CN to soon begin serving new frac sand terminal in Alberta

In early 2015, CN, Superior Silica Sands and Di-Corp plan to begin operating and serving a new frac sand terminal near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, southwest of Edmonton, the three partners announced late last week.

Di-Corp is building the 30-acre terminal to meet rising demand for frac sand in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. The facility will feature three tracks designed to accommodate 95 rail cars for unloading and six silos with 2,000 tons of storage capacity.
 
"CN is pleased to work with Superior Silica Sands and Di-Corp on this venture. [Our] rail network is well positioned to help frac sand customers compete in their end markets, with rail access to the largest North American frac sand consumption regions, including the western Canada, Texas and Marcellus shales," said JJ Ruest, CN's executive vice president and chief marketing officer, in a press release.

This terminal will be a close replication of an existing Di-Corp frac sand facility in the Grand Prairie area, said Di-Corp Vice President Trevor Derksen.

"The frac sand pumping market has been telling us for some time that we need to look to expand," he said. "I think the partnership of Superior Silica Sands, CN and Di-Corp will be well positioned to meet this growing need."