Spherical pellets containing common clay particulate material useful as a proppant in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells

A ceramic propping agent comprising:

• a plastic clay comprising a plurality of layers having a thickness of five feet or less, wherein the plastic clay further comprises:
• from 7% to 25% alumina by weight,
• from 60% to 90% silica by weight, and
• 45% or less quartz by weight;
• an aluminosilicate network modifier selected from the group consisting of:
• kaolin, metakaolin, bauxite, bauxitic clays, aluminum oxide, metal oxides, or combinations thereof;
• a strength enhancing and flux agent comprising nepheline materials comprising from 0.1 percent to 5 percent iron oxide by weight;
• and
• a binder selected from the group consisting of:
• cornstarch, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose gum, bentonite, sodium silicate, vegetable starches, sodium lignosulphonate, and combinations thereof,
• wherein said plastic clay comprises from 38% to 90% of the ceramic propping agent by weight.

A ceramic propping agent comprising:

• a plastic clay comprising a plurality of layers having a thickness of five feet or less,
• wherein the plastic clay further comprises:
• from 7% to 25% alumina by weight,
• from 60% to 90% silica by weight, and
• 45% or less quartz by weight;
• an aluminosilicate network modifier selected from the group consisting of:
• kaolin, metakaolin, bauxite, bauxitic clays, aluminum oxide, metal oxides, or combinations thereof;
• a strength enhancing and flux agent comprising nepheline materials, metal oxides, or combinations thereof;
• and
• a binder selected from the group consisting of:
• cornstarch, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose gum, bentonite, sodium silicate, vegetable starches, sodium lignosulphonate, and combinations thereof,
• wherein said plastic clay comprises from 38% to 90% of the ceramic propping agent by weight, and
• wherein the ceramic propping agent further comprises a resin coating adapted to encapsulate particles of the ceramic propping agent.