CARBO Ceramics provides a ceramic alternative to sand for use as a proppant in hydraulic fracturing. Proppants, for those new to MDN, “prop open” the fractures created during the fracking process to allow natural gas and natural gas liquids (even oil) to drain out of shale. A special kind of sand called silica, mined mostly in the Midwest, is the most prevalent proppant used. However, CARBO has an innovated ceramic substance–tiny little beads–that are used as an alternative. The problem, from CARBO’s perspective, is that sand is cheaper and more plentiful, plus other ceramic proppant manufacturers have sprung up to compete with CARBO and those twin reasons are why, according to a press release issued by CARBO yesterday, sales for the company in the third quarter have fallen off…
