Below is a exert from petrowiki : Fluid not containing any solid...

Below is a exert from petrowiki :

Fluid not containing any solid (called the “pad”) is injected first, until the fracture is wide enough to accept a propping agent. The purpose of the propping agent is to keep apart the fracture surfaces once the pumping operation ceases, the pressure in the fracture decreases below the compressive in-situ stress trying to close the fracture. In deep reservoirs, man-made ceramic beads are used to hold open or “prop” the fracture. In shallow reservoirs, sand is normally used as the propping agent.

A question for the OG experts if you can answer , will we use ceramic beads as our prop instead of sand and what timeframe should we expect to know if the cleats have not contracted or closed up ?

Also is common for the cleats to close and destroy the project as this is my primary concern?.

Max