Hi-Crush Inc. has entered into an agreement with Pioneer Natural Resources to deploy its sixth mobile mining unit to supply frac sand for use in Midland Basin well completions, the company said in a March 21 press release. 

The deployment is Hi-Crush’s second with Pioneer following the successful commencement of operations at OnCore #4 in September 2022, and Hi-Crush’s fifth OnCore deployment within the Midland Basin.

OnCore Processing LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hi-Crush that operates the mobile mining units to produce damp sand for use in operators’ well completions. 

By moving the source of frac sand supply “in-field” to within close proximity of operators’ acreage and well sites, and by eliminating the process and equipment necessary to fully dry the sand produced at each unit, OnCore drives a significant reduction in its clients’ well costs while delivering meaningful environmental and safety benefits, Hi-Crush said. The reduced distance between the mine site and the well site also eliminates natural gas-fired dryers traditionally used to produce dry sand. OnCore mobile units also reduce transportation costs and trucks needed to supply each well, which Hi-Crush said lowers greenhouse gas emissions through fewer miles driven and less natural gas used during the production process.

Hi-Crush CEO Dirk Hallen said the company continues to enhance its position as the clear industry leader in in-field mining and damp sand production and logistics. 

“We believe Pioneer’s desire to quickly move ahead with another OnCore unit is a testament to the end-to-end field execution they have experienced from both OnCore’s mining and Pronghorn’s logistics and wellsite teams, as well as the quantifiable savings in completions costs and emissions they have enjoyed,” Hallen said. 

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