Sentinel^™ Dust Suppressant

Hexion’s Sentinel dust suppressant mitigates the respirable silica dust generated by uncoated sand. This economical solution is designed to reduce the amount of respirable silica to levels below the new OSHA action level of 25 µg/m³. The unique chemical system traps fine dust particles and remains on the proppant during transportation and transfer. The versatile application method allows users to apply the product at the sand mine, transload or at the location. Our Sentinel dust suppressant helps provide safety and compliance from the sand mine to the wellhead.

For More Information: oilfield@hexion.com.

Technical Applications

• Liquid dust control agent
• Can be applied at the sand mine, transload or on frac location
• Can be applied at temperatures  from -30˚F to 200˚F
• Is effective on all mesh size sands, including 100 mesh

Technical Advantages and Benefits

• Capable of reducing respirable silica dust below 25 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA
• Sentinel dust suppressant mobile or stationary delivery system has a small footprint on location
• Unique chemistry is compatible with most frac fluids
• Will not decrease throughput at the sand mine
• Will not decrease sand offloading time when deployed at a transload or frac site
• Resistant to degradation during multiple proppant transfers

Field Study

Pictured left to right: Treated 100 Mesh Sand (Average Respirable Silica: 16 µg/m³); Untreated 100 Mesh Sand (Average Respirable Silica: 1,470 µg/m³)

Both the Sentinel dust suppressant treated 100 mesh sand and uncoated 100 mesh sand were transferred to an open bin by a mobile conveyor.  A vertical fall of approximately 25 feet generated respirable dust levels above the new OSHA PEL for the uncoated 100 mesh sand.  The 100 mesh sand treated by the Sentinel dust suppressant had all respirable dust measurements below the new OSHA PEL. Analyzed in accordance with OSHA 1910.1053 appendix A.

Frac Fluid Compatibility

Sentinel dust suppressant shows negligible effects on commonly used frac fluid components when compared to uncoated sand.

There is virtually no impact on friction reducers or gelling agents when compared to uncoated sand. Hexion’s Sentinel dust suppressant is compatible with most commonly used fracturing fluids, both water and oil-based systems. Testing with fluids prior to pumping is advised.

Versatile Application System

The application mechanism only requires compressed air and can be configured to fit virtually any vertical fall. Hexion’s Sentinel dust suppressant is composed of a single chemical that does not require any mixing systems or dilution.

Conductivity Testing

An independent third party laboratory tested conductivity on low turbidity sand and high turbidity sand. The conductivity of the high turbidity sand was up to 38% lower compared to the conductivity of the low turbidity sand. The dust particles that cause high turbidity are also contributing to the reduction of the proppant pack conductivity. The photo below compares the turbidity of frac sand treated with Hexion’s Sentinel dust suppressant to the turbidity of untreated frac sand.

Frac sand treated with Hexion’s Sentinel dust suppressant (left side)

has low turbidity compared to untreated frac sand (right side) with

high turbidity