초록 ▼

An apparatus for dispensing an additive (70) into a stream (14) of well proppant includes a sealed housing (42), (44), (52) containing a first chamber (102), a second chamber (104), and an additive dispenser (64), (72) operably connected to a motor (92). The upper chamber (102) is adapted to contain

An apparatus for dispensing an additive (70) into a stream (14) of well proppant includes a sealed housing (42), (44), (52) containing a first chamber (102), a second chamber (104), and an additive dispenser (64), (72) operably connected to a motor (92). The upper chamber (102) is adapted to contain the additive (70), and the lower chamber (104) communicated with the pressurized well proppant stream (14). The additive dispensing means (64), (72) is disposed between the upper chamber (102) and the lower chamber (104). Pressure equalizing tubes (98 and 99) within said housing (42), (44), (52) extend from the upper chamber (102) through the additive dispenser (64), (72) to the lower chamber (104) to equalize the fluid pressure existing in the lower chamber (104) with the fluid pressure existing in the upper chamber (102) during the dispensing of the additive ( 70) from the upper chamber (102) to the lower chamber (104). In the preferred embodiment the additive dispenser (64), (72) consists of a screw or auger (72) disposed within an auger ring (64), and the additive (70) flows through the additive dispenser (64), (72) to the lower chamber (104) under the force of gravity. Where the additive (70) consists of radioactive sand used as a tracer for well logging purposes, the apparatus may be provided with an electrical power end control circuit (106) to remotely control the dispensing of radioactive sand (70).

대표청구항 ▼

In a method for delivering an additive to a pressurized fluidized proppant line during delivery of said pressurized, fluidized proppant to a well, the steps of: sealing a first chamber from the atmosphere; filling said first chamber with an additive through a removably coverable hole in said first c

In a method for delivering an additive to a pressurized fluidized proppant line during delivery of said pressurized, fluidized proppant to a well, the steps of: sealing a first chamber from the atmosphere; filling said first chamber with an additive through a removably coverable hole in said first chamber; coupling a second chamber with a pressurized proppant transporting line; metering additive contained within said first chamber to said second chamber; equalizing fluid pressure in said second chamber with fluid pressure inside said first chamber using a plurality of conduits disposed within and extending form said first chamber to said second chamber, such that undesirable turbulence of said additive is reduced; and dropping said additive from said second chamber to the pressurized proppant transporting line for transportation into the well.