Frac Sand Weekly News Digest
Nick Cook, Editor
Issue #237 | September 18, 2019
Outside global oil disruption news, we have a pretty quiet week for frac sand news…the PropX-Sandbox dispute being the exception. We will be launching the websites for the 5th Annual Frac Sand Industry Update and for the 9th Annual Frac Sand Supply & Logistics Conference in the next day or so. So if you are reading this on Wednesday afternoon or later, check it all out at www.petroleumconnection.com
This Week's News
More Panel Hot Takes From The Petroleum Connection Conference Last Week
An update earlier this week summarized some key quotes from the panels on in-basin and northern white sand at the largest completions supply chain event of the year.
PropX Prevails in Patent Trial and Appeal Board Ruling Resulting in Invalidation of SandBox Logistics Patent Claims
Proppant Express Investments today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office through the Patent Trial and Appeal Board invalidated patent claims of a SandBox Logistics, patent.
U.S. Silica's SandBox Unit To Appeal Patent Office Decision
U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. announced today that its SandBox LogisticsTM business unit intends to appeal a recent United States Patent Office decision to invalidate challenged claims in one of the...
A Victory Claimed In A Major Last Mile Legal Tiff, But There Will Be An Appeal
In the ongoing legal dispute between company X and company Y over intellectual property… two notable responses from both parties to a judgement in the past 24 hours.
More Sideline Stuff From The Big Completions Supply Chain Conference Last Week
Earlier this week we shared five talking points from our sideline conversations at the Petroleum Club’s completion supply chain conference last week.
Oil’s Dramatic Advance Pauses As Market Awaits Saudi Clarity
Oil plunged nearly 7% in London after Reuters reported Saudi Arabia is close to restoring 70% of the oil production it lost after this weekend's attack on a key crude...
A Shot In The Arm, But The US Frac Supply Chain Still Needs Surgery
Sunday was not a day of rest for most folks who think about the oil and gas industry for a living. We’ve never seen so many weekend news updates and...
Baker Hughes To Change Name, Stock Ticker Symbol
Houston oilfield service company Baker Hughes is dropping "a GE Company" from its name and changing its stock ticker symbol. Baker Hughes made the announcement on Monday after its parent..
Bankruptcy Judge Accepts Weatherford Reorganization Plan
A bankruptcy judge in Houston has issued an order accepting a Chapter 11 reorganization plan filed by the struggling oilfield service company Weatherford International.
Low-Cost Fracking Offers Boon To Oil Producers, Headaches For Suppliers
At a dusty drilling site east of San Antonio, shale producer EOG Resources Inc recently completed its latest well using a new technology developed by a small services firm that...
Weakening Shale Productivity “VERY Bullish” For Oil Prices
After years of improvements in drilling techniques and impressive “efficiency gains,” there is now evidence that the U.S. shale industry is reaching the end of the road on well productivity.
Potential Rail Line Through Craig, UT Moves Forward In Planning With New Supervisor
The Rio Grande Pacific Corporation has hired a railroad veteran to lead a massive new rail line project that could connect the energy markets of Colorado and Utah. According to...
Covia Closes the Sale of the Winchester and Western Railroad for $105 Million
Covia, a leading provider of mineral-based and material solutions for the Industrial and Energy markets, announced that effective today, it has closed on the sale of the Winchester and Western...
University of Kansas Announces New $3.5 Million Grant From Office Of Fossil Energy To Develop A “Novel Smart Microchip Proppants” Technology
Very excited to report our new $3.5 Million grant from Office of Fossil Energy to develop a “Novel Smart Microchip Proppants” Technology for Precision Diagnostics of Hydraulic Fracture Networks” in...
California Administration Quietly Stalls Fracking Permits
The administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom has imposed a de-facto moratorium on hydraulic fracturing while it studies permitting procedures for the politically controversial oil well-completion technique better known as fracking.
Permian's Growing Alternative Energy Opens New Market For Drone Company
Drones are increasingly dotting Permian Basin skies, looking for methane and pipeline leaks and scouring both proposed pipeline routes and well locations. The rise of wind and solar farms is...
Interesting Read: Inside The Deadly World Of India’s Sand Mining Mafia
Up to 300 trucks a day take their fill of sand at a mine on the Sone River in Bihar state. India’s construction boom is stripping large volumes of sand,...
Signal Peak Silica Site Visit Notes (Eagle Ford Stops Along The Road)
Last month during our Eagle Ford market intel gathering trip (see the big picture highlights here), we stopped by the Signal Peak Silica frac sand production facility for a tour...
Water You Doing On October 4?
In three weeks from now, on October 4 in Downtown Houston, US oil industry leaders and investors will gather to discuss oilfield water’s evolving business model, market structure, and latest...
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