Fracking sand is, once again, a hot commodity. While production has dropped over the past several years, both demand and prices have been rising recently, with some believing that prices could hit $50 a ton by the end of 2017.1)
Using industrial terminology, fracking sand is a "proppant." Basically, proppants "prop", or keep open, the cracks and pores in the rock after it has been fractured ("fracked") so that the oil, gas, and natural gas liquids can be pumped out.2)
U.S. Sand & Gravel Production Usage - Fracking, Well-Packing, and Cementing Sand
(Million Tonnes)
Source: usgs.com (*Estimated)
The last time fracking sand was in such demand and prices were high was before the price of crude oil started to go South in the second half of 2014. Prior to that, in some instances prices rose to an average of $75 (sometimes more) per metric ton.
Fracking sand may, once again, be a hot commodity. But its price is also, once again, a concern of energy companies in the U.S.
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