Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use

A method of hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:

• injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein;
• and
• injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle comprising a sintered ceramic material and having a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns, and a surface roughness of less than about 2 μm.

A proppant particle, comprising:

• a ceramic material selected from sintered kaolin;
• wherein the proppant particle has a size of about 40 mesh to about 20 mesh and a surface roughness of from about 0.8 μm to less than about 2 μm.

A proppant particle comprising a sintered ceramic material and having a spherical shape, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns, and a surface roughness of less than about 2 μm.