sand (proppant)

Sand, used as a proppant in hydraulic fracturing, is a granular material injected into a drilled well to keep newly created fractures open. When high-pressure fluid is used to crack underground rock formations, it creates cracks that can close once the pressure is released, limiting oil and gas flow. Sand particles are placed in these fractures to "prop" them open, allowing hydrocarbons to flow more freely to the wellbore. This process enhances extraction efficiency by maintaining fracture channels and improving recovery from otherwise inaccessible reservoirs.