Decreasing proppant embedment with amine-functionalized polysaccharides

A method comprising:

• providing a pad fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a partially oxidized, amine-functionalized polysaccharide in which glycosidic bonds are retained from a parent polysaccharide and partial oxidation comprises oxidative opening of a monosaccharide unit of the parent polysaccharide;
• wherein an amine moiety is located at a site of oxidative opening;
• introducing the pad fluid into a subterranean formation at a hydraulic pressure sufficient to create or extend one or more fractures therein;
• wherein the subterranean formation comprises a clay-containing formation matrix comprising about 10% to about 40% clay by weight;
• after introducing the pad fluid to the subterranean formation, introducing a fracturing fluid comprising the aqueous fluid and a plurality of proppant particulates into the subterranean formation, such that at least a portion of the plurality of proppant particulates become localized in the one or more fractures;
• and
• releasing the hydraulic pressure;
• wherein embedment of the proppant particulates in a face of the one or more fractures is at most about 10% to about 40% of a grain size of the proppant particulates following release of the hydraulic pressure.