Patent ID: 8276664

Claim:
A method of stimulating production of hydrocarbons in an oil or gas well by creating a fracture in a subterranean formation, the method comprising injecting into the subterranean formation a proppant comprising a particulate of a spherical porous or non-porous cellulosic material, wherein the spherical porous or non-porous cellulosic material provides the requisite crush resistance to the proppant in order for the proppant to hold the created fracture open while hydrocarbons are produced from the formation and further wherein the proppant is prepared by: (a) admixing the cellulosic material, in the substantial absence of water or a nitrogen-containing base, with an ionic liquid at a temperature between from about −10° C. to about 100° C. to form an admixture, and agitating the mixture for a time sufficient until the cellulosic material is dissolved; (b) forming a precipitate from the product of step (a) and a cellulose-insoluble liquid; (c) recovering a particulate of spherical cellulosic material from the precipitate of step (b); and (d) drying the recovered spherical particulate containing cellulosic material.