Frac Sand Mine Boom Ends In Wisconsin

Three Wisconsin sand mines have been shut down and production is about to be halted at a fourth.  It appears that the region’s frac sand development boom is finished.  There’s been no reduction in the demand, but production companies can now buy sand in Oklahoma and Texas — near the drilling operations — cheaper than shipping it from Wisconsin.  They’re apparently using lower-quality sand, but it is more plentiful and much closer to the shale fields.