acid solubility;

     
     

   • turbidity;

     
     

   • loose pack bulk density, apparent density, and absolute density;

     
     

   • crush resistance;

     
     

   • loss on ignition.

   
   

   Proppant size designation is as per industry standard. It is based on the maximum and minimum size determination by sieve analysis and ASTM 1 sieve number (and not as per standard opening expressed in micrometers).

   
   

   Proppants in this document are sand, ceramic media, resin-coated proppants, gravel-packing media, and other similarly used materials for hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations.

   
   

2. Normative References

   
   

   The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated reference, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

   
   

   ASTM E11, Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves

   
   

3. Abbreviations

ANSI 2 American National Standards Institute API American Petroleum Institute

1. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, www.astm.org

2. ANSI (Operations), 25 West 43rd Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, www.ansi.org