Proppant storage vessel and assembly thereof
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A proppant storage system for use with hydraulic fracturing operations, the system comprising:
- a container comprising;
a cavity;
sidewalls that define a lateral periphery of the cavity;
a plurality of support braces affixed to the sidewalls and which define structural support for the sidewalls;
inclined surfaces that define a lower periphery of the cavity, and that depend axially away and extends inwardly from the sidewalls with lateral distance from the sidewalls to define an inclined lower periphery surface;
a bottom;
support members that extend between the bottom and inclined surfaces;
a hatch positioned closely adjacent to the bottom and selectively moveable to an open configuration so that when proppant is positioned in the cavity and comprises particles that have a substantially spherical shape and a tightly graded particle distribution, the proppant readily slides down the inclined surface to the open configuration of the hatch and from within the cavity to a location outside of the cavity and moveable to a closed configuration of the hatch with the hatch aligned with lower ends of the inclined surfaces thereby to block a flow of the proppant from within the cavity, the hatch circumscribed by the sidewalls when the hatch is in the open configuration; and
an opening to the cavity that registers with the hatch.
3 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
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.
203 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A proppant storage system for use with hydraulic fracturing operations, the system comprising:
a container comprising; a cavity; sidewalls that define a lateral periphery of the cavity; a plurality of support braces affixed to the sidewalls and which define structural support for the sidewalls; inclined surfaces that define a lower periphery of the cavity, and that depend axially away and extends inwardly from the sidewalls with lateral distance from the sidewalls to define an inclined lower periphery surface; a bottom; support members that extend between the bottom and inclined surfaces; a hatch positioned closely adjacent to the bottom and selectively moveable to an open configuration so that when proppant is positioned in the cavity and comprises particles that have a substantially spherical shape and a tightly graded particle distribution, the proppant readily slides down the inclined surface to the open configuration of the hatch and from within the cavity to a location outside of the cavity and moveable to a closed configuration of the hatch with the hatch aligned with lower ends of the inclined surfaces thereby to block a flow of the proppant from within the cavity, the hatch circumscribed by the sidewalls when the hatch is in the open configuration; and an opening to the cavity that registers with the hatch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Specification