API 56 : 1995

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR TESTING SAND USED IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OPERATIONS

American Petroleum Institute

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1 Scope
2 References
2.1 Standards
2.2 Other references
3 Recommended Sand Sampling Procedure
3.1 Description
3.2 Equipment
3.3 Number of Required Samples
3.4 Sampling
4 Recommended Sand Samples Handling and
      Storage
4.1 Sample Reduction (Sacked Material)
4.2 Sample Splitting
4.3 Sample Retention and Storage
5 Recommended Frac Sand Sieve Analysis
5.1 Sieve Analysis
5.2 Recommended Sand Size
6 Frac Sand Sphericity and Roundness
6.1 General
6.2 Sphericity
6.3 Roundness
6.4 Recommended Sphericity and Roundness
6.5 Sand Grain Clusters
6.6 Alternative Method for Determining Average
      Sphericity and Roundness
7 Evaluation of Sand Solubility in Acid
7.1 Description
7.2 Acid Solubility Test Equipment and Materials
7.3 Acid Solubility Test Procedure
7.4 Recommended Maximum Acid Solubility
8 Recommended Silt Test
8.1 Turbidity Measurement of Silt and Clay-size
      Particulate Matter
8.2 Field on-site turbidity test
8.3 Centrifugal measurement of clay and soft
      particulate content
9 Recommended frac sand crush resistance test
9.1 General
9.2 Equipment and Materials
9.3 Recommended Test Procedure
9.4 Suggested Fines
10 Recommended Sand Mineralogical Analysis
10.1 Test Procedure
10.2 Reported Results
Figures
1 - Example box sampling device
2 - Example sample reducer equipment
3 - Example sample splitter equipment
4 - Testing sieve shaker and nest of six U.S.A. sieves
    plus pan
5 - Chart for visual estimation of sphericity and
    roundness
6 - Example prescription bottle
7 - Example test cell frac sand crush resistance test
Tables
1 - Recognized frac sand sizes
2 - Recommended maximum acid soluble material content in
    frac sand
3 - Stress to be applied and suggested maximum fines for
    frac sand crush resistance tests

Abstract

Covers procedures and equipment used in testing and evaluation of sand for use in hydraulic fracturing operations. The objective of these recommendations is to improve the quality of frac sand delivered to the well site.