Three Permian Basin mines are producing frac sand today. Over the next four months, six more plants are planned to begin commercial production in the Basin. Will all go according to plan? And who will win the race to be the next plant online? We have field-level updates on all …
Read More »In-Basin Adversary: 40mph Gusts In Kermit/Monahans Just Tested Sand Stockpiles
High winds ripped through the West Texas dune strip during the past couple days, reminding us of fugitive dust and inventory erosion risks. West Texas poses a unique environmental challenge that the frac sand mining industry has never had to deal with at scale before. We believe wind will be …
Read More »Establishing A 2018 Tight Oil E&P Capex Growth Floor? The Most Budget Conscious E&P Set A 16% 2018 Increase Vs. Prior 2017 Plan
Anadarko’s 2018 capital spending program was released Thursday morning. It is one of the first detailed 2018 E&P budgets to be released this budget season. Given their focus on discipline and returns and leadership in crafting a sustainable framework for developing tight oil, Anadarko’s E&P capex budget should help establish …
Read More »About 80 Trucks A Day Are Moving Out Of Aequor’s Gates Out In Culberson County Right Now
We checked in with Aequor management out in Culberson County for an update on the Permian Basin’s second online frac sand mine. There’s a lot more to this story… Login to see the full update… To read this update and receive our research newsletters, you must be a member. If …
Read More »Permian Frac Sand Scattershooting Part 2: Smart Sand’s Plan, Well Performance, New Contracts, Delaware Usage
Another installment in our popular series of tidbits on Permian Basin frac sand mine scene happenings. There’s a lot more to this story… Login to see the full update… To read this update and receive our research newsletters, you must be a member. If you are new to Infill Thinking, …
Read More »Canary In The Coal Mine? A Pecos Spring Just Went Dry For Just The Third Time In Recorded History
On the heels of an industry-first Delaware Basin water deal signed about a week ago comes a report from a Permian rancher to our desk that a historic spring has gone dry. In this update, we examine the brackish water requirements implied by frac sand volumes, discuss the dry spring’s …
Read More »Sand In The Wind: Charting West Texas Vs. Wisconsin Air Currents
Wind presents a big risk factor for West Texas mines. It’s a challenge that mine builders don’t have to design to in Wisconsin, so cookie cutter designs may face issues with open sand pile erosion. After a windy week in West Texas, we put pen to paper to chart the …
Read More »New Discussion: If Risks Hypothetically Derail In-Basin Sand Supply, Will Permian Transload Capacity Be Enough?
There is a new discussion topic over in our members-only discussion forum today. Click here to read the full thread and discuss In it we ponder whether enough Permian transload capacity is in place to service demand growth if in-basin frac sand mines fall short of expectations. Understandably, investment appetite …
Read More »Update On Permian In-Basin Mine Number Two, Mine Number Three & Contracting Competition
Several Permian Basin mines are now shipping sand. But only one is still fully operational. What’s the latest on the next two in terms of startup schedules? Based on our recent discussion with management teams of the new plants approaching the finish line, we provide readers with a status update …
Read More »Unimin’s Permian Plant Location Finally Revealed
The long awaited Unimin Permian sand mine location has finally been announced. A new filing reveals one of the best kept secrets of the Permian Basin sand mine rush: where will Unimin build their plant? There’s a lot more to this story… Login to see the full update… To read …
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