proppant are extremely useful to keep open fractures imposed by hydraulic fracking of a subterranean formation

In general, proppant are extremely useful to keep open fractures imposed by hydraulic fracking of a subterranean formation, e.g., an oil or gas bearing strata. Typically, the fracturing is desired in the subterranean formation to, increase oil or gas production. As noted above, fracturing is caused by injecting a viscous fracturing fluid, foam, or other suitable fluid at high pressure into the well to form fractures. As the fracture is formed, a particulate material, referred to as a “propping agent” or “proppant” is placed in the formation to maintain the fracture in a propped condition when the injection pressure is released. As the fracture forms, the hsp proppant are carried into the well by suspending them in additional fluid or foam to fill the fracture with a slurry of proppant in the fluid or foam. Upon release of the pressure, the proppants form a “pack” which serves to hold open the fractures. The goal of using proppants is to increase production of oil and/or gas by providing a highly conductive channel in the formation. Choosing the correct proppant, therefore, is critical to the success of well stimulation.