A legume used for cow feed in India has had a disproportionate impact on well stimulation costs in North America's tight oil plays. You as reader and I as columnist are about to discuss some tiling neither of us thought would surface in conversation among polite company in oil and gas. The topic is guar, an annual legume that likes full sunshine, heavy downpours, and well-drained soil but which thrives in semi-arid environments such as western India, where 80% of the world's crop is produced by individual farmers on small dryland plots. Guar is Hindi for "cow feed." Guar endosperm is refined to produce guar gum, a polysaccharide composed of two sugars which, when mixed with borax or calcium, can cross-link to form a gel. Guar gum is used as an emulsifier in textiles, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and foodstuffs such as baked goods, dairy (ice cream!), condiments, and other grocery store staples.
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