Skip navigation
Reports & Analysis Strategic Insights Research Subscriptions
Sign In / Create Account Cart
Sign In / Create Account Cart
  • Reports & Analysis
  • Strategic Insights
  • Research Subscriptions

Resources

  • Analyst Buzz
  • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • Resources & Downloads

The Freedonia Group

  • Contact
  • About
  • Our Staff
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
Freedonia Market Research Freedonia Group Proppants Market in North America by Type and Location, 3rd Edition

Proppants Market in North America by Type and Location, 3rd Edition

Industry Reports, North America

Report Overview

West Texas Sand: A New Source for Raw Frac Sand

Sand

Recent demand for proppants has surged, driven by the combination of a recovering oil and gas industry and increased the volume of proppants used per well. As a result, prices are expected to climb for proppants, making transportation costs, which can be substantial for a commodity level product, a big factor in product decisions. West Texas sand development will help calm some of the worries of the cost of sand. Three major sand suppliers have made significant investments in the region’s sand resources, hoping to make them available to the most heavily drilled area in the US, the Permian Basin. Hi-Crush, Unimin, and US Silica have made recent investments to expand production of the newly discovered sand in West Texas.

Table of Contents

    • $414.58

    • $4,755.99

      • $323.44

      • $390.83

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $2,016.10

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $1,007.24

        • $323.44

      • $716.91

        • $553.54

        • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $432.52

        • $354.95

        • $323.44

    • $2,583.53

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $463.00

      • $892.03

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

      • $353.33

      • $606.83

        • $426.32

        • $323.44

    • $5,330.97

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $3,699.24

        • $351.16

        • $3,346.32

      • $1,254.40

        • $323.44

        • $978.64

    • $3,648.90

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $845.61

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $447.22

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $399.46

    • $2,312.89

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $460.32

      • $323.44

      • $1,189.10

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $443.99

        • $375.31

Key Findings in the Proppants Market in North America Study:

Completion Activity Continues to Recover

In 2014, the benchmark price for oil collapsed due to the global oil glut. Drilling and completion activity throughout North America declined, with 2016 activity falling to a quarter of 2014 levels. However, prices have started to trend in an upward direction, aided by a motivated OPEC, who has restrained production, in member and agreeing non-member states, to stimulate price growth. Increased prices have allowed operators to have a modest return to exploration and development in oil and gas plays, focusing on the most economical regions. Completion activity is expected to continue to grow through 2021, although it is not expected to approach pre-price crash levels. Additionally, improved efficiencies and technology have allowed some additional completion activity, shifting the breakeven costs in the favor of drillers.

Proppant Loadings Are Increasing

The volume and density of proppants used in hydraulic fracturing continue to rise. Drillers are pumping more sand and other proppants into the wellbore to increase the initial and total production of oil and gas they can yield from a low permeability rock layer. Coupled with the improvements in unconventional technology, many of which require more proppant, these efforts point toward one eventuality -- more proppant. Wells are now seeing, on average, 10 million pounds per unconventional well. The infrastructure required to deliver that amount of material puts its size in perspective; on average, ten million pounds of sand takes 100 rail cars and 400 trucks to deliver.

Unconventional Technology Drives Proppant Demand

Operators and drilling service companies have improved their techniques for hydraulic fracturing unconventional resources. Wells are now being drilled with longer laterals, more frac stages, and more frac clusters. Today’s well laterals can reach well over 10,000 feet and have over 100 stages. Additionally, with the increased use of multilateral wells and multi-well pads, today’s wells (and pads) need more proppant to fracture them completely. While it is assumed this trend of pushing well complexity will plateau, either from too much additional cost or due to diminishing returns, it does not appear to have occurred quite yet.

Raw Frac Sand is Taking Over

Raw frac sand continues to gain market share from competing proppants, like resin coated sand, ceramic proppants, and other specialty proppants. The low benchmark price environment has pushed operators and oilfield service companies to seek the cheapest proppants available, especially given the increased volumes. Raw frac sand is by far the most economical solution. In addition, the sand mined in the US, especially Northern White sand, is high quality, displaying strong enough characteristics to prop most well conditions in the US. The crush strength and roundness/sphericity allow US frac sand to be a highly conductive option for drillers and completion crews.

Study Coverage

This study presents historical data (2006, 2011, and 2016) and forecasts (2021) by type (raw frac sand, resin coated sand, ceramic proppants) and location (Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Colorado, North Dakota, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alberta) in pounds and US dollars. The study also evaluates key industry players in the proppants market.

Purchase Options

Access Options

Membership

Complementary Access to Report Including:

  • consultative access to our analyst
  • unlimited downloads to reports
  • global market research in 9 languages
  • customized PPT presentations
  • passwords for your teams available
  • and more...
Become a Member
Purchase This Report

Select your license:

  • $5,300.00
  • $6,800.00
  • $8,300.00
  • — —
    Section prices in Table of Contents

Free Sample Report

A free sample report is available.

Questions & Assistance

Email us

Share This Report

Copied to clipboard. Could not copy to clipboard.

Download a Free Sample Report Now

Sample Reports include examples of all the tables, charts, infographics and topics included in this study.
By submitting this sample request you consent to receiving marketing communications from us. See our privacy policy to learn how to unsubscribe.

Use Licenses

The Single User License (SUL) authorizes a single individual to use the electronic study acquired. Agreement to the SUL is required in order to purchase the study. If you require more than one user a Departmental Site License or Global Site License should be purchased. 

The Departmental Site License (DSL) authorizes up to five users to share the study acquired. Agreement to the DSL is required in order to purchase the study. If your organization requires more than five users, the Global Site License should be purchased.

The Global Site License (GSL) allows everyone in your organization to share the study intelligence. Agreement to the Global Site License terms is necessary in order to purchase it. 

;

Related Reports and Studies

  • Coal Mining: Global Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 global coal mining by type and major world region in metric tons. Type segments include: bituminous and sub-bituminous, and anthracite and other types such as lignite.

    NEW! July 2025 29 pages
    Free sample available
  • Mining: Global Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 global mining by category and major world region in metric tons. Category segments include: minerals, coal, and metals. Major world regions include North America, Western Europe, Asia/Pacific, and all other regions.

    NEW! July 2025 30 pages
    Free sample available
  • Cement: United States Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 US cement demand and production in metric tons.

    NEW! June 2025 29 pages
    Free sample available
  • Cement: Global Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 global demand for cement by product, end user, and major world region in metric tons.

    NEW! June 2025 41 pages
    Free sample available
  • Titanium: United States Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 US demand for titanium mineral concentrates, titanium dioxide pigments, and titanium metal in metric tons and nominal US dollars at the producer level.

    NEW! June 2025 34 pages
    Free sample available
  • Pigments: United States Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 US pigments demand and shipments in nominal US dollars at the manufacturer level.

    NEW! June 2025 32 pages
    Free sample available
  • Metals Mining: Global Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 global metals mining by commodity and major world region in metric tons. Commodity segments include: iron ore, bauxite, copper, and other metals such as cobalt, platinum, and zinc.

    NEW! June 2025 32 pages
    Free sample available
  • Minerals Mining: Global Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 global minerals mining by commodity and major world region in metric tons. Commodity segments include: construction aggregates, industrial sand and gravel, phosphate rock, potash, and other minerals such as feldspar, gypsum, and mica.

    NEW! June 2025 30 pages
    Free sample available
  • Aluminum: United States Report

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 US aluminum demand and production in metric tons.

    NEW! May 2025 37 pages
    Free sample available
  • Salt: Canada

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts to 2029 salt demand in metric tons in Canada.

    NEW! February 2025 24 pages
    Free sample available
View More

Have unique research needs?

Freedonia Strategic Insights listens intently to your needs and objectives. Then we work diligently to define a service offering to meet them.
Learn About Our Custom Research Services

Stay informed with Freedonia

Receive periodic updates about new market research in areas relevant to your business. Have the convenience of Freedonia research at your fingertips when you need it.
The Freedonia Group needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.
  • Contact
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
  • Press Contact
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

Additional Resources

  • Market Size Resources
  • Lawn & Garden Market Research
  • Roofing Market Research
  • Pet Products Market Research
  • Countertops Market Research
  • Power Tools Market Research
  • Publishing for the PreK-12 Market Research
  • Insulation Market Resaerch
  • Cabinets Market Research
  • Flooring Market Research
  • Pet Supplements Market Research
  • Agricultural Equipment Market Research
  • Open Access Publishing Market Research
  • Silicones Market Research
  • For Legal Inquiries, contact Cohen & Cohen
Copyright © 2025 The Freedonia Group, Inc. All rights reserved.