Proppant Progress
- Category: Feature
- Published on 2013-05-01
- Written by Godfrey Budd
New players and strategic partnerships, more research and niche products are adding pizzazz to one-obscure sector
The proppant sector has been on its double-digit-per-annum growth curve for a while now, and the pace shows little sign of slowing, despite what some see as the risk of a glut in the wake of a swarm of new entrants. With the widespread application of substantial fracturing treatments for shale gas and tight oil completions and, according to some estimates, proppants often accounting for up to five per cent of the cost of a well, this hitherto somewhat obscure sector could soon acquire some heft within the industry as a whole.