In Kermit, Texas, a remarkable new construction is transforming the way sand is transported across the southwestern United States. Spanning an impressive 42 miles, the country’s longest conveyor belt, dubbed “The Dune Express,” extends from Kermit, Texas into Lea County, New Mexico. This sophisticated marvel, featured prominently across the oil fields, is a pioneering venture by Atlas Energy Solutions, designed to facilitate the movement of sand crucial for hydraulic fracturing.
The novel transport system snakes across the landscape with a distinct structure resembling important solar modules. In the sparsely populated town of Kermit, home to fewer than 6,000 residents, this conveyor presents an innovative alternative to the traditional methods of using tractor-trailers to haul sand, improving efficiency and safety. In hydraulic fracturing, sand is used to keep underground fractures open, allowing for the extraction of oil, water, and gas. John Turner, CEO of Atlas Energy Solutions, highlights that the previous reliance on large trucks posed significant risks, noting, “The early sand delivery via trucks was not only inefficient but also hazardous.”
This conveyor, capable of carrying 13 tons of sand, is a vital innovation designed to improve logistics by bypassing the dangers and inefficiencies associated with road transportation in the busy oil-rich Permian Basin. While using conveyor belts is not new to industries like oil and gas, comparable projects are limited, with one of the longest such conveyors found in Western Sahara stretching 61 miles to transport phosphorous.
As trucks became an impractical choice for sand transportation, Atlas Energy Solutions seized an opportunity by investing $400 million in constructing this groundbreaking conveyor. The company transitioned to a public entity in March 2023 to partially finance this ambitious project, making its inaugural sand delivery earlier in the year.
The sand transported by The Dune Express is securely carried in a pan that allows easy unloading. Most of the sand is deposited into silos near the state line, where it is then collected by fracking companies and transported in smaller vehicles for the final leg of its journey. The system’s functionality is maintained through regular monitoring, with rollers equipped with sensors that signal when replacements are required, mitigating wear and ensuring uninterrupted operation.
However, the conveyor’s path through an extensive oil region has provoked concern among environmentalists. They worry about the potential impacts on local ecosystems like the habitat of the sagebrush lizard, which has been recognized as an endangered species. According to Luke Metzger from Environment Texas, the increased sand supply could amplify oil drilling activities, leading to possible heightened environmental risks.
Currently, running at partial capacity, The Dune Express operates 12 to 14 hours daily, with plans to transition to around-the-clock operation later in the year. In Lea County, New Mexico, officials such as Commissioner Brad Weber anticipate positive outcomes from the conveyor belt, expressing hope for reduced traffic and fewer highway accidents along adjacent routes.
The advent of this conveyer belt marks a pivotal stride in energy resource logistics, balancing innovation with environmental and safety considerations.
