Powdered bauxite proppant can be fused into tiny beads at very high temperatures.

Powdered bauxite proppant can be fused into tiny beads at very high temperatures. These beads have a very high crush resistance and that makes them suitable for use as a proppant. The specific gravity of the beads and their size can be matched to the viscosity of the hydraulic fracturing fluid and to the size of fractures that are expected to develop in the rock. Manufactured proppants provide a wide selection of grain size and specific gravity compared to a natural proppant known as frac sand. Frac sand is currently used instead of manufactured proppants because it has a cost and transportation advantage.