The choice of which proppant to use in a formation depends on many factors.

When the proppant particles settle out of the fracturing fluid that transported them to the fracture, they form a mesh that allows the liberated oil and gas to flow through it on the way to the wellbore.The most common types of proppants are grains of resin coated silica sand and man-made (engineered) ceramic material.The choice of which proppant to use in a formation depends on many factors. Proppants have to deal with high pressures, temperatures and fluids – water (fresh and salt), oil and gas. The classical proppant selection factors are size, shape, strength, and density.