(2014039) A FOUR STEP APPROACH TO VERIFY DELIVERED PROPPANT

Since the late 1940's, proppants have been the primary construction material for a conductive hydraulic fracture.  However, it was not until the late 1970's that critical properties were indentified and performance examined under guidance from the American Petroleum Institute (API). By the early 1980s SPI proppant testing recommended practices (RP56, 58, & 60) to be applied at the website were scribed and introduced. Yet, employment of these American standard practices at the wellsite became cursory as the rig count collapsed and time passed.  This subsequently left the industry with inconsistent data, lack of accountability, poor record keeping and little information for assessment of delivered proppant. The three API standards have since transitioned to one, RP 19C. This paper illustrates correct application of the standard in a four step approach (test, reference, track, review) to consistently reconciled bargained and delivered proppant.