Abstract: Sintered, substantially round and spherical particles prepared from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of more than 55% by weight, and a mullite growth promoter in an amount of from about 2 to about 10% dry weight of the total solids in the slurry. The sintered particles are suitable for use as a propping agent or as a foundry media.

Abstract: A proppant particle comprising a sintered proppant composition that comprises a non-radioactive, detectable tracer uniformly distributed throughout a ceramic composition, wherein the tracer is one or more tracer metal oxides and the tracer metals are selected from a group consisting of lanthanides, strontium, barium, gallium, germanium, tantalum, vanadium, and manganese.

Abstract: A proppant composition comprises a non-radioactive, detectable tracer at least partially embedded in a ceramic composition. The composition may be prepared by agglomerating granules of the ceramic material and granules of the non-radioactive, detectable material to produce the particle by compression. Backflow of proppants in a fractured subterranean formation into which a plurality of particles of the proppant composition have been introduced may be tracked by analyzing a sample of the backflow by detecting for presence of the tracer in the sample.

Abstract: Methods for producing substantially round, spherical and sintered particles from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of more than 55% by weight, and a mullite growth promoter in an amount of from about 2 to about 10% dry weight of the total solids in the slurry. Methods for using such substantially round, spherical and sintered particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Abstract: Methods for producing substantially round, spherical and sintered particles from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of more than 55% by weight, and a mullite growth promoter in an amount of from about 2 to about 10% dry weight of the total solids in the slurry. Methods for using such substantially round, spherical and sintered particles in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Abstract: Methods for producing solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of greater than about 40 weight percent. The slurry is processed with spray drying methods into solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles having an average particle size greater than about 200 microns, a bulk density of greater than about 1.40 g/cc, and an apparent specific gravity of greater than about 2.60.

Abstract: A proppant composition comprises a non-radioactive, detectable tracer at least partially embedded in a ceramic composition. The composition may be prepared by agglomerating granules of the ceramic material and granules of the non-radioactive, detectable material to produce the particle by compression. Backflow of proppants in a fractured subterranean formation into which a plurality of particles of the proppant composition have been introducted may be tracked by analyzing a sample of the backflow by detecting for presence of the tracer in the sample.

Abstract: Methods for producing solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of greater than about 40 weight percent. The slurry is processed with spray drying methods into solid, substantially round, spherical and sintered particles having an average particle size greater than about 200 microns, a bulk density of greater than about 1.40 g/cc, and an apparent specific gravity of greater than about 2.60.

Abstract: A low density, spherical proppant made from kaolin clay having an alumina content distributed homogeneously throughout the pellets, an apparent specific gravity of from about 1.60 to about 2.10 g/cc, and a bulk density of from about 0.95 to about 1.30 g/cc. The low density is achieved by controlling the time and temperature of the firing process to be from about 1200 to about 1350° C. This low density proppant is useful in hydraulic fracturing of shallow oil and gas wells.

Abstract: A low density, spherical proppant made from kaolin clay having an alumina content distributed homogeneously throughout the pellets, an apparent specific gravity of from about 1.60 to about 2.10 g/cc, and a bulk density of from about 0.95 to about 1.30 g/cc. The low density is achieved by controlling the time and temperature of the firing process to be from about 1200 to about 1350° C. This low density proppant is useful in hydraulic fracturing of shallow oil and gas wells.