Resumen de Oilfield Minerals: : Year in Review 2014
Barite (barytes) supply remained relatively stable over the course of the year, meanwhile, although output from India, the world's second largest barite producer (1.5m tonnes in 2013), was reported to have ceased by Q4 as mining contracts in Andhra Pradesh are renegotiated. China's barite exports have decreased in recent years as a result of falling mine output and increased domestic consumption, as the country looks to diversify its energy supply from coal to less-polluting shale gas. Having become dependent on China's supply, the US barite industry has begun to look for alternative sources of supply.
Bentonite and barite have been used as part of the conventional drilling processes for years, but in 2014 the minerals saw increased use in fracking. Demand for proppant minerals - frac sand and those used in ceramic proppants, kaolin and bauxite - also saw an increase in demand last year.
The US' requirement for frac sand, ceramic proppants and resin-coated versions of each, grew from around 5m tonnes in 2007 to 34.7m tonnes in 2013, a growth trend which continued to be seen throughout 2014. In terms of market split, frac sand remained the most popular choice of proppant, owing to its low cost in comparison to ceramic proppants, as well as its widespread availability.
