Interesting article! How much energy/money is expended to turn sand into silane oil?  I hope it is a viable energy source, but the big energy companies (as far as we know) don't seem to want to invest in it, and energy is their specialty!  We can hope, though!  Meanwhile, sand is a significant contributor to Natural gas production, as it is used in the fracturing process.  In this area of the world, no fracturing, no well.