THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
STEP 1: THE SAND IS EXTRACTED FROM THE GROUND
We identified great potential in a series of quarries in Rio Negro, which combine two elements to be emphasized: quality (meets the API 19C standard) and proximity to the oil concessions in the Neuquen basin. These quarries are in addition to those we already have in Entre Rios.
The quarries have sufficient resources to sustain production and allow the company to make firm delivery commitments to oil service companies and operators.
STEP 2: RAW SAND IS MOVED TO THE PROCESSING PLANT
We transport sand efficiently and safely. In order to optimize our logistics, NRG has its own fleet of CNG trucks with tippers and hoppers that are specially built for loading and unloading materials.
We are the first company in Argentina to have a captive fleet of CNG heavy trucks, with a noticeable reduction in noise, toxic gas and greenhouse gas emissions.
Another competitive advantage of NRG is that, given its geographical location, we use alternative roads rather than the usual ones (which are saturated), ensuring deliveries in the times and quantities as committed.
STEP 3: WASHING PLANT
The raw material from the quarries undergoes a process of water washing, attrition and wet separation according to the grains size. This is performed through hydro-cyclones and special counter-flow separation equipment, thus achieving the so-called "wet cutting".
The sand wet washing and sorting plant is composed of a number of modules in series that begin with the loading of the raw sand, the passage through primary selection screens, washing and wet separation sector through hydro-cyclones. The plant also has a set of attrition cells composed of blades that cause mechanical friction between the grains in order to clean them and a spiral bank for the separation of heavy minerals and sediments. In addition to washing, the processes carried out on the sand improve the granulometric profile and roundness of the grains.
The plant has a water treatment system, which purpose is to reduce water requirement to a minimum.
The entry into the stage of specification of the final product, the granulometric profile and possible sand mixtures are carried out in the drying and sorting plant, i.e., the next stage of the production process.
STEP 4: DRYING AND CLASSIFICATION PLANT
The useful fraction of washed sand enters the drying process while the rest of the washed material not having the desired characteristics is transported back to the quarry or used as raw material for the manufacture of bricks, ceramics or glass. The drying of the useful fraction is carried out in a rotary sand dryer prepared to reduce the moisture content to 0.01%. The diameter of the dryer is 126 inches by 50 feet long and is completed with:
The plant has dry sand sorters capable of separating the different meshes. The supporting building for the sorters is bolted and specially designed for the wind, load and use conditions of NRG in Río Negro, which prevents vibrations and extends the life and performance of the equipment.
We installed an environmental system to collect dust that might be in suspension and collect the emissions generated in the sand dryer. The construction is made of carbon steel, has a dust collector fan, lower loading bags, carbon steel service platform with ladder and safety cage and differential pressure meters,
among other subsystems.
STEP 5: FINISHED PRODUCT STORAGE
The final product is stored in transload silos, ready for pickup and deployment via truck to oil locations.
The storage system comprises 4 bolted steel silos and unloaders of the finished products. Each silo has a nominal diameter of 10 meters and is 35 meters high.
STEP 6: LAST MILE AND PAD HANDLING
The final product is transfered to the oil locations in our CNG trucks. We achieve last mile delivery efficiently and safely, with a noticeable reduction in noise, toxic gas and greenhouse gas emissions.
Finally, at the well we deliver and manage sand through a mobile silo system that has high safety standards and lesser imprint on location. It provides greater operational efficiency in a critical service such as the supply of
product in the blender.
Each system consists of 6 silos and mechanisms for gravity unloading of hopper trucks in a shorter time than any other system. In addition it is completely enclosed, thus eliminating the problem of particulate matter and preventing it from affecting the health of employees.
