SUGAR LAND, Texas, Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Santrol, a Fairmount Minerals company, announced today it is releasing self-suspending proppant technology laboratory video results during the SPE ATCE September 30–October 2 in New Orleans.

Santrol’s self-suspending proppant technology, acquired in May 2013, increases hydrocarbon recovery by substantially increasing the surface area of propped fractures in the reservoir. The technology improves proppant transport while eliminating the need for certain fluid additives.(www.self-suspendingproppant.com)

Santrol engaged Stim-Lab, the oil and gas industry’s foremost provider of a broad range of research and testing services, to extensively test, document, and capture video of the self-suspending proppant technology circulated in a laboratory environment.

“When I was first introduced to the material (featuring the new self-suspending proppant technology), it looked better than I thought it would be,” said Dr. Michael Conway, president of Stim-Lab. “During the initial testing phase, we have observed most of the traits the background documentation stated it would do. To date, we have found no serious factors that we believe will disprove the material’s benefits with more extensive testing.”

SPE conference attendees can view the self-suspending proppant technology video, produced during the Stim-Lab testing, in Santrol booth 1709. In addition, operators can discuss their interest in participating in Q4 2013 field trials. Attendees can also register for a monthly newsletter that will highlight the technology’s field-trial progress and commercialization.

Supporting Santrol’s strategy to further industry knowledge, the company is releasing a new case study from the Bakken formation’s Deep Water Creek Bay field. The case study documents Santrol’s PowerProp^TM precured resin-coated proppant increased production by 20% in barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) or an average of $770,000 per well compared with wells that used a competitor’s resin-coated proppant.

Five new Proppant Briefs are also available. The briefs describe proppant performance optimization facts for use by engineers designing well completions.

Santrol has also actively expanded its proppant manufacturing and distribution network with a series of acquisitions. On September 6, Fairmount Minerals completed the acquisition of FTS International’s (FTSI) proppant business. Besides a mining operation in Voca, TX, resin-coating plants, and sand processing plants, this transaction increased Santrol’s distribution network to more than 50 terminals in all of the major US shale plays.

In June, Santrol acquired a Northern White sand mine in Shakopee, Minnesota, the company’s fifth Northern White mine.

About Santrol

Santrol, a Fairmount Minerals company, is a leading supplier to the oil and gas industry with dependable market-leading proppants, comprehensive research and development capabilities, and one of the industry’s largest distribution networks of terminals and a private railcar fleet. When combined with Fairmount Minerals’ integrated network of sand mining, manufacturing, and resin-coating facilities, this united company executes on its commitment to provide the right products at the right place at the right time. For more information, please visit: Santrol.com.

Contact
Bruce Goldfaden
281.750.5966
bruce.goldfaden@fmsand.com

SOURCE Santrol