Frac sand is a naturally occurring resource found only in a few places around the globe. Frac sand is made up of crystalline silica (quartz) processed from high-purity sandstone and is used within the petroleum industry during the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of rock or shale deposits. Once rock is fractured, frac sand is used as a proppant to prop open the fracs allowing oil, natural gas or natural gas liquids to flow from the rock to the wells.
Where does PHOENIX fit into all this? When frac sand is mined, larger minerals mixed into the sand still need to be separated. PHOENIX technologies are designed to clean and separate those minerals to produce the purest output possible.
PHOENIX provides systems of frac sand processing equipment to frac sand producers. From sand classification, frac sand washing, scrubbing and dewatering, to water recycling and waste reuse, PHOENIX frac sand processing equipment helps optimize sand production to the correct standard for efficiency and profitability.
How Frac Sand is Used:
Frac Sand is used when extracting subsurface minerals like oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids. Acquiring these minerals is achieved through a process called fracking.
Fracking is accomplished by drilling a well into the rock being targeted. Once drilled, the portion of the well in the petroleum-bearing zone is sealed. Chemicals and thickeners are applied to water to create a viscous gel which is then pumped into that portion of the well using a high-pressure process. When mixed with the gel, grains of frac sand can be carried in a suspended state.
Pressurized pumps are activated at the surface and feed water through the sealed portion of the well until sufficient pressure creates fractures within surrounding rocks. Water rushes heavily through the fractures, opening them up while pushing deeper through every crack. Because of the sand’s uniform size, fluids hidden within the fractures are able to flow though the spaces between the particles easily.
Where does PHOENIX fit into all this? When frac sand is mined, larger minerals mixed into the sand still need to be separated. PHOENIX technologies are designed to clean and separate those minerals to produce the purest output possible.
PHOENIX provides systems of frac sand processing equipment to frac sand producers. From sand classification, frac sand washing, scrubbing and dewatering, to water recycling and waste reuse, PHOENIX frac sand processing equipment helps optimize sand production to the correct standard for efficiency and profitability.
How Frac Sand is Used:
Frac Sand is used when extracting subsurface minerals like oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids. Acquiring these minerals is achieved through a process called fracking.
Fracking is accomplished by drilling a well into the rock being targeted. Once drilled, the portion of the well in the petroleum-bearing zone is sealed. Chemicals and thickeners are applied to water to create a viscous gel which is then pumped into that portion of the well using a high-pressure process. When mixed with the gel, grains of frac sand can be carried in a suspended state.
Pressurized pumps are activated at the surface and feed water through the sealed portion of the well until sufficient pressure creates fractures within surrounding rocks. Water rushes heavily through the fractures, opening them up while pushing deeper through every crack. Because of the sand’s uniform size, fluids hidden within the fractures are able to flow though the spaces between the particles easily.