US Patent 7255169 Methods of creating high porosity propped fractures

Methods of forming a high porosity propped fracture comprising: providing a slurry comprising a fracturing fluid, proppant particulates, and a weighting agent; introducing the slurry into a portion of a fracture within the subterranean formation; and, depositing the proppant particulates into the portion of the fracture within the subterranean formation so as to form a high porosity propped fracture. Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation to form a high porosity propped fracture comprising: creating at least one fracture within a portion of a subterranean formation; placing a slurry comprising a fracturing fluid, high density plastic particulates, and a weighting agent into at least a portion of the created fracture; and, depositing the high density plastic proppant particulates into a portion of the fracture so as to form a high porosity propped fracture. Slurries suitable for use in subterranean fracturing operations comprising: a fracturing fluid, proppant particulates, and a weighting agent.