Permian Basin Proppants Inc — What is Proppant Fracing

What is proppant?

Hydraulic fracturing is influential and one of the most important oilfield innovations of this century. Proppant has been used since its conception and is often hailed as one of the top innovations in hydraulic fracturing. This is because significant technological improvements made over the past 30 years have had a revolutionary impact on the industry. The revolutionary technique, combining better drilling designs with ultra-sophisticated frac systems, helps to improve production.

Most people don’t know what proppant is or how it figures in the petroleum-extraction process. One has to understand that microscopic fractures are created with fracking fluid, which is injected under great pressure.

How Is Proppant Used in Fracing?

When a mix of proppant, chemicals & water is propelled into the well, the sudden impact opens up fractures in the rock. If nothing is used to keep these fractures open, they’ll close. This means that fewer hydrocarbons will escape because there are fewer open channels that can let them pass through.

Today’s completion designs include natural sand or engineered materials. High-pressure environments in the wellbore create a need for proppants and they come in two main varieties: ceramic and silica sand. For as long as possible, helping to increases the productivity of the well.

Innovations are being made to perfect completion designs. By seeking to find the optimal balance between proppant intensity & height, it is possible that domestic oil & natural gas production will increase even more.