As of publishing, WTI is ALMOST at $100. Nat gas is solidly a long-term play for powering AI and data centers and just life frankly.
BUT…
Prices don’t mean jack to us if they don’t translate to increased activity and improved pricing for proppant, logistics, and OFS.
That’s the big question that we’ll be asking all our contacts next week.
This Tuesday, March 24 in Houston, the frac sand industry will gather for one of its most focused and influential annual meetings: the 11th Frac Sand Industry Update, hosted by Petroleum Connection.
What makes this conference particularly compelling is not just the topics—but the people driving the conversation. With participation from leading operators, suppliers, logistics providers, and market analysts, the event reflects the full complexity of the modern frac sand value chain.
Grounding the Day: Shale Outlook and Market Reality
The agenda opens a North American shale outlook from Mark Quesada of Rystad Energy.
This session anchors the entire conference. Sand demand is no longer tied simply to rig counts—it is increasingly influenced by completion intensity, lateral lengths, and evolving well designs. Quesada’s analysis is expected to frame key questions around activity levels, capital discipline, and how operators are balancing productivity with cost control heading into 2026.
State of the Industry: Strategy Over Growth
The “State of the Industry” discussion, moderated by Joseph Triepke of Infill Thinking, brings in commercial perspective from Jason Price of Wall Street Sand Co., HAL’s vantagepoint with Ozair Shahid, and ProFrac’s breadth of activity with Corey Donaldson.
This session is expected to reflect a fundamental shift in industry mindset. Rather than chasing rapid expansion, companies are now focused on:
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Capital efficiency
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Supply discipline
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Margin protection
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Strategic positioning in a more mature market
Consolidation across E&P and service sectors continues to reshape demand patterns, and this panel will likely explore how sand suppliers are adapting to fewer, larger, and more cost-conscious customers.
A Deep Bench of Industry Operators and Experts
Beyond the headline sessions, the speaker roster highlights the diversity of perspectives shaping the conversation.
Participants include:
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Logistics: Greg Lanham (TSS), Forbes Scott (Sisu Energy), Blake LeBaron (Norco Transport), David Gonzalez (Higginbotham), and Joy Lanham (KLM Logistics)
- Power Generation: Mike Mayers (Aggreko), Scott Johns (Sapphire), John Gorrell (2G Energy/CK Power), and Bob Carter (IAC)
- Innovators: Sam Reynolds (USIX), Mark McGill (PropTester), Amos Kim (Chevron), Max Nikolaev (CARBO), and Superior Energy.
- … and Dave Frattaroli will be sharing his sand entrepreneurial journey!
This mix ensures the discussion goes well beyond theory—grounded instead in the day-to-day realities of mining, transporting, and pumping sand at scale.
Integration Across the Value Chain
One of the defining strengths of the Frac Sand Update is its ability to bring together stakeholders from across the entire ecosystem.
The attendee base includes:
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Proppant producers
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Exploration & production companies
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Well completion teams
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Logistics providers
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Technology and equipment companies
This structure creates a more integrated conversation. Decisions made by operators—such as increasing proppant intensity—directly impact mining output, logistics demand, and infrastructure requirements. The agenda is intentionally designed to reflect these interdependencies.
The Underlying Theme: Efficiency Through Innovation
While not always explicitly labeled, innovation is a thread running through every discussion.
Expect speakers to touch on:
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Automation in mining and material handling
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Data-driven supply chain optimization
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Advances in sand quality testing and performance
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New approaches to reducing cost and emissions
As the industry matures, the focus has shifted from scaling volume to optimizing performance—and technology is central to that evolution.
A Curated Room, Not a Crowded Conference
Unlike large-scale industry events, the 11th Frac Sand Update is intentionally capped at around 150 attendees. This smaller format fosters meaningful interaction—giving participants direct access to speakers and decision-makers.
In many cases, the most valuable insights won’t come from the stage, but from conversations between sessions—where operators, suppliers, and service providers can exchange perspectives candidly.
Why This Event Matters Now
The frac sand industry is at an inflection point. The era of unchecked growth has given way to one defined by discipline, consolidation, and efficiency.
This is what makes the 11th Frac Sand Update particularly relevant: it is not a conference about what could happen, but about how industry leaders are responding to what is happening.
The Bottom Line
The 11th Frac Sand Update delivers more than a series of presentations—it offers a structured, end-to-end view of the industry through the voices of those actively shaping it.
For anyone involved in the frac sand supply chain, the agenda signals one clear takeaway: success in today’s market will depend not just on volume, but on integration, efficiency, and strategic alignment across the entire system.
Register today: 11th Annual Frac Sand Industry Update – Petroleum Connection