Shale Support Holdings, LLC, a leading provider of frac-sands and logistical solutions to the oil and gas proppant market, today announced its partnership with Tidewater Logistics. The agreement increases Shale Support’s access into the Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania markets, providing storage while allowing it to be one of the lowest cost providers of frac sand to the region.

Shale Support’s operations are based in Mississippi, providing the Company a strategic, logistical advantage in being able to originate and terminate traffic on a single rail line for delivery into the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. In September, Shale Support is expected to begin shipping its products via 80 to 100 car unit trains with a transit time of less than four days from mine to transload terminal. This unit train increases the efficiency of its rail fleet and reducing Shale Support’s delivered cost even further.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Tidewater Logistics in Steubenville, Ohio,” said Jeff Bartlam, president and co-founder of Shale Support. “With terminal operations, last mile logistics and a quality control and rail tracking program similar to our own, Tidewater Logistics is helping ensure our customers will get Delta Pearl frac sand when they need it, which is a growing challenge in today’s demanding oil and gas drilling operations.”

“Shale Support’s activity in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays has increased consistently in the last 12 months,” said Tim Butt with Norfolk Southern. “We’re pleased to serve as the Company’s rail provider, offering superior logistical support, helping reduce costs and improve their value chain.”

About Shale Support

Shale Support, LLC is a provider of logistical services and frac-sand or “proppant” products to enhance the recovery rates of hydrocarbon products from natural gas and crude oil wells. The company has more than 100 million tons of frac-sand reserves within its mining properties and unit train logistics origination capabilities from its processing facility located in Picayune, MS. Shale Support owns Southton Rail Yard, one of the largest unit train capable transloading facilities in the Eagle Ford shale.