Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Ball sealer for hydrocarbon resource collection as well as production method therefor and downhole treatment method using same
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Application No.: US14407091Application Date: 2013-08-05
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Publication No.: US09644453B2Publication Date: 2017-05-09
- Inventor: Masayuki Okura , Hiroyuki Sato
- Applicant: Kureha Corporation
- Applicant Address: JP Tokyo
- Assignee: KUREHA CORPORATION
- Current Assignee: KUREHA CORPORATION
- Current Assignee Address: JP Tokyo
- Agency: Oliff PLC
- Priority: JP2012-176350 20120808
- International Application: PCT/JP2013/071121 WO 20130805
- International Announcement: WO2014/024837 WO 20140213
- Main IPC: E21B34/14
- IPC: E21B34/14 ; E21B43/26 ; B29C45/14 ; B32B27/00 ; B29K67/00 ; B29K105/12 ; B29L9/00 ; B29L31/26 ; B29L31/00

Abstract:
A ball sealer for hydrocarbon resource recovery, comprising: a generally spherical entire structure including at least two layers of a spherical core and a surface resin layer covering the spherical core, of which at least the surface resin layer comprises a polyglycolic acid resin; and having a diameter of at least about 25 mm (1 inch). The ball sealer is produced through a process comprising the steps of: disposing a spherical core by a support pin at a substantially central position within a mold cavity, injecting a surface resin comprising a polyglycolic acid resin into the cavity surrounding the spherical core, causing the support pin to retreat up to a wall surface of mold cavity in synchronism with a completion of the injection of the surface resin, and then hardening the surface resin. As a result, it is possible to produce a large-diameter ball sealer suitable for use in the hydraulic fracturing process (hydraulic fracturing) widely used for recovery of hydrocarbon resources by using a polyglycolic acid resin which is a biodegradable resin having good mechanical strengths and a good size designability at least as a surface-forming resin, through relatively simple steps and with good dimensional accuracy.
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