Type of proppant
Fracturing proppant can be broadly divided into natural and artificial two categories. The former, represented by quartz sand, the latter is often referred to as  Ceramic proppant .
Oil production in the market currently widely different prices using five standard proppant which are natural quartz sand, synthetic aluminum silicate moderate density proppant (ceramic sand),ceramic proppant synthetic high-density alumina moderate and silicate Proppant , high strength and high strength bauxite proppant zirconium silicate, and applying a curable coating and pre-cured resin coated proppant natural or artificial sand. They are in the oil and gas production in each plays a different role.
Artificial development and role of proppant
In the late 1970s, the United States developed sintered bauxite (ceramic) and smelting zirconia support agent. High-intensity artificial invention of synthetic materials in water conservancy proppant fracturing technology development to achieve a decisive breakthrough,bauxite proppant this synthetic material with a low intensity sand significantly different, resistant up to 69 ~ 103MPa (10000 ~ 15000psi) the closing pressure. Therefore, the development of modern fracturing fluid with high-performance, high-pressure deep wells for the fracturing has opened up new avenues. In 1976 the first sand court in the United States has been applied. And because the amazing fracturing effect promoted the rapid development of deep fracturing. As sintered bauxite proppant and fused zirconia particle size distribution with a round ball high, acid-resistant and strong, high compressive strength up to 139MPa (20000psi) closed under pressure is still the best guide streaming capability.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s there are two kinds of artificial ceramic proppant introduced into the market, they are mullite and mullite and corundum mixture, but also medium-density and high-density material, respectively resistant pressures up China proppant to 55MPa (8000psi) and 69 MPa (10000psi) the closing pressure. Both moderate strength  Proppant  rom the density, conductivity, resistance to closure pressure and price, fill the low-intensity and high intensity natural quartz sand fused zirconia sintered bauxite, and the gap between. Both have relatively low density proppant in the construction of suspension and transmission performance, by the sand-carrying fluid filling the crack does not occur when precipitation. Thus expanding the economic and technical fields of application.