Patent ID: 8127850

Claim:
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising: pumping into an initiated fracture in the formation a first proppant stage containing an ultra lightweight (ULW) proppant having a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc; pumping a fracturing fluid into the fracture; and pumping a second proppant stage into the fracture, the second proppant stage containing an ultra lightweight (ULW) proppant having a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc wherein the effective propped length of the fracture after pumping of the second proppant stage is greater than the effective propped length of the fracture prior to pumping of the second proppant stage; and further wherein at least one of the following conditions prevail: (i) the density differential between the second proppant stage and the first proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii) the density of the ULW proppant of the first proppant stage is less than or equal to 2.0 g/cc; (iii) the ULW proppant of the first proppant stage and the ULW proppant of the second proppant stage is the same material; (iv) at least one of the first proppant stage or the second proppant stage contains slickwater; and (v) the particle size of the ULW proppant in the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is between from about 8 mesh to about 100 mesh.