Tiny Grains, Big Gains!

Microproppants boost average well production by over 10%, with Permian uplifts topping 20%.

29 Apr 2025

North American shale producers are turning to microproppant technology to enhance oil and gas recovery from ageing rock formations as companies seek to increase returns from existing wells.

Microproppants, which are ultra-fine spherical grains of sand, are being added to hydraulic fracturing processes to improve well productivity. The particles are small enough to enter tiny fractures in rock that standard proppants cannot access, expanding flow pathways and enabling greater hydrocarbon extraction.

According to the American Oil & Gas Reporter, published on July 15, 2025, the use of microproppants has raised average well production by more than 10 per cent. In the Permian Basin, some operators have recorded production increases of over 20 per cent.

Early trials have been led by service providers including Zeeospheres Ceramics and NSI Technologies, with a growing number of oil producers now running pilot programs to test the technology’s effectiveness.

“It’s an exciting tool for improving returns on existing assets,” one industry executive told the publication, citing improved output without significant capital spending.

The adoption of microproppants comes as shale operators shift focus from drilling new wells to maximizing efficiency from current assets. Some companies have also reported reductions in total fluid volumes used during fracturing by increasing proppant concentrations, pointing to operational and cost efficiencies.

While analysts note that long-term performance data across all shale regions remains limited, early results have encouraged further exploration of the technology. Industry observers view the development as part of a broader evolution in shale strategies, with operators increasingly prioritizing well completions and resource optimization over sheer drilling activity.

If early performance trends continue, microproppants may contribute to sustained production growth in North American shale basins while helping producers manage costs and capital expenditure.