Fluids for oilfield use having high-solids content

A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a wellbore;
• (b) providing a high-solids fluid comprising a liquid and at least three sizes of solid particulate materials selected from a group consisting of:
• (i) very large particles having a particle size greater than 1 mm;
• (ii) large particles having a particle size of from about 200-800 .mu.m;
• (iii) medium particles having a particle size of from about 10-20 .mu.m;
• (vi) fine particles having a particle size of from about 0.5-10 .mu.m;
• (v) very fine particles having a particle size of from about 0.05-0.5 .mu.m, and
• (vi) ultrafine particles having a particle size of from about 7-50 nm,
• wherein the selected size of each of the at least three sizes of solid particulate materials is disjointed relative to the particle sizes of each of the other of the selected at least three sizes of solid particulate materials;
• wherein at least one of the selected three sizes of particulate materials comprises medium particles;
• wherein a solids volume total of the at least three particulate materials comprises substantially a maximum packing volume fraction for the selected sizes of the particulate materials and wherein the solids volume total is sufficient to substantially avoid settling of the solid particulate materials in the fluid
• (c) pumping the high-solids fluid into the wellbore.