proppantn.
/ˈprɒp(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˈprɑp(ə)nt/ Oil Industry.
A granular material which is pumped with a fluid medium under pressure into rock, so that fractures formed in this process are held open when the pressure is released, allowing oil or gas to flow more freely.
ΚΠ
1966 U.S. Patent 3,242,032 1 Method of producing solid bodies of glass having generally spherical shape, compressive strengths in excess of 50,000 lbs. per square inch,..and adapted for use as underground proppants.
1989 New Scientist 4 Feb. 61/1 Once parted, the joints can be kept open with ‘proppants’, small rock chips either injected with the fluid or broken from the joints.
2002 Wall St. Jrnl. 11 Mar. b6 (advt.) Carbo Ceramics Inc., the world's leading supplier of ceramic proppants for the oil & gas industry.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1966