Proppant storage vessel and assembly thereof

• US 9,643,774 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2016
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SandBox Enterprises LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oren Technologies LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oren, John
• Primary Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US15/285,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20170021997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 217 Days
• Field of Search: 222143, 2221851
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/08 with provisions for removing or destroying, e.g. to facilitate mixing of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/022 in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/32 in multiple arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/542 Ramps forming part of the container ramps per se B65G69/28; for ambulances A61G3/061; for vehicles in general B60P1/43
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/10 Manholes; Inspection openings; Covers therefor safety features B65D90/22; covers or similar closure members, for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/12 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/14 Legs, e.g. detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/40 Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/42 using belt or chain conveyors

Abstract

A proppant storage vessel has a container having a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The first and second end walls extend between opposite ends of the first and second side walls. The walls define an interior volume of the container. The walls have a rigidity suitable for retaining no less than 30,000 pounds of proppant therein. A top hatch is formed centrally on the top wall and is movable between an open position and a closed position. A bottom hatch is formed generally centrally on the bottom wall of the container and is movable between an open position and a closed position.

Claims

1. A container structurally strengthened to transport and store large volumes of proppant effectively therein to supply to a fracturing site, the container comprising:

a top region;

a bottom region having an outlet formed therein;

a plurality of sidewalls connected to and extending at least partially between the top region and bottom region, so as to define an interior volume within the container thereby to store the proppant therein;

a plurality of sidewall supports positioned to provide structural support to the sidewalls when large volumes of proppant are positioned within the interior volume of the container, the proppant comprising sand having a substantially spherical shape and a tightly graded particle distribution, the plurality of sidewall supports including a plurality of support braces extending in a substantially horizontal position and positioned in direct contact with interior surfaces of the sidewalls to enhance support of the sidewalls when the container is filled with the proppant, the plurality of support braces includes a first set of support braces connected to a first pair of sidewalls and a second set of support braces connected to a second pair of sidewalls, the first set of support braces extending in a plane direction transverse to a plane direction of the second set of support braces;

ramps downwardly inclined and extending inwardly from the sidewalls to direct the proppant toward the outlet in the bottom region when the proppant is stored therein, at least one support brace of the plurality of support braces being positioned vertically higher than the ramps;

a hatch positioned proximate the outlet, the hatch being moveable between open and closed positions; and

a container frame connected to the plurality of sidewalls and structurally arranged to support another container when filled with large volumes of proppant and when positioned in a vertically stacked arrangement thereabove, and the large volumes of proppant weighing at least 30,000 pounds.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a first container, and wherein the outlet is adapted to be positioned adjacent a second container having a second top region with an opening formed therein, the first container being adapted to discharge the proppant from the outlet and into a second interior volume of the second container.

3. The container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support members connected to a bottom surface of the ramps and extending downwardly toward the bottom region.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the plurality of support members is arranged at respective angles relative to the bottom region and the support members are connected to the bottom region.

5. The container of claim 3, wherein at least one support member of the plurality of support members is positioned vertically lower than the plurality of support braces.

6. A system structurally strengthened to transport and store large volumes of proppant effectively therein, the system comprising:

a first container comprising;

a first top region,

a first bottom region having a first outlet formed therein to allow large volumes of proppant to flow therefrom when the outlet is in an open position, the proppant comprising sand, the large volumes having a weight comprising at least 30,000 pounds of the sand,

a first plurality of sidewalls connected to the first top region and first bottom region, so as to define a first interior volume of the first container thereby to store the proppant therein,

a first plurality of structural supports positioned to provide structural support to the first plurality of sidewalls when large volumes of proppant are positioned within the first interior volume, the proppant having a substantially spherical shape and a tightly graded particle distribution, the first plurality of structural supports defining a first container frame connected to the first plurality of sidewalls and structurally arranged to support another container when filled with large volumes of proppant and when positioned in a vertically stacked arrangement thereabove, and

a first plurality of ramps downwardly inclined and extending inwardly from the first plurality of sidewalls to direct the proppant toward the first outlet when the proppant is stored therein; and

a second container positioned below the first container, the second container comprising;

a second top region, having an opening formed therein,

a second bottom region, having a second outlet formed therein to allow large volumes of proppant to flow therefrom when in an open position, the proppant comprising sand, the large volumes having a weight comprising at least 30,000 pounds of the sand,

a second plurality of sidewalls connected to the second top region and second bottom region, so as to define a second interior volume of the second container thereby to store the proppant therein,

a second plurality of structural supports positioned to provide structural support to the second plurality of sidewalls when large volumes of proppant are positioned within the second interior volume, the proppant having a substantially spherical shape and a tightly graded particle distribution, the second plurality of structural supports defining a second container frame connected to the second plurality of sidewalls and structurally arranged to support another container when filled with large volumes of proppant and when positioned in a vertically stacked arrangement thereabove,

a second plurality of ramps downwardly inclined and extending inwardly from the second plurality of sidewalls to direct the proppant toward the second outlet when the proppant is stored therein, the first container and the second container being vertically aligned in a stacked orientation; and

one or more spacers positioned between the first container and the second container, the spacers being positioned to arrange the first and second containers in a spaced relationship.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first container further comprises a first hatch movable toward the second container to transition the first hatch to the open position to allow proppant to flow from the first outlet, wherein the second container further comprises a second hatch movable toward the first container to transition the second hatch to an open position, and a distance between the first and second containers is great enough to allow the first hatch and the second hatch to be in respective open positions at the same time.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a conveyor adapted to be positioned below either the first outlet or the second outlet such that proppant exiting the second container through the second outlet is deposited on the conveyor and transported away from the second container.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first plurality of structural supports and the second plurality of structural supports includes a first plurality of support braces, the first plurality of support braces comprises a first set of one or more support braces connected to a first pair of sidewalls and a second set of one or more support braces connected to a second pair of sidewalls, the first set of support braces extending in a planar direction transverse to the second set of support braces.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first container further comprises a plurality of support members attached to respective bottom surfaces of the first plurality of ramps, the plurality of support members extending downwardly toward the first bottom region to support the ramps, and the plurality of support members extend in a substantially horizontal position.

11. A method for delivering large volumes of proppant to a fracturing site, the method comprising:

positioning a first container to structurally support large volumes of proppant and being filled with large volumes of proppant near a fracturing site, the proppant comprising sand, the proppant comprising sand, the large volumes having a weight comprising at least 30,000 pounds of the sand, the first container having a first opening in a first top region with a first hatch moveable between a first open position and a first closed position, and a first outlet in a first bottom region to allow proppant to flow therefrom when in an open position and to prevent proppant to flow therefrom when in a closed position;

stacking a second container also to structurally support large volumes of proppant when positioned therein in a vertically stacked positioned above the first container, the second container being filled with large volumes of proppant having a weight comprising at least 30,000 pounds of sand, having a second opening in a second top of the second container with a second hatch moveable between a second open position and a second closed position, and having a second outlet in a second bottom of the second container to allow proppant to flow therefrom when in an open position;

positioning spacers between the first and second containers to provide space between the first container and the second container; and

moving one or more of the first container and the second container to a position to allow proppant to flow from the first container onto a conveyor positioned at an elevation below a corresponding respective one or more of the first outlet and the second outlet of the corresponding respective one or more of the first container and the second container.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second containers each comprises a plurality of support braces positioned to provide structural support to the sidewalls.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising moving the one or more first container and second container when the one or more first container and second container is empty of the proppant and replacing the one or more first container and second container with a third container to structurally support large volumes of proppant therein and being filled with the large volumes of proppant, the third container having a third outlet formed in the bottom region thereof and being adapted positioned at an elevation to overlie the conveyor thereby to dispense the proppant through the third outlet and onto the conveyor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the first, second, and third containers includes a container frame structurally arranged to support another container when filled with large volumes of proppant and positioned in a vertically stacked arrangement thereabove such that each of the first and second containers is structurally adapted to support the other container when the proppant is positioned therein.