RADNOR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Preferred Sands, one of North America’s largest proppant, well logistics and resin technology companies, today announced significant growth in demand for Garnet, its resin-coated sand (RCS) featuring TERAFORCE™ technology from The Dow Chemical Company [NYSE: DOW]. Highlighted in the September 2013 issue of Inc. magazine as one of this year’s “coolest products,” RSC Garnet is completely non-phenolic and has helped spur greater interest in sustainable alternatives in the oil and gas industry. In addition to being environmentally sensitive, the product is both cost effective and more efficient than phenolic-based frac sands, helping Preferred Sands to assume a greater share of the low-temperature proppant market.
Drillers have long sought a product with a built-in activator that did not require any additional chemical treatment, but could still produce measurably better bond strength and conductivity. Studies have shown that no other proppant on the market, besides Preferred’s RCS Garnet, can deliver upon this need – and do so in an environmentally sensitive manner.
“Initially, we anticipated that RCS Garnet would be desired among drillers, particularly because of its design specifications for flowback control in low temperatures as well as its minimal environmental impact,” said Michael O’Neill, founder and CEO of Preferred Sands. “The terrific increase in material demand since its launch illustrates the industry’s movement toward more sustainable operational strategies. We are seeing companies shift toward environmentally sensitive products and designs, and Preferred, utilizing Dow’s chemistry, is proud to offer the product that is fast becoming the industry standard.”
The proprietary technology for Garnet was developed in conjunction with Dow as part of the Preferred RCS product line, which consists of the only high-performing, non-phenolic alternatives available on the market. RCS products are cleaner and more environmentally conscious compared to traditional, phenolic-based resins due to the built-in activating mechanism that eliminates additional procedures and contaminate. Currently distributed to well sites throughout North America, the RCS products developed collaboratively by Preferred Sands and Dow are not only cost effective but highly efficient, as they consistently outperform phenolic resin competitors on conductivity and bond strength.
“This novel technology is helping America achieve energy independence by making domestic oil and gas wells more productive, and in turn fueling the resurgence of manufacturing that the country is experiencing,” said Alan Robertson, Dow’s marketing director for North America. “As the demand for RCS products continues to increase, Dow looks forward to further deepening our relationship with Preferred Sands to develop cutting-edge proppants that are environmentally conscious.”
For more information about Preferred Sands’ Garnet proppant and additional developments in the RCS product line, powered by TERAFORCE™ technology from Dow, please visit www.preferredsands.com. For more information, about The Dow Chemical Company, please visit www.dow.com.
About Preferred Sands
Preferred Sands, headquartered in Radnor, PA, is one of North America’s largest manufacturers and providers of frac sand for oil and natural gas companies in the hydraulic fracturing industry. Launched in 2007, Preferred Sands is the market’s only commercial manufacturer with an available green technology in resin-coated sand. With its innovative product development and reclamation projects, the company is not only committed to the protection of the environment but also the health and safety of the communities it serves. With strategic plant locations in Arizona, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Canada, the company has core competencies in logistic transportation. Preferred Sands has been named to Inc. 500’s prestigious annual list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America” (2013) and Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ (2013), as well as one of Pennsylvania’s “Best Places to Work.” The company’s innovative RCS product line has also been recognized by the Oil & Gas Awards as the “Environmental Initiative of the Year” for 2013. Additionally, CEO, Michael O’Neill, has been named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year® in Energy, Cleantech and Natural Resources (2012) and SmartCEO Magazine’s CEO of the Year (2012).
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately $57 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.