Technological Advances In Oil Fracking Continue. OPEC Is Stymied

David Hunn, Fuel Fix: Want a good investment? Try sand

Sand is a big issue in horizontal drilling.

And analysts are predicting it’s soon going to be a bigger one.

Drillers shoot millions of gallons of water into horizontal wells to fracture the rock and free the hydrocarbons. To keep those fractures open, they add “proppant” — sand. The industry has already engaged in serious debate about what kind of sand works best, and in serious fights for control of sand mines.

Now analysts at the investment firm Tudor Pickering Holt say they are “increasingly convinced” that U.S. drillers are going to use more sand in the near future … a lot more sand.

Sand use has already exploded, rising from 3 million pounds per well in 2013 to 5 million in 2014 to 8 million pounds per well now.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Fracking sand is making the shale revolution possible .... and diminishing the power of OPEC .... Global Oil: Does OPEC Have A Policy? (Seeking Alpha)

Hat Tip: Prairie Pundit

Update: On a side note .... if this was happening near a nuclear plant or refinery .... environmental groups would be screaming (but they are quiet) .... This Mojave Desert solar plant kills 6,000 birds a year. Here's why that won't change any time soon (L.A. Times)