System and method for delivering proppant to a blender

• US 9,988,215 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SandBox Enterprises LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oren Technologies LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Glynn, Peter, Oren, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Douglas A
• Application Number:
  US15/587,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20170240361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 41422201, 414287, 414334, 414406, 414522, 414813, 198538, 198539, 198540, 198543, 198544, 2221851, 222371
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 11/126 for bulk
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/22 comprising a series of co-operating units
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/24 in tandem
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 41/002 Pivotably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/16 for feeding materials in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/19 having means for controlling material flow, e.g. to prevent overloading
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/44 Arrangements or applications of hoppers or chutes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/42 using belt or chain conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/02 Swivel joints in hose-lines

Abstract

A system for conveying proppant includes a conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt that receives proppant from one or more containers having proppant stored therein. The system also includes a conveyor auxiliary unit connected to an end of the conveyor assembly having one or more joints to enable expansion and collapse of the conveyor belt from the conveyor assembly. The system further includes a proppant chute to direct the proppant from the conveyor belt into a blending hopper, the proppant chute being positioned at a higher elevation than an inlet of the blending hopper.

Claims

1. A method of moving proppant at a fracturing site, the method comprising:

dispensing proppant from a plurality of containers positioned in a side by side arrangement on a conveyor assembly onto a conveyor belt;

transporting the dispensed proppant, via the conveyor belt, away from the plurality of containers and toward a conveyor auxiliary unit;

adjusting an elevation of the conveyor belt via a joint of the conveyor auxiliary unit coupled to the conveyor assembly, the conveyor auxiliary unit raising or lowering the elevation of the conveyor belt relative to a ground plane;

transferring the proppant to a proppant chute; and

directing the proppant into a blending hopper from the proppant chute.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the proppant into a tub positioned between the proppant chute and the blending hopper, the tub being removable from the blending hopper and having a lower elevation than the proppant on the conveyor belt.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a flow rate of the proppant to the blending hopper via a control system based on feedback from a weight sensor, the weight sensor outputting a signal to the control system indicative of a quantity of proppant flowing to the blending hopper.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a flow rate of the proppant from each of the plurality of containers via a control system based on feedback from one or more sensors positioned adjacent the conveyor assembly.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting a speed of the conveyor belt via feedback from the one or more sensors.