ESG & SAFETY

The Frac Sand Market: Environmentally Sustainable and Safety-Focused

The frac sand market, a cornerstone of the oil and gas industry, has witnessed significant transformations in recent years. Innovations aimed at reducing the environmental impact and enhancing safety have redefined the industry’s landscape. In this comprehensive overview, we delve into the pivotal role of silica frac sand, addressing its contributions to environmental, social, and economic aspects of the market.

Environmental Sustainability – Reducing the Carbon Footprint

Wet Frac Sand: A Green Alternative

The adoption of wet frac sand represents a remarkable leap forward in environmental sustainability. By eliminating the need for sand drying, this innovative approach has a profound impact on reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. For every 50,000 pounds of sand processed without traditional drying methods, an astonishing 1 ton of CO2 emissions is eliminated. The significance of this reduction becomes apparent when considering its equivalency – it’s like removing approximately 5,000 cars averaging 22 miles per gallon (mpg) from the road annually for an average frac job.
Car examples that average 22 mpg include the Subaru BRZ, Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Pilot, and Ford F-150. The positive environmental impact is undeniable, making wet frac sand a beacon of sustainable proppant solutions.

Efficient Trucking and Eliminating Staging Pads

The benefits of wet frac sand extend beyond its environmental impact. It streamlines trucking operations by significantly reducing truck wait times at wellsites. Reduced wait times translate to improved operational efficiency and a decrease in idle time for trucks, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, wet frac sand eliminates the need for staging pads, reducing the environmental footprint associated with their construction and maintenance.

Safety First – Protecting Workers and Communities

Silica Dust Exposure: Well Below OSHA Limits

Silica dust exposure is a long-standing concern in the frac sand industry, with potentially severe health implications for workers. However, wet frac sand has ushered in a new era of safety by effectively addressing this issue. The process of keeping the sand particles coated with moisture significantly reduces the generation of respirable crystalline silica, keeping silica dust exposure well below the OSHA exposure limit of 25 μg/m³. This crucial development ensures the safety of employees by limiting their exposure to harmful silica dust.

Personnel Safety and Eliminating Hazards

In addition to reducing silica dust exposure, wet frac sand enhances personnel safety in various ways. It completely removes personnel from the sand “red zone” onsite, where loaders equipped with safety sensors operate, alleviating the risk of accidents involving heavy machinery. Additionally, there is no need for a truck driver to step foot onto the wellsite since there is no need to open/close a container lid or a connect a hose to to empty a truck. Furthermore, wet frac sand eliminates slip, trip, and fall hazards, particularly associated with accessing safety racks at mines. Drivers and workers no longer need to climb these racks, some of which reach heights of approximately 15 feet, leading to improved safety conditions.

Reducing Truck Congestion and Accidents

Wet frac sand benefits local communities by reducing truck congestion and minimizing the risk of accidents. The elimination of staging pads and improved operational efficiency translate to fewer trucks waiting on highways and lease roads. This not only enhances the safety of local roads but also reduces the inconvenience and potential hazards associated with a high volume of trucks.

Economic Considerations

Beyond the remarkable environmental and safety benefits, the adoption of wet frac sand also yields economic advantages. The reduction in drying and handling processes leads to cost savings, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced profitability for companies operating in the frac sand market.

Our Commitment to Innovation

Customer satisfaction remains our top priority, and we are dedicated to addressing challenges with innovative solutions. Our forward-thinking approach has led to the development of patented prototypes designed to further reduce the environmental impact of frac sand operations.

The frac sand market is continually evolving into a more environmentally sustainable and safety-conscious industry, with wet frac sand at its forefront. As the demand for wet sand continues to grow, our commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability ensures that we remain at the spearhead of this dynamic industry, delivering superior solutions to our valued customers and safeguarding the well-being of employees and communities alike.

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