Draft:Frac Sand

Frac sand is a high-purity quartz sand used in the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) process to extract oil and natural gas from shale formations. It is specifically chosen for its strength, roundness, and ability to withstand high pressures deep underground. During fracking, the sand is mixed with water and chemicals and pumped into wells at high pressure to create fractures in the rock. The sand particles lodge in these fractures, keeping them open so hydrocarbons can flow more freely. Common sources include Northern White Sand from the Midwest and in-basin sands mined closer to shale plays like those in Texas and Oklahoma.

The frac sand industry has evolved rapidly over the past two decades, driven by the boom in hydraulic fracturing across North America. Initially sourced from traditional sandstone quarries, demand surged in the 2010s as shale plays expanded, especially in the Permian Basin. This led to the rise of in-basin mines offering lower transportation costs. Technological advancements in drilling increased the amount of sand needed per well, further fueling growth. However, market fluctuations, environmental concerns, and shifting energy priorities have brought volatility. Today, the industry is adapting through automation, sustainability efforts, and a renewed focus on operational efficiency to remain competitive.

In the early boom in hydraulic fracturing, the most in-demand sand was Northern White Sand and was primarily found in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Companies spent hundreds of millions of dollars buying land and building sand plants to produce, properly size, wash, dry, and ship the sand. The industry relied heavily on unit trains to ship product to Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Appalachia, etc.

In 2017-2018, a shift happened where "in-basin" sand in Texas. While the sand might not have been as high quality as the Northern White Sand, the savings in transportation and logistics costs made the shift worthwhile for many.

Subsequent to that, there has been a shift for some oil & gas producers away from the larger in-basin regional mines to smaller, hyper-local wet sand mines.