From KWTX
KOSSE, Texas (KWTX) U.S. Silica cut the ribbon Tuesday on an $8 million expansion project and its sand mine and processing facility in Kosse in Limestone County.
The sand mined and produced at the plant is primarily used by the oil and gas industry as frac sand, the company said.
The plant also supplies sand to the construction industry and sand that’s used on golf courses.
“More than ever, our future is being built in Texas, where the expanding oil and gas industry is increasing demand for our products and creating more jobs for Texans,” U.S. Silica President and CEO Bryan Shinn said.
“Meeting that growing demand is part of the reason we are increasing our production across the state and expanding capacity in places like Kosse where we have more than three decades of history.”
The company invested more than $8 million in new equipment including a sand dryer system that it says will boost output, save energy and result in better jobs for some employees.
From 50 tons per hour to 120
The new dryer unit more than doubles the production rate at the facility from 50 tons per hour to 120 tons.
The company is also constructing a silo that can hold 3,000 tons of sand in an expansion of storage capacity at the plant and has upgraded several employee positions.
The Katy-based company is a leading producer of commercial silica used in the oil and gas industry and in a wide range of industrial applications.
From Oil & Gas 360
Last week Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE: PXD) entered into a long-term sand supply agreement with U.S. Silica Holdings. Pioneer will purchase an interest in U.S. Silica’s sand reserves at its Lamesa, Texas, mine in West Texas. The agreement secures a long-term supply of sand from the mine, with U.S. Silica processing and supplying sand to Pioneer for 15 years.
