Well Completion & Stimulation

Precise Measurement Crucial for Fracturing Sand Storage 







  



	The specific needs of hydraulic fracturing require accurate moving, separation and storage of sand. 


	
	
by Lonnie Barker, Siemens Industry, Inc. 


	

	



	

	

	Horizontal drilling was first used in 1929, while hydraulic fracturing began in 1949. In 2003, these techniques were combined and used to extract gas from the Barnett Shale in North Texas. Since then, the U.S. has seen an increase of gas drilling fourteen fold. With the huge shale formations throughout the U.S., an increase in drilling will continue for years.




	  




	

	Figure 1. An increase in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Barnett Shale. Source: http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=2170




	New and Growing Demand




	With this increase in drilling, the country is witnessing an industry emerge almost overnight—the fracturing sand industry. The fracturing sand industry falls into multiple categories such as mining, distribution, and service & supply companies.




	The production of fracturing sand (also known as proppant or frac sand) has grown during the past five years. Currently, 30 companies run 1,055 sand mines, with the largest growth in Wisconsin, Arkansas and Michigan. Wisconsin alone is expected to add 25 more mines.




	Currently 15 major distributors ship frac sand to a different service and supply companies within the oil and gas industry in the U.S. More supplier and service companies are expected to include frac sand in their service portfolios in the future. The suppliers are installing small tank batteries with quantities of 12 or more in the area of drilling.




	The reason for the increased demand for frac sand is due to the fact that it is so important to the hydraulic fracturing process. Once a well is drilled horizontally, operators insert perforation guns at different points along the horizontal line. Once in place, an explosive charge is set off to expand the natural fractures within the shale that already exist.




	Once the perforation is complete the operators inject a hydraulic gel with high pressure to help open up the fractures, and the frac sand allows the fractures to remain open so that the natural gas can flow into the production casing up to the surface. A well can be fracked over 40 times using 30,000 to 300,000 tons of frac sand depending on the length of the lateral and how many times the well is fracked.



	
	







			
	

  


  

    

          
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