Patent ID: 7789147

Claim:
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation susceptible to fines generation comprising: (a) introducing particulates into the subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically create or enlarge fractures in the formation, wherein the particulates consist essentially of deformable proppants which have an elastic modulus between about 500 psi and about 4,000,000 psi at in situ formation conditions and which have an apparent specific gravity less than or equal to 2.45; (b) creating a partial monolayer of said particulates in the created or enlarged fractures; and (c) allowing the subterranean formation to close on the created partial monolayer such that the energy of the closure stress is absorbed by the particulates and not by the face of the rock; wherein embedment of the particulates into the subterranean formation is minimized and further wherein the fracture containing the partial monolayer of particulates is capable of providing at least a minimum level of conductivity at in situ reservoir stress conditions between from 100 psi to 15,000 psi.