Portable water treatment method
First Claim
1. A method for producing and continuously monitoring and controlling a concentration of chlorine dioxide in an aqueous fluid that is present at a well site, which aqueous fluid is adapted hydraulic fracturing, the method comprising:
- providing at the well site a continuous, pressurized flow of the aqueous fluid through at least one fluid flow line from at least one source of aqueous fluid to at least one frac tank;
continuously determining the flow rate of the pressurized flow of the aqueous fluid;
continuously determining an initial concentration of the chlorine dioxide within the pressurized flow of the aqueous fluid;
continuously determining a treating rate capable of adjusting the initial concentration of the chlorine dioxide to a defined free residual level based upon stoichiometric demand;
automatically generating at the well site sufficient chlorine dioxide solution to achieve the defined free residual level;
treating the aqueous fluid at the well site by automatically introducing the chlorine dioxide into the aqueous fluid at the determined treating rate at an initial in-line treatment point under conditions conducive to thorough mixing of the chlorine dioxide within the pressurized flow of at least a portion of the aqueous fluid to produce treated aqueous fluid;
continuously monitoring a post-treating concentration of the chlorine dioxide within the pressurized flow of the treated aqueous fluid;
continuously comparing the post-treating concentration of the chlorine dioxide to the defined free residual level; and
selectively adjusting the post-treating concentration at the well site by recirculating at least a portion of the treated aqueous fluid from the at least one frac tank to a point upstream of where the aqueous fluid is treated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method that can be used in a portable system and apparatus to effectively and efficiently treat aqueous fluids by quickly and reliably adjusting and controlling the free residual level of disinfectants, contaminants or additives through the addition of one or more treating agents such as oxidizing chemicals and/or other special-purpose additives, and that can continuously store, log, retrieve and report the related fluid composition data and other operating parameters on a real-time basis at either the use site or a remote location. A preferred use for the subject method is managing the chemistry of disinfectant, contaminant and/or additive levels in aqueous fluids used in hydraulic fracturing operations, and controlling the free residual levels of the disinfectant or contaminants within the fluids, including fluids maintained in frac tanks during temporary cessation of a hydraulic fracturing operation.
48 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for producing and continuously monitoring and controlling a concentration of chlorine dioxide in an aqueous fluid that is present at a well site, which aqueous fluid is adapted hydraulic fracturing, the method comprising:
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providing at the well site a continuous, pressurized flow of the aqueous fluid through at least one fluid flow line from at least one source of aqueous fluid to at least one frac tank; continuously determining the flow rate of the pressurized flow of the aqueous fluid; continuously determining an initial concentration of the chlorine dioxide within the pressurized flow of the aqueous fluid; continuously determining a treating rate capable of adjusting the initial concentration of the chlorine dioxide to a defined free residual level based upon stoichiometric demand; automatically generating at the well site sufficient chlorine dioxide solution to achieve the defined free residual level; treating the aqueous fluid at the well site by automatically introducing the chlorine dioxide into the aqueous fluid at the determined treating rate at an initial in-line treatment point under conditions conducive to thorough mixing of the chlorine dioxide within the pressurized flow of at least a portion of the aqueous fluid to produce treated aqueous fluid; continuously monitoring a post-treating concentration of the chlorine dioxide within the pressurized flow of the treated aqueous fluid; continuously comparing the post-treating concentration of the chlorine dioxide to the defined free residual level; and selectively adjusting the post-treating concentration at the well site by recirculating at least a portion of the treated aqueous fluid from the at least one frac tank to a point upstream of where the aqueous fluid is treated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification