Formation treatment method using deformable particles

A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:

• injecting a blend comprising a fracture proppant material and a deformable particulate material into a hydraulic fracture created in a subterranean formation;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of said individual particles of said deformable particulate material each comprises a first deformable material and a second deformable material;
• said first deformable material comprising at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof;
• and said second deformable material being effective to substantially protect said first deformable material from downhole fluids.

A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:

• injecting a blend comprising a fracture proppant material and a deformable particulate material into a subterranean formation, wherein individual particles of said deformable particulate material have at least one of:
• a shape with a maximum length-based aspect ratio of equal to or less than about 5, or a shape with a tapered diameter;
• wherein said individual particles of said deformable particulate comprise a material having a Young's modulus of between about 2,000,000 psi and about 30,000,000 psi at in situ formation conditions;
• and
• wherein said individual particles of said deformable particulate material yield upon point to point stress with particles of said fracture proppant material under conditions of formation temperature and formation closure stress;
• said deformable particulate material also having a composition effective to substantially prevent total deformation of said individual particles upon said point to point stress under said conditions of formation temperature and formation closure stress.

A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:

• injecting a blend comprising a fracture proppant material and a deformable particulate material into a hydraulic fracture created in a subterranean formation, wherein individual particles of said deformable particulate material have at least one of:
• a shape with a tapered diameter and a maximum length-based aspect ratio of equal to or less than about 25;
• or
• a shape with a maximum length-based aspect ratio of equal to or less than about 5;
• and
• wherein said individual particles of said deformable particulate material yield upon point to point stress with particles of said fracture proppant material under conditions of formation temperature and formation closure stress;
• said deformable particulate material also having a composition effective to substantially prevent total deformation of said individual particles upon said point to point stress under said conditions of formation temperature and formation closure stress.

A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:

• injecting a fracturing fluid composition comprising a fracture proppant material and a deformable particulate material into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficiently high enough to cause the formation of a fracture in said subterranean formation and to deposit a fracture proppant pack comprising said fracturing fluid composition into said formation;
• wherein individual particles of said deformable particulate have a shape with a maximum length-based aspect ratio of equal to or less than about 5;
• wherein at least a portion of said individual deformable particles deform at formation temperature and with proppant contact as fracture closure stress is applied by said subterranean formation;
• and
• wherein said individual deformable particles are of sufficient hardness to substantially prevent total deformation of said individual deformable particles with proppant contact under said formation closure stress at said formation temperature.