2025-10-20 – Weekly Fracking News : Dissolvable plugs in high-TDS wells

Last week, discussions in the fracking community revolved around emerging technologies and career insights. Members engaged in detailed conversations about the effectiveness of dissolvable plugs, especially in high-TDS wells, and debated their cost-benefit ratio. There was also a strong focus on career development, with threads on essential skills for success in the industry and personal stories about first jobs in fracking. These discussions provided both seasoned professionals and newcomers with valuable perspectives.


This Week’s Hot Topics

  • 2025-10-16 – Weekly Fracking Jobs : Director role for business development
    A promising career opportunity was highlighted, focusing on leadership in business development. It’s a chance to shape the future direction of fracking operations.
    Read more here

  • Real-time sand monitoring on frac iron
    This thread discusses advancements in real-time monitoring technologies, which could significantly impact operational efficiency and safety.
    Read more here

  • Dissolvable plugs worth it in high-TDS wells
    Community members debated the practicality and cost-effectiveness of using dissolvable plugs in challenging environments.
    Read more here

  • FAQ/Guidelines
    A resourceful guide for navigating the forum and understanding community norms.
    Read more here

  • Admin Guide: Getting Started
    A must-read for new administrators, detailing essential steps for managing the forum effectively.
    Read more here

  • Interested in a Career in Fracking? Here’s What You Should Know!
    This comprehensive thread offers insights for those considering a career in the fracking industry, covering expectations and requirements.
    Read more here

  • What Was Your First Job in the Fracking Industry?
    A collection of personal stories that highlight the diverse entry points into the fracking workforce.
    Read more here

  • Top Skills You Need to Succeed in Fracking
    This discussion outlines the key skills needed to excel in the fracking sector, useful for both new and seasoned professionals.
    Read more here

  • When the Porta-Potties Blew Over
    A lighter read about unexpected challenges on the frack pad, shared for a bit of humor amid the technical talk.
    Read more here

  • Essential Gear You Can’t Live Without on the Frack Pad
    This thread lists must-have items for anyone working on the frack pad, ensuring safety and efficiency.
    Read more here


Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions. Stay safe and keep sharing your experiences and expertise.

On our ‘high-TDS’ wells, a 10 bbl freshwater preflush sped dissolution, but trucking cost offsets.

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We cut Mg-alloy plug dissolve time in about 180k TDS by letting them soak at about 155°F and adding 0.5 gpt organic chelant — no freshwater trucking needed. @rebecca_h92 is right that a preflush can help, but in our case “hot tea melts sugar faster”; just don’t rush flowback or you’ll bridge, so we add a 20–30 min pressure-bump sweep.

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@Guide We’ve had good luck with a 12–18 hr heat soak; faster dissolves in 200k+ TDS, but mind sand fallback…

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After @Guide’s ‘12–18 hr’ soak, we reverse-circulated 2 bpm for 20–30 min; one CT hour saved a fish-out.

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In 230k TDS, ‘slow bleed-down’ post-soak minimized fallback; avoided an extra CT run. @rebecca_h92.

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