Links:

• LocalEnergy.com
• Smoke or Fire: Petcoke as proppant increases production vs. sand only on Collide.I
• Article: Wireline Insights from an Oklahoma Independent 

Ever wondered why the oil and gas industry pumps massive amounts of sand thousands of feet underground? In this episode, Wade breaks down the mind-blowing science behind hydraulic fracturing and reveals why sand is literally the difference between a profitable well and a complete bust.

You'll discover how water-based fracturing creates pathways in rock, but those fractures immediately slam shut under enormous underground pressure. The ingenious solution? Pump thousands of pounds of sand per foot to permanently prop those fractures open. Without it, your multi-million dollar well produces almost nothing.

We also explore Exxon's game-changing innovation using petroleum coke waste as an advanced proppant, boosting production by 7-18% compared to traditional sand. Plus, hear fascinating stories from an 80-year-old wireline legend who hand-built his own tools from patent research back in the 1970s.

From drilling "washouts" that can trap expensive equipment underground to the technology revolution that transformed wireline trucks in 2004, this episode pulls back the curtain on the incredible engineering happening thousands of feet below your feet.

Whether you're in the industry or just curious about how we actually get energy out of the ground, Peter and Wade deliver insider knowledge with the perfect mix of technical depth and conversational storytelling that makes complex topics accessible to everyone.

Bonus: Wade continues his legendary winning streak on the industry abbreviations quiz, though he does catch Peter in an embarrassing Greek letter mixup.

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