Dry sand foam generator
First Claim
1. A method of generating a foam containing particulate material for treating a subsurface earth formation penetrated by a well bore, said method comprising:
- (a) introducing a first stream of pressurized gas having dry particulate material entrained therein into a vessel, said particulate material flowing vertically downward into said vessel, at least in part due to the action of gravity;
(b) introducing a second stream of liquid into said vessel;
(c) varying said second stream into a self-impinging conical jet;
(d) impringing said conical jet onto said first stream and thereby forming a foam containing particulate material; and
(e) injecting such a foam into the well bore.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for producing a proppant carrying foamed fracturing fluid or the like having very high ratios of proppant material to the liquid phase of the foam, which can be substantially higher than even the theoretical maximum ratio available when the proppant is introduced into a foaming apparatus as a proppant/liquid slurry. This is accomplished by a dry sand foam generation process wherein the sand or other particulate material is introduced into a foam generator apparatus as a dry particulate material in a stream of gas which is subsequently mixed with a second liquid stream.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of generating a foam containing particulate material for treating a subsurface earth formation penetrated by a well bore, said method comprising:
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(a) introducing a first stream of pressurized gas having dry particulate material entrained therein into a vessel, said particulate material flowing vertically downward into said vessel, at least in part due to the action of gravity; (b) introducing a second stream of liquid into said vessel; (c) varying said second stream into a self-impinging conical jet; (d) impringing said conical jet onto said first stream and thereby forming a foam containing particulate material; and (e) injecting such a foam into the well bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification