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Frac Sand Testing Specifications Guide

This document provides specifications for testing frac sand quality based on American Petroleum Institute standards. It lists several key tests including sieve analysis to determine particle size distribution, sphericity and roundness tests to evaluate shape, acid solubility to identify contaminants, turbidity to check for fines, and crush resistance to measure strength. The specifications provide acceptable ranges for frac sand to meet, such as a minimum 90% of advertised size from sieve analysis and solubility of less than 2-3% depending on mesh size. Crush resistance is tested at increasing pressures and specifies the maximum fines produced.

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430 views1 page

Frac Sand Testing Specifications Guide

This document provides specifications for testing frac sand quality based on American Petroleum Institute standards. It lists several key tests including sieve analysis to determine particle size distribution, sphericity and roundness tests to evaluate shape, acid solubility to identify contaminants, turbidity to check for fines, and crush resistance to measure strength. The specifications provide acceptable ranges for frac sand to meet, such as a minimum 90% of advertised size from sieve analysis and solubility of less than 2-3% depending on mesh size. Crush resistance is tested at increasing pressures and specifies the maximum fines produced.

Uploaded by

Robinson Muñoz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Frac Sand Specifications

“Quick Reference Guide”


www.GlobalEnergyLaboratories.com

Frac sand analysis Specifications* Further explanation


and test name
Sieve analysis – determines size of frac If testing frac sand of a specific size that The size designation of
sand is being sold to the market, then a “30/50” sand (30/50 used as
minimum of 90% of that sand should an example, because
be of the advertised size multiple sizes of frac sand
are used) is more accurately
If the sand is undergoing initial sieve described as minus 30, plus
analysis, then there is no specification 50. For this example, that is
other than the desire to have sand in the material that is smaller than
sample that is of the popular frac sand the #30 sieve but larger than
sizes the #50 sieve.
Sphericity and roundness – determines - Sphericity of 0.6 or higher There should also be less
the shape of the sand grains. - Roundness of 0.6 or higher than 1% of clusters of
multiple sand grains
Acid solubility test – indicates presence - 6/12 through 30/50 sized sand:
of undesirable contaminants like maximum solubility of 2.0% by weight
carbonates, feldspars, iron oxides, clays, - 40/70 through 70/140 sized sand:
etc. Also determines suitability of sand to maximum solubility of 3.0% by weight
operate in an acidic environment.
Turbidity test – determines whether Frac sand should have turbidity of 250
suspended clays, silts are present by Formazin Turbidity Units (FTU) or
measuring how much light can pass less
through a suspension of the sand in
water.
Bulk density test – determines No specification, but results are used in Results used in crush
relationship between mass and volume crush resistance test resistance test
Crush resistance test – determines the Mesh size – Stress – Max % Fines Crush resistance “K-value”
strenth of sand and ability to hold up 6/12 – 2,000 psi – 20% is determined by crushing
under pressure 8/16 – 2,000 psi – 18% the sand at multiple stresses,
12/20 – 3,000 psi – 16% then determining at what
16/30 – 3,000 psi – 14% stress less than 10% of fines
20/40 – 4,000 psi – 14% are produced by weight.
30/50 – 4,000 psi – 10%
40/70 – 5,000 psi – 8%
70/140 – 5,000 psi – 6%
* Specifications per American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 56 and ANSI/API 19C

Quick Reference Guide is a courtesy of Global Energy Laboratories, www.GlobalEnergyLaboratories.com, 406.490.1415

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