OIL & GAS: SILICA DUST CONTROL IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

Employee exposure to silica dust generation during hydraulic fracturing operations is a continuing concern for the oil and gas industry. Energy and production (E&P) companies face ongoing scrutiny of the impact of hydraulic fracturing operations on air quality. Service providers are being challenged to design, operate and optimize hydraulic fracturing systems to be safe and environmentally-friendly while maximizing production. Social concerns and regulatory standards for hydraulic fracturing have made safety and environmental stewardship a top priority.

One process that poses significant environmental, health and safety (EHS) challenges to the industry is the shipping and transfer of frac sand (proppant) which generates silica dust. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revised the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica dust downward from 0.1 mg/m³ to 0.05 mg/m³. While the hydraulic fracturing industry has already applied measures to control silica dust, OSHA’s new regulations require further technological advancements in dust control, since existing mechanical and personal protective equipment (PPE) systems do not adequately reduce silica dust levels down to the new PEL across the hydraulic fracturing supply chain.

 Recognizing the need for a better solution to the problem, ArrMaz collaborated with industry experts and applied our more than 50 years of coating technology expertise to develop an effective chemical technology solution for silica dust control. SandTec^®, our patented, next-generation silica dust control proppant coating technology is a proven solution, which, when applied to frac sand, results in significant reductions in respirable silica dust to below OSHA’s new PEL. SandTec minimizes silica dust generation from the mine to the well head, spanning the entire hydraulic fracturing supply chain.

ArrMaz’s team of engineers and technical experts work closely with E&P’s, service providers and sand companies to deliver a complete SandTec solution that includes both the coating and an application system customized to their specific needs. With SandTec, you will benefit from a high quality, low dust frac sand for your hydraulic fracturing operations.