Recommended Practice for

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

ANSI/API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 19C FIRST EDITION, MAY 2008

CONTAINS API MONOGRAM ANNEX AS PART OF US NATIONAL ADOPTION

REAFFIRMED, JUNE 2016

ISO 13503-2:2006 (Identical), Petroleum and natural gas industries Completion fluids and materials

Part 2:

Measurement of properties of proppants used in hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations

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Contents Page

Special Notes i

API Foreword ii

Foreword v

Introduction vi

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 5

   5. Sampling — Bulk material 6

   6. Sampling — Bagged material 6

5. Sample handling and storage 6

   1. Sample reduction 6

   2. Sample splitting 6

   3. Sample and record retention and storage 6

6. Sieve analysis 7

   1. Purpose 7

   2. Description 7

   3. Equipment and materials 7

   4. Procedure 7

   5. Calculation of the mean diameter, median diameter and standard deviation 8

   6. Sieve calibration 10

7. Proppant sphericity and roundness 12

   1. Purpose 12

   2. Description 13

   3. Apparatus capability 13

   4. Procedure 13

   5. Alternate method for determining average sphericity and roundness 14

8. Acid solubility 15

   1. Purpose 15

   2. Description 15

   3. Equipment and materials 15

   4. Procedure 16

9. Turbidity test 17

   1. Purpose 17

   2. Description 17

   3. Equipment and materials 17

   4. Equipment calibration 17

   5. Procedure 18

10. Procedures for determining proppant bulk density, apparent density and absolute density 18

    1. Purpose 18

    2. Description 18

       iii

    3. Bulk density 18

    4. Apparent density 21

    5. Absolute density 23

11. Proppant crush-resistance test 23

    1. Purpose 23

    2. Description 24

    3. Equipment and materials 24

    4. Sample preparation 24

    5. Crush-resistance procedure 25

12. Loss on ignition of resin-coated proppant 27

    1. Objective 27

    2. Apparatus and materials 27

    3. Loss-on-ignition procedure for whole-grain proppant 27

Annex A (informative) Formazin solution preparation 29

Bibliography 30

iv

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 13503-2 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries, Subcommittee SC 3, Drilling and completion fluids, and well cements.

ISO 13503 consists of the following parts, under the general title Petroleum and natural gas industries — Completion fluids and materials:

• Part 1: Measurement of viscous properties of completion fluids

  
  

• Part 2: Measurement of properties of proppants used in hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations

  
  

• Part 3: Testing of heavy brines

  
  

• Part 4: Procedure for measuring stimulation and gravel-pack fluid leakoff under static conditions

  
  

• Part 5: Procedures for measuring the long-term conductivity of proppants

v

Introduction

This part of ISO 13503 is a compilation and modification of API RP 56 [1], API RP 58 [2] and API RP 60 [3].

The procedures 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.

The procedures presented in this part of ISO 13503 are not intended to inhibit the development of new technology, material improvements or improved operational procedures. Qualified engineering analysis and judgment are required for their application to a specific situation.

In this part of ISO 13503, where practical, US Customary (USC) units are included in brackets for information. Annex A of this part of ISO 13503 is for information only.

vi

Petroleum and natural gas industries — Completion fluids and materials —

Part 2:

Measurement of properties of proppants used in hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations

1. Scope

   
   

   This part of ISO 13503 provides standard testing procedures for evaluating proppants used in hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations.

   
   

   NOTE “Proppants” mentioned henceforth in this part of ISO 13503 refer to sand, ceramic media, resin-coated proppants, gravel-packing media and other materials used for hydraulic fracturing and gravel-packing operations.

   
   

   The objective of this part of ISO 13503 is to provide a consistent methodology for testing performed on hydraulic fracturing and/or gravel-packing proppants.

   
   

2. Normative references

   
   

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

   
   

   ASTM E11, Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes

   
   

3. Abbreviations

API American Petroleum Institute

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials ASG apparent specific gravity

FTU formazin turbidity unit

HCI hydrochloric acid

HF hydrofluoric acid

LOI loss on ignition

NTU nephelometric turbidity unit

1