Santrol Acquires Self-Suspending Proppant Technology

Santrol (USA), a Fairmount Minerals company, announced recently the acquisition of self-suspending proppant technology from Soane Energy of Cambridge, MA, that will enable operators to improve hydrocarbon production by substantially increasing the surface area of propped fractures to the reservoir. Coupled with Fairmount Minerals' process and manufacturing expertise, innovative self-suspending proppants will reach their full potential.

This game-changing proppant, which is suspended in the fracturing fluid, is transported farther for substantially better propped fracture length. The technology, which eliminates the need for certain fluid additives, improves hydraulic fracturing efficiency.

This solution is a step change in the decades-old challenge of evenly distributing proppant throughout the full length of a created hydraulic fracture. This is achieved by enveloping traditional proppant, such as Northern White sand, in a polymer that suspends the proppant in the hydraulic fracturing fluid. Once the proppant is placed in the fracture, traditional breakers remove the polymer leaving the proppant in place. 

"Self-suspending proppant is superior hydraulic fracturing technology that will enable operators to more successfully and efficiently complete wells," said Fairmount Minerals President Jenniffer Deckard. "As operators continuously look for improved solutions to increasing hydrocarbon production, self-suspending proppant will lead the way."

The proppant remains suspended in the fracturing fluid throughout the entire delivery process, lessening the need for fluid viscosifiers, such as guar and its derivatives, crosslinkers, friction reducers, biocides, gel stabilisers, or high pH buffers. This simplified fluid requirement increases hydraulic fracturing efficiency.

"For years, our clients have wanted a lighter proppant to counter the effects of settling during proppant transport. The effective density of our self-suspending proppant is much less than conventional proppants, allowing for superior transport and placement. We are looking forward to working with our customers on field trials this fall," said Van Smith, executive vice-president of Sales and Marketing for Santrol.