Methods and Systems for Integral Blending and Storage of Materials

• US 20110063942A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Case, Leonard R., Hagan, Ed B., Stegemoeller, Calvin L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,444,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/152.2
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/062 by mixing components

Abstract

Methods and systems for integral storage and blending of the materials used in oilfield operations are disclosed. An integrated material blending and storage system is disclosed with a storage unit, a blender located under the storage unit, a liquid additive storage module having a pump to maintain constant pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage module and a pre gel blender. Gravity directs a first input from the storage unit, a second input from the liquid additive storage module and a third input from the pre-gel blender to the blender.

Claims

1. An integrated material blending and storage system comprising:

a storage unit;

a blender located under the storage unit;

wherein the blender is operable to receive a first input from the storage unit;

a liquid additive storage module having a pump to maintain constant pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage module;

wherein the blender is operable to receive a second input from the liquid additive storage module; and

a pre-gel blender;

wherein the blender is operable to receive a third input from the pre-gel blender;

wherein gravity directs the contents of the storage unit, the liquid additive storage module and the pre-gel blender to the blender.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises a load sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-gel blender comprises:

a pre-gel storage unit resting on a leg;

a feeder coupling the pre-gel storage unit to a first input of a mixer;

a pump coupled to a second input of the mixer;

wherein the pre-gel storage unit contains a solid component of a well treatment fluid;

wherein the feeder supplies the solid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer;

wherein the pump supplies a fluid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer; and

wherein the mixer outputs a well treatment fluid.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the well treatment fluid is a gelled fracturing fluid.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the solid component is a gel powder.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid component is water.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the pre-gel storage unit comprises a central core and an annular space.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the central core contains the solid component of the well treatment fluid.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the well treatment fluid is directed to the annular space.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the annular space comprises a tubular hydration loop.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the well treatment fluid is directed from the mixer to the tubular hydration loop.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the well treatment fluid is selected from the group consisting of a fracturing fluid and a sand control fluid.

13. The system of claim 3, further comprising a power source to power at least one of the feeder, the mixer and the pump.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a combustion engine, an electric power supply and a hydraulic power supply.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a load sensor coupled to one of the storage unit, the liquid additive storage module or the pre-gel blender.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an information handling system communicatively coupled to the load sensor.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the load sensor is a load cell.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein a reading of the load sensor is used for quality control.

19. A modular integrated material blending and storage system comprising:

a first module comprising a storage unit;

a second module comprising a liquid additive storage unit and a pump for maintaining pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage unit; and

a third module comprising a pre-gel blender;

wherein an output of each of the first module, the second module and the third module is located above a blender; and

wherein gravity directs the contents of the first module, the second module and the third module to the blender.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the first module, the second module and the third module is a self erecting module.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the third module comprises:

a pre-gel storage unit resting on a leg;

a feeder coupling the pre-gel storage unit to a first input of a mixer;

a pump coupled to a second input of the mixer;

wherein the pre-gel storage unit contains a solid component of a well treatment fluid;

wherein the feeder supplies the solid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer;

wherein the pump supplies a fluid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer; and

wherein the mixer outputs a well treatment fluid.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the well treatment fluid is directed to the blender.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the blender mixes the output of the first module, the second module and the third module.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising a pump for pumping an output of the blender down hole.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the pump is selected from the group consisting of a centrifugal pump, a progressive cavity pump, a gear pump and a peristaltic pump.