Frac Sand Weekly News Digest

Nick Cook, Editor

Issue #551 | February 4, 2026

One of the biggest stories of last week is of course the mega-merger between Devon and Coterra. $21.5 billion all-stock deal to create one of the most dominant players in the Permian basin.

 

Inside this week’s digest, we’ve got details on the deal, a number of interesting shale data perspectives from Liberty’s Leen Weijers, and much more.

 

(P.S. registrations are open for the Frac Sand Update, so you can secure your place today)

 

And now, the news…

This Week's News

Devon Energy to Buy Coterra for $21.5 Billion to Create Shale Giant

The deal is one of the largest to be announced in the oil patch in recent years.

Merger Monday – OFS Context For The Latest E&P Mega-deal…

Context to assess the impact of the Coterra and Devon deal.

Meeting the demand for sand

While it may not be as sexy or exotic as lithium or niobium mining, quartz mining in B.C. has some pretty strong economic fundamentals, including low capex costs and high demand.

A Boring Quarter For Permian Local Sand Supply

Here's an update on the local sand mining activity for the Permian.

Frac Innovates, Competes and Consolidates

Choice in shale frac’ing is alive and well, but the last few years of pricing pressure have caused pressure pumpers to vigorously innovate, compete and consolidate.

Frac Activity Returning To Normal After The Thaw

The latest update on how activity WAS impacted, and more importantly, what's NEXT?

Lightweight proppants improve completion

For conventional horizontal gravel packed wells, a comprehensive study using various ceramsite densities reveals the trade-offs between packing density, stability, and operational safety, emphasizing the importance of balanced parameters for long-term well integrity and production efficiency.

Power. Sand. Water. Shale Is More Than Oil And Gas…

The Frac Sand Update is one of the best events of H1, but it's not the only one.

Sirte Oil Company’s new and re-started wells add 4,020 barrels of oil per day to production

Notable that it was able to drill the first horizontal development well in the Al-Khair field since the start of production in 2021.

Frac Activity Updates & Forecasts From 2 Public Pressure Pumpers

An important update to analyze pressure pumping trends.

D&C Utilization’s Protracted Decline Flowing Into A More Stable Trough Period

Interesting observations from a new data release just completed by the Infill Team.

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