Unimin Energy Solutions unveiled UNIFRAC DustShield hydraulic fracturing sands – a new, coated sand product utilizing dust-suppression technology developed to reduce job/well-site exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
DustShield is an effective addition to hydraulic fracturing operations’ dust-management systems to minimize airborne particles generated during proppant conveyance, mixing and pumping. This non-toxic suppression system reduces the overall respirable silica dust by up to >99 percent, the company said.
DustShield is exclusively coated on high-quality UNIFRAC northern white sand to offer E&Ps the best performing natural proppant on the market, according to the company.
OSHA, which will soon publish its final respirable silica standard, estimates that 47 percent of all well sites are currently violating the standard, and 74 percent do not meet the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit of 0.05mg/m3 time weighted average over eight hours. MSHA is expected to adopt the OSHA standard as well.
UNIFRAC proppant with DustShield surface treatment is a highly effective option for controlling respirable crystalline silica dust at the well site, the company said. DustShield is applied with Unimin’s patent-pending technology available at in-basin frac sand terminals with no slow down or service interruption during truck loading.
UNIFRAC DustShield proppants have a long shelf life with excellent flow properties and are fully compatible with hydraulic fracturing fluids, the company added.