Common Specifications For Oilfield Fracturing Sand

Oilfield fracturing is a method of injecting high-pressure water/gas into formation rocks to break cracks in the rocks and increase production capacity. During the fracturing process, sand needs to be used for coordination, and the specifications of the sand directly affect the fracturing effect. The common specifications of oilfield fracturing sand will be introduced in detail below.

1. Oilfield Frac Sand Viscosity

The viscosity of sand refers to the degree of force the sand experiences in water, and is one of the main factors that determine whether the sand can maintain stability. Commonly used sand viscosity specifications include 20/40, 30/50, 40/70, 70/140, etc. “20/40″ means that the average particle size of the sand is in the range of 20 to 40 mesh.

2. Oilfield Frac Sand Particle Size

The particle size of the sand directly affects the productivity of the oil field after fracturing, and the particle size is usually between 0.15 mm and 2 mm. Commonly used specifications include 16/30, 20/40, 30/50, 40/70, 70/140, etc. The smaller particles can fill smaller cracks, and the larger particles can fill larger cracks.

3. Oilfield Frac Sand Color

There are three main colors of sand: white, brown, and gray. Brown and gray sand are more commonly used in fracturing. Brown sand generally contains silica, metals, and other elements, which have good filling ability for rocks. Gray sand contains elements such as aluminum and potassium and has higher chemical stability.

4. Oilfield Frac Sand Specifications

The specification of oilfield fracturing sand directly affects the rock-filling ability during the fracturing process and the productivity after fracturing. Choosing the right sand size depends on specific formation conditions and the fluidity of the fracturing fluid, making specification selection a key step in frac design.

Specification	Particle Size	Advantages	Requirements / Limitations
20/40	0.425–0.85 mm	Moderate particle size; applicable to various formation rocks	More obvious sand layer shrinkage and sandification after fracturing
30/50	0.3–0.6 mm	Evenly distributed; easy to fill cracks; applicable to various formation rocks	Certain requirements on fracturing fluid fluidity
40/70	0.212–0.425 mm	Moderate thickness; helps form good pressure cracks	Higher requirements on fluid fluidity and sand layer filling
70/140	0.106–0.212 mm	Finer particles; lower shrinkage and sandification; better filling effect	Higher requirements on fracturing fluid fluidity

Among the four common specifications, coarser sand (20/40) offers broad formation compatibility but shows more post-fracturing shrinkage and sandification, while finer sand (70/140) delivers better filling and lower shrinkage but demands higher fracturing fluid fluidity. Customers should select the size based on actual reservoir permeability and fluid performance.

LZZG offers a complete frac sand production process and a full set of supporting equipment.