The Quiet Rise of Dry Sand in West Texas

New dry sand capacity near Kermit shows how Permian operators are prioritizing delivery reliability and smoother completion schedules over pure cost

16 Jan 2026

The Permian Basin frac sand market is still driven by cost, but the conversation is slowly changing. Operators are paying closer attention to efficiency, reliability, and keeping crews on schedule. A late or disrupted sand delivery can ripple through an entire completion plan.

Recent activity near Kermit, Texas, offers a clear example. Wallstreet Sand has expanded dry sand operations at its local facility, adding capacity in one of the busiest shale regions in North America. The move reflects rising interest in dry sand, which carries less moisture and is generally easier to store, load, and deliver to the wellsite.

Dry sand has gained traction because it can reduce handling issues and help avoid downtime during pumping operations. For frac crews working against tight timelines, fewer logistical surprises matter as much as the price per ton.

Wallstreet Sand said its Kermit site now features seven dry sand loadout lanes and more than 100,000 tons of onsite dry storage, built to support high volume demand. The company also noted that over 200,000 tons of dry sand has already been contracted, an early signal that some operators are locking in supply well ahead of active completions.

That kind of planning points to a broader shift in how operators think about sand. Instead of reacting to shortages or delays, they are trying to secure dependable logistics before frac crews ever arrive on location.

The expansion also fits into Wallstreet Sand’s larger focus on delivery performance. The company highlighted its Prop Thrust slurry system, which it says is designed to improve how sand moves from mine to wellsite while keeping costs in check. While detailed data was not released, the emphasis mirrors a wider industry push toward smoother, more predictable supply chains.

“Our new Kermit facility sets a new benchmark for sand production, storage, and delivery,” CEO Brandon Foster said in a statement.

For other suppliers, keeping up may require more investment in processing, storage, and loadout infrastructure, along with tighter controls on handling and dust. As completion schedules grow more demanding, dry sand is increasingly part of the efficiency equation in the Permian.