Gel hydration tank and method

• US 6,817,376 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: McGough, James A., Spaulding, Michael R., Morgan, Ronnie G., Morgan, Rickey L., Johnson, Johnny W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/071,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20030150494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 137/573, 137/574, 137/565.3, 137/351, 166/308.1, 166/308
• US Class Current: 137/14
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/49 Mixing drilled material or ingredients for well-drilling, earth-drilling or deep-drilling compositions with liquids to obtain slurries
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/45 using flow mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/421 by moving the components in a convoluted or labyrinthine path B01F25/433 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4231 using baffles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6881 Automotive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86139 Serial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86204 Fluid progresses by zigzag flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86212 Plural compartments formed by baffles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gel hydration tank and method for hydrating gels for use in oil well treatment operations according to which a mixture of water and gel is introduced into the interior of the tank and flows through the tank before being discharged from the tank, whereby specific devices are used to deflect and/or re-direct fluid flow so as to increase the distance traveled for a given fluid volume element, which consequently increases the plug flow efficiency of the tank.

Claims

1. A hydration method comprising:

defining an internal chamber within a set of wells;

introducing fluid into the chamber;

providing at least one weir extending from one of the walls and partially across the chamber towards an opposite wall;

spacing a surface of the weir from the opposite wall and defining, with the opposite wall, a first space for fluid flow between the weir and the opposite wall that varies along a dimension of the chamber;

providing at least one additional weir extending from the opposite wall and partially across the chamber towards the one wall,

spacing a surface of the additional weir from the one wall and defining, with the one wall, a second space for fluid flow between the additional weir and the one wall that varies along another dimension of the chamber;

so that the fluid flow from the inlet and through the spaces; and

then discharging the fluid from the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one wall and the opposite wall form side walls of the tank and wherein there is a top wall and a bottom wall between which the weirs extend.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising attaching the weirs to the top wall and to the bottom wall.

4. The method of claim 2 where the first space increases in a direction from the top well to the bottom wall and wherein the second space decreases in a direction from the top wall to the bottom wall.

5. The method claim 4 wherein the fluid flows in a general direction from the one wall, downwardly towards the opposite wall, through the first space, and upwardly towards the one wall.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one wall and the opposite wall form side walls of the tank and wherein two end walls extend parallel to the weirs.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the weirs extend generally parallel to each other and to the end walls.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising forming an inlet through one of the end walls for introducing the fluid and forming an outlet through the other end wall for discharging the fluid.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising disposing the surface of the one weir at an angle to the opposite wall, and disposing the surface of the additional weir at an angle to the one wall.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of weirs extending from the one wall and a plurality of weirs extending from the opposite wall, and further comprising disposing the weirs extending from the one wall in an alternating relationship with the weirs extending from the opposite wall along the length of the tank.

11. A hydration tank comprising:

a set of walls defining a internal chamber;

an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber for introducing fluid into the chamber;

an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber for discharging the fluid from the chamber;

at least one weir extending from one of the walls and partially across the chamber towards an apposite wall, a surface of the weir being spaced from the opposite wall and defining, with the opposite wall, a first space for fluid flow between the weir and the opposite wall that varies along a dimension of the chamber; and

at least one additional weir extending from the opposite wall and partially across the chamber towards the one wall, a surface of the additional weir being spaced from the one wall and defining, with the one wall, a second space for fluid flow between the additional weir and the one wall that varies along another dimension of the chamber.

12. The tank of claim 11 wherein the one wall and the opposite wall form side walls of the tank and wherein there is a top wall and a bottom wall between which the weirs extend.

13. The tank of claim 12 wherein the weirs are attached to the top wall and to the bottom wall.

14. The tank of claim 12 where the first space increases in a direction from the top wall to the bottom wall and wherein the second space decreases in a direction from the top wall to the bottom wall.

15. The tank of claim 14 wherein the fluid flows in a general direction from the one wall, downwardly towards the opposite wall, through the first space, and upwardly towards the one wall.

16. The tank of claim 11 wherein the one wall and the opposite wall form side walls of the tank and wherein there are two end walls connected to the side walls.

17. The tank of claim 11 wherein the weirs extend generally parallel to each other and to the end walls.

18. The tank of claim 16 wherein the inlet is formed through one of the end walls and the outlet is formed through the other end wall.

19. The tank of claim 11 wherein the surface of the one weir extends at an angle to the opposite wall, and wherein the surface of the additional weir extends at an angle to the one wall.

20. The tank of claim 11 wherein there are a plurality of weirs extending from the one wall and a plurality of weirs extending from the opposite wall, the weirs extending from the one wall being disposed in an alternating relationship with the weirs extending from the opposite wall along the length of the tank.