Aurora is partnering with San-Antonio-based Detmar Logistics to haul fracking sand between Midland, Texas, and a mining site, making it the first autonomous haul of its kind in the Permian Basin.

“Launching autonomous highway operations for Detmar is a great example of how we’re delivering immediate customer value,” said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO at Aurora, in a release on Monday.

Fracking sand is used in oil and gas drilling to keep fissures open and allow oil and gas to flow more efficiently. It’s also known as “proppants.” The Permian Basin, stretching from western Texas to southeastern New Mexico, is the highest-producing oil field in the country.

“With the Aurora Driver, Detmar can achieve nearly 24/7 asset utilization and effectively double its capacity to move sand for a l

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