Proppant permeability and mesh size

Proppant used should be permeable or permittive to gas under high pressures; the interstitial space between particles should be sufficiently large, yet have the mechanical strength to withstand closure stresses to hold fractures open after the fracturing pressure is withdrawn. Large mesh proppants have greater permeability than small mesh proppants at low closure stresses, but will mechanically fail and produce very fine particulates at high closure stresses such that smaller-mesh proppants overtake large-mesh hsp proppant in permeability after a certain threshold stress

Frac sand is another type of product used in gas and oil wells

Frac sand is another type of product used in gas and oil wells. As an extremely pure material, this quartz sand is very durable and has rather round grains. It is a crush-resistant material produced mainly to be used in the oil industry. It is used in the hydraulic fracturing process and happens to produce petroleum fluids, such as oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids from rock units that do not have enough space for the fluids to flow and go to a well. Most of the frac sand is a natural and is made from pure sandstone.Although this is made from rather pure sandstone, frac sand needs to be treated in order to be able to deliver the best results possible.The demand for frac sand has increased significantly over the past few years. The most useful frac sand is the one that happens to be resin coated. Resin coated frac sand is usually known as premium frac sand and is usually more expensive than the average untreated frac sand.