Purchasing Agent needs sources of \"frac sand\" Best answer on the web

  • I am a Purchasing Manager in the Oil and Gas industry. I am trying to
    buy what is called "frac sand". I need a list of sources including
    contact information. The sources might include sand mines and/or
    distributors in the U.S. and Canada.

    We are only interested in sources of a specific kind of sand called
    "St. Peters Sandstone". I believe it is also referred to as "Ottawa
    Sand".

    The specific type we need is referred to as "20/40" or "30/70" or
    "40/70". This refers to the size of sieve through which the sand can
    pass.

    Some background info: This type of sand is being used as a
    "proppant". It is forced into gas wells with water at extremely high
    pressure to literally fracture the earth open to allow for more gas
    and oil to escape to the well head. The sand remains to "prop" open
    the crack. The sand is generally white in color and is spherical in
    shape.

    Some key words/phrases are: "20/40", "30/70", "40/70", "frac sand",
    "Ottawa sand", "St. Peter(s) sand(stone)", "crush rate", "proppant", "sand broker"


  • Hi jfra,

    I am making some progress, but everyone wants to know the name of the
    company you are purchasing for. They are squeamish about talking with "3rd" parties like me when they aren't sure where the info is going. Can you tell me the name of your company? And is it an "oil service" company?
    Thanks, cath-ga


  • Hi again jfra,

    I just noticed that there's a frac sand distributor in
    Central TX looking for customers, here on Google Answers.
    The number of the question is 528741. If you keep an eye
    on it, once it is answered you can list your company
    as a possible customer in the comments below. cath-ga


  • I am interested in receiving a quote. Thanks.


  • jfra,

    thanks for the kind rating! The Google Answers editors removed my clarification comment about Unimin's Western District Manager because it apparently contained some contact info for me. Not sure about that, but wanted to re-post Mike Kulesa's phone number for you, in case you
    didn't already print it out: 916-435-5303. He's the one who said
    he's already committed, but it's OK to give him a call. cath-ga


  • jfra,

    If you're still interested in a sand source, I have a source (approximately 300M tons)that I would be willing to discuss with you. Let me know if you are still in the market.


  • Check out this question:

    http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=561210


  • We are in North Texas. The quantity we need (more like a dream) is around 2,250 tons per week (yes, tons). In short, we'll take as much as we can get... Shipping from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada is ok.


  • Hi jfra,

    how many sources are you hoping for? cath-ga


  • I just need an email and/or telephone number to reach you.


  • Go ahead and forward me whatever information you have and I will proceed to contact them directly. I'm not surprised they won't give you more info.
    Thanks.


  • jfra,
    never mind the last question- further research has answered it. cath-ga


  • 817.320.3817


  • You did a great job. I appreciate your offering to post any additional information you might receive.
    When I got the authorization to use this service, I wasn't aware that it was appropriate to tip. Otherwise, I would have been able to do that. I will budget it in my future requests.
    Thank you for helping.


  • Hi jfra,

    I have a list of sand producers and am about to start contacting them.
    It might help me to know how much you need to buy, and where, generally,
    you are physically located. Thanks for the very clear description of
    what you are looking for. That will help. cath-ga


  • jfra-

    I can tell this is going to be an elaborate correspondence! I have found
    a couple of producers so far that meet your size requirements, but their
    sand is tan, not white. One of them sells a lot of his sand for use as frac
    sand, and ships from Texas...The latter contact says that Ottawa Sand and
    St. Peter's aren't the same thing...but in any case would only be available
    back East. So, must the sand be CALLED by one of those two names, and must
    it be white? Or is meeting the size and shape requirement sufficient?
    thanks, cath-ga


  • I'm hoping for twenty... But, it might not be possible.


  • I am a rep for a white sand producer. Advise if you require a quote for 20x40, 20x30, 30x50, 30x70, 40x70, and 30x70 brown. We can ship UP or BNSF.


  • Unimin has a location in Ottawa, MN. Hence, Ottawa Sand. I am applying for the job of Purchaser/Supervisor at this location. That is how I came across your question. You can call the Plant Manager at (507)665-3386. Hopefully this will help you out, and if does, let them know Brian R. referred you.
    There address is Unimin Corp at 39770 Ottawa Rd, LeSueur, MN 56058.

    This is the "White" Sand you are looking for. I am not sure how much there sand is already contracted for.


  • Dear jfra,

    Since you have asked for what I have, and sound like you're
    in a hurry, I am sending the current state of my research. I have
    not received callbacks from many of the sources, but you will
    probably get them much faster than I, since you can give your company
    name. You can also provide better incentives that I can for a positive
    answer.

    However, I don't feel I've fully satisfied my responsibility here. I will
    be happy to do further calling and searching at your direction, (at no
    extra charge) if you just hit the "Clarify Answer" button. It may be that
    you will want me to search for Brady sand or some other kind, and that will
    be fine. This is a really tough time to get Ottawa sand, supplies are apparently almost all committed.
    I contacted all the top 10 producers of industrial sand in the U.S.,
    and ruled out a few that told me they don't have frac sand or Ottawa
    sand. The first three below are the "Big Three" in frac sand, as you
    probably know:

    Badger Mining Corp
    Berlin Wisconsin. Brian Olmen, 920-361-2388, ext. 133

    He says the market is extremely tight, but he'll be happy to talk
    with you. He only provides directly to service companies, and
    can give you the info you need.

    Unimin, Steve Frateroli, Corporate Sales, 1-800-223-2236
    I left message Monday, no call back

    Also left message for Allison Lamb 800-223-2236

    Oglebay Norton, Cleveland, OH, Corporate office
    216-861-3300, left message at vendor number, no response.

    A Sales Manager for Oglebay, Norton in California sells a lot of frac
    sand, but it is not Ottawa sand. It is tan, and does meet your size requirements. For this sand you can contact: Jim Martin, in Bakersfield, at 916-708-6214. He also said he could be your contact for the company as a whole.


    U.S. Silica, Corporate, Bob Morrow, 800-243-7500 He called me back and
    said they're "sold out" of Ottawa sand, and 99% committed for some time
    to come. Maybe you can negotiate with him...He did say that Brady sand,
    brown sand, has been used in California for frac sand with some success.


    Santrol, division of Fairmount Mineral
    800-338-4686, I left message Monday, no call back yet

    Sil Industrial Minerals
    Edmonton, Alberta
    780-478-7171

    The above company came up on a search for "frac sand" on
    Oil and Gas Online, at:

    http://www.oilandgasonline.com/IndustrySearch/SearchResults.aspx?keyword=fracturing+sand&TabIndex=1&image1.x=17&image1.y=12
    I e-mailed them, but have received no response. If you haven't already
    used Oil and Gas Online, you might want to try it.


    According to the IOGA News., in an article called "Frac Sand Supply
    Update." p. 15, the demand for Ottawa sand will far exceed the supply this spring. The article suggests a comparison of Ottawa sand to Brady sand and others, so that users can decide which of the "second or third tier"
    sands to use instead of the desirable white sand.

    "To compare various replacement sand options you need to find out
    what the permeability and conductivity is at the downhole conditions
    in your wells. Your service company can provide you with permeability
    and conductivity data at 2,000 psi, 4,000 psi, and perhaps even 6,000
    psi closure stress.

    If you want the best quality possible in your frac sand, I suggest
    you to dig deeper into the API test data of your service provider?s frac
    sand. Just because it sieves out on your location at 20/40 mesh
    according to an API test (must be 90% between the 20 and 40 mesh
    screens) does not mean it meets any other API specification. The
    frac sand shortage is now so widespread that many previously
    never used, inferior sands are being offered up to replace API Ottawa
    and Brady sands (Brady sand is on allocation, too). Some of these
    replacement sands may be severely lacking in important tests like
    percentage of fines in API crush tests, and the basic physical
    properties, roundness and sphericity. If you have no other options
    but to pump them or not frac at all, a good strategy may be to
    pump the best one available if you can?t wait."

    http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:1OlFmVUqDhcJ:www.iogawv.com/newsFiles/march05newsletter.pdf+%22Ottawa+sand%22+%2B+fracturing+sand+%2B+producer&hl=en

    RMC-Cemex

    If you are willing to go with something other than Ottawa sand, RMC-Cemex
    has sand which meets your size requirements, but is not white. They have
    20/40 and 30/70. They also can mix sand to meet the 40/70 size. The sand
    comes from the beach at Monterey, CA, and is washed and dried by RMC Cemex.

    You can contact Byron Slavin, at 925-285-1180.

    Juniata Sand

    Vassar , MI , 989-823-1166 Brad Feathers is the manager there.
    Juniata is a new operation of the Sargent Companies (Sargent Sand was one
    of the Top Ten Industrial Sand Producers, but closed down.)

    Feathers isn't familiar with Ottawa sand. He has a natural grayish
    sand that is round and does come in the 20/40 size. It has silica
    in it. He's very eager to work with you since they're just gearing
    up.

    Resources:

    Oil and Gas online:

    http://www.oilandgasonline.com/IndustrySearch/SearchResults.aspx?keyword=fracturing+sand&TabIndex=1&image1.x=17&image1.y=12
    I sent e-mails to several suppliers on this site, no response.

    RigSupplies.com

    http://www.rigsupplies.com/

    This is a Canadian on-line procurement service. They don't have
    anyone who supplies frac sand in their group, but they are putting
    some feelers out. They also supply procurement software programs
    for purchasing agents like you.

    Lobos Services also came up on my search for "frac sand' on
    Oil and Gas online. Apparently Lobos publishes a directory
    of suppliers for the petrochemical industry, and has a specific
    directory for Texas that you might be interested in.

    Lobos Services
    16016 Perkins Road
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810
    UNITED STATES
    Phone: 225-751-5626
    Fax: 225-751-6344

    This is it so far. Please give me further direction if you want to!

    cath-ga

    search strategy:

    oil and gas industry supplier
    directory of sand suppliers + oil and gas
    ottawa sand + fracturing sand
    ottawa sand + sand producer









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