Patent ID: 8579028

Claim:
A method of using particulates, the method comprising: contacting particulates with a tackifying agent to create tackified particulates; contacting the tackified particulates with a partitioning agent that is not hydrated and is in solid form to form coated particulates that are capable of being stored for a time period, wherein the partitioning agent comprises a hydratable polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a corn starch, a wheat starch, a potato starch, a barley starch, a bean starch, a cassava starch, a ground rice, a ground corn, a ground wheat, a ground bean, a ground guar gum, a cellulose derivative, a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyacrylamide, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, and a derivative thereof; and placing the coated particulates in an aqueous treatment fluid whereby the partitioning agent hydrates, at least partially dissipates from the coated particulates, and increases the viscosity of the treatment fluid.