Abstract: Methods including introducing a pad fluid into a subterranean formation to create or enhance an open fracture at a first treatment interval therein; introducing a treatment fluid into the fracture, wherein the treatment fluid comprises a second base fluid, crushable-proppant particulates (CPPs), and buoyant-proppant particulates (BPPs), and wherein a first specific gravity of the CPPs is at least about 0.3 greater than a second specific gravity of the BPPs; placing the CPPs and the BPPs in the fracture, wherein the CPPs settle to a bottom portion of the fracture and the BPPs neutrally suspend in the treatment fluid in a top portion of the fracture; and reducing the hydraulic pressure, thereby permitting the fracture to close, wherein the CPPs form a crushed-proppant pack in the bottom portion of the fracture and the BPPs form a proppant pack in the top portion of the fracture, thereby forming an arch channel therebetween.

Abstract: Solar reflective roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with solar reflective particles dispersed in the binder. An agglomeration process preferentially disposes the solar reflective particles at a desired depth within or beneath the surface of the granules.

Abstract: Methods including introducing a solids-free high-viscosity fracturing fluid (HVFF) into a subterranean formation to create or enhance at least one dominate fracture, introducing a low-viscosity pad fluid (LVPadF) into the subterranean formation above the fracture gradient pressure to create or enhance at least one first microfracture, wherein the LVPadF comprises micro-proppant, and placing at least a portion of the micro-proppant into the at least one first microfracture. Alternatingly introducing a first low-viscosity proppant fluid (LVPropF) and a high-viscosity crosslinked spacer fluid (HVCSF) into the subterranean formation, wherein the first LVPropF comprises proppant aggregates and the HVCSF comprises a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, and a breaker, and placing at least a portion of the proppant aggregates into the dominate fracture, where the HVCSF separates clusters of proppant aggregates in the dominate fracture.

Abstract: Proppant aggregates comprising proppant particulates and a binding agent, wherein the proppant aggregate exhibits a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to aggregate operational conditions, the aggregate operational conditions having a closure stress of at least about 100 pounds per square inch and a temperature of at least about 10° C.

Abstract: Certain carrier-free treatment particulates comprising solid treatment chemicals and methods for their formation and of their use in subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a plurality of carrier-free N treatment particulates comprising at least one solid treatment chemical and a coating at least partially disposed around an outer surface of the solid treatment chemical; and introducing the plurality of carrier-free treatment particulates into a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the plurality of carrier-free treatment particulates is at least partially consumed in the subterranean formation to create a residual porosity in the portion of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Proppant aggregates comprising proppant particulates and a binding agent, wherein the proppant particulates in the absence of the binding agent pack together to exhibit a conductivity of less than about 3000 millidarcy-feet when exposed to operational conditions, the operational conditions having a closure stress of greater than about 1000 pounds per square inch and a temperature of greater than about 50° F.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to crosslinked polymer-coated proppant. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method can include placing in the subterranean formation a crosslinked composition that includes proppant particles including polymer coatings thereon. The crosslinked composition also includes inter-particle crosslinks between the polymer coatings of at least some of the proppant particles, the inter-particle crosslinks including a crosslinker.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising: introducing a fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to create or enhance a fracture in the subterranean formation, and wherein the fracture comprises a bottom portion and a top portion; and introducing a treatment fluid into the fracture after introduction of the fracturing fluid, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: a base fluid; and proppant, wherein a first portion of the proppant has a property that is different from a second portion of the proppant, wherein after introduction of the treatment fluid: at least some of the first portion of proppant remains in the bottom portion of the fracture and at least some of the second portion of proppant remains in the top portion of the fracture; and the bottom portion of the fracture has a permeability that is less than the permeability of the top portion of the fracture.

Abstract: Methods including introducing a pad fluid into a subterranean formation to create or enhance an open fracture at a first treatment interval therein; introducing a treatment fluid into the fracture, wherein the treatment fluid comprises a second base fluid, crushable-proppant particulates (CPPs), and buoyant-proppant particulates (BPPs), and wherein a first specific gravity of the CPPs is at least about 0.3 greater than a second specific gravity of the BPPs; placing the CPPs and the BPPs in the fracture, wherein the CPPs settle to a bottom portion of the fracture and the BPPs neutrally suspend in the treatment fluid in a top portion of the fracture; and reducing the hydraulic pressure, thereby permitting the fracture to close, wherein the CPPs form a crushed-proppant pack in the bottom portion of the fracture and the BPPs form a proppant pack in the top portion of the fracture, thereby forming an arch channel therebetween.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising: introducing a fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to create or enhance a fracture comprising a bottom and top portion; introducing a first treatment fluid into the fracture, wherein after introduction of the first treatment fluid, at least a portion of the first treatment fluid remains in the bottom portion; and simultaneously introducing a second and third treatment fluid into the fracture after introduction of the first treatment fluid, wherein after introduction of the second and third treatment fluids, at least a portion of the second treatment fluid remains in the top portion, wherein after introduction of the first, second, and third treatment fluids, the bottom portion of the fracture has a first permeability and the top portion of the fracture has a second permeability that is greater than the first permeability. The first treatment fluid can create or enhance the fracture.

Abstract: A proppant for use in fracturing geological formations is made from bauxitic ores and a calcium containing compound. The proppant has a calcium containing crystalline phase.

Abstract: Solar reflective roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with solar reflective particles dispersed in the binder. An agglomeration process preferentially disposes the solar reflective particles at a desired depth within or beneath the surface of the granules.

Abstract: A proppant for use in fracturing geological formations is made from bauxitic ores and a calcium containing compound. The proppant has a calcium containing crystalline phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a population of ceramic particles that includes a plurality of individual, free flowing particles. The plurality has a total weight and particle size distribution. The effective width of the distribution is the difference between the distribution's d95 and d5 particle sizes. The distribution's effective width exceeds 100 microns and includes three abutting and non-overlapping regions that include a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region abuts the second region and the second region abuts the third region. The width of the second region is at least 25% of the effective width. The weight of particles in the second region does not exceed 15% of the plurality of particle's total weight. The weight of particles in the first region and the third region each exceed the weight of particles in the second region. Methods of making the populations of ceramic particles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing ceramic particles, such as proppants, that have at least 10 percent total porosity. The process includes forming a particle precursor that includes 5 percent to 30 percent of a first ceramic material and at least 40 percent of a second ceramic material. The sintering temperature of the first ceramic material may be lower than the sintering temperature of a second ceramic material. Heating the precursor to a maximum temperature above the sintering temperature of the first material and below the sintering temperature of the second material. Also disclosed is a ceramic article that has a particular combination of chemistry and alumina crystalline phase.

Abstract: A process for preparing roofing granules includes forming kaolin clay into green granules and sintering the green granules at a temperature of at least 900 degrees Celsius to cure the green granules until the crystalline content of the sintered granules is at least ten percent as determined by x-ray diffraction.

Abstract: A process for preparing roofing granules includes forming kaolin clay into green granules and sintering the green granules at a temperature of at least 900 degrees Celsius to cure the green granules until the crystalline content of the sintered granules is at least ten percent as determined by x-ray diffraction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing ceramic particles, such as proppants, that have at least 10 percent total porosity. The process includes forming a particle precursor that includes 5 percent to 30 percent of a first ceramic material and at least 40 percent of a second ceramic material. The sintering temperature of the first ceramic material may be lower than the sintering temperature of a second ceramic material. Heating the precursor to a maximum temperature above the sintering temperature of the first material and below the sintering temperature of the second material. Also disclosed is a ceramic article that has a particular combination of chemistry and alumina crystalline phase.

Abstract: A ceramic particle with at least two microstructural phases comprising an amorphous phase, representing between 30 volume percent and 70 volume percent of the particle, and a first substantially crystalline phase comprising a plurality of predominately crystalline regions distributed through the amorphous phase is disclosed. A process for making the ceramic particle is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a population of ceramic particles that includes a plurality of individual, free flowing particles. The plurality has a total weight and particle size distribution. The effective width of the distribution is the difference between the distribution's d95 and d5 particle sizes. The distribution's effective width exceeds 100 microns and includes three abutting and non-overlapping regions that include a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region abuts the second region and the second region abuts the third region. The width of the second region is at least 25% of the effective width. The weight of particles in the second region does not exceed 15% of the plurality of particle's total weight. The weight of particles in the first region and the third region each exceed the weight of particles in the second region. Methods of making the populations of ceramic particles are also disclosed.