Source Energy Services opens CN-served frac sand facility in Wisconsin

Source Energy Services L.P. on May 30 marked the opening of a frac sand production, storage and rail-car loading facility in Weyerhaeuser, Wis.

Served by CN, the facility complements Source Energy's frac sand mine and processing operation in Sumner, Wis. The Weyerhaeuser facility enables the company to load unit trains of frac sand destined for regions with active oil and natural gas exploration and development, Source Energy officials said in a press release, adding that the facility can load more than 100 rail cars in a 24-hour period.

The first 90-car unit train departed Weyerhaeuser after the opening ceremony and headed to oil fields in Western Canada.

"It was impressive to complete a facility of this magnitude during one of the coldest winters on record," said Scott Melbourne, Source Energy's vice president of operations. "The facility is now one of the largest frac sand processing and frac sand storage and rail loading operations in North America."

CN will move units trains of frac sand from the Weyerhaeuser facility to such destinations as Wembley, Alberta, which is about 1,700 miles away.

"We are focused on operation and service excellence by balancing the right mix of efficiency, safety and customer service. As a result, we are confident that we will be able to allow customers such as Source to become more competitive in their end markets," said JJ Ruest, CN's executive vice president and chief marketing officer.