Methods and systems to transfer proppant for fracking with reduced risk of production and release of silica dust at a well site
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B65G-047/19
B65D-083/06
B65G-015/30
B65G-065/30
B65G-065/42
B65G-069/18
B65D-088/30
B65D-090/58
B65G-015/58
B65G-015/42
B65G-041/00
출원번호
US-0927614
(2015-10-30)
등록번호
US-9862551
(2018-01-09)
발명자
/ 주소
Oren, John
Oren, Joshua
출원인 / 주소
OREN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Hogan Lovells US LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
315
초록▼
Embodiments of methods and systems of transferring proppant for fracking to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust at a well site are provided. An embodiment of a method can include positioning a plurality of containers each having proppant for fracking contained therein onto a conveyo
Embodiments of methods and systems of transferring proppant for fracking to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust at a well site are provided. An embodiment of a method can include positioning a plurality of containers each having proppant for fracking contained therein onto a conveyor at a well site, downwardly discharging proppant from each respective container of the plurality of containers, funneling proppant from the one or more outlets of each of the plurality of containers through a plurality of conveyor hoppers, receiving proppant onto the conveyor belt, conveying proppant on the conveyor to a chute, and depositing the proppant into the chute for use in a blender or other location at the well site.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of transferring proppant for fracking at a well site, the method comprising: positioning a plurality of containers each having proppant for fracking contained therein onto a container cradle at the well site, each of the plurality of containers overlaying a conveyor belt and positioned w
1. A method of transferring proppant for fracking at a well site, the method comprising: positioning a plurality of containers each having proppant for fracking contained therein onto a container cradle at the well site, each of the plurality of containers overlaying a conveyor belt and positioned within a respective compartment formed on the container cradle and at least partially defined by a respective receptacle coupled to the container cradle;downwardly discharging proppant from each respective container of the plurality of containers, each respective container further having inclined lower inner portions and one or more outlets positioned at a bottom of each respective container, the inclined lower inner portions being supported by one or more inclined lower inner portion supports extending toward an outer surface of the inclined lower inner portions from a frame of the containers, the inclined lower inner portion supports shaped to conform to an outer surface of the inclined lower inner portions and extending radially inward toward the one or more outlets, such that as proppant flows by gravity feed along the inclined lower inner portions to and through the one or more outlets, risk of production and release of silica dust into the air is thereby reduced, and the respective container is substantially emptied of proppant;funneling proppant from the one or more outlets of each of the plurality of containers, such that as proppant flows by gravity feed to the conveyor belt, risk of production and release of silica dust into the air is thereby reduced;receiving proppant onto the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt arranged to reduce the risk of production and release of silica dust into the air as the proppant contacts and is carried by the conveyor belt;conveying proppant on the conveyor belt to a chute, the conveyor belt having a first end portion and a second end portion;depositing the proppant from the second end portion of the conveyor belt into the chute; andafter proppant has been discharged from a respective container of the plurality of containers, removing the respective container from the conveyor for replacement with another respective container filled with proppant, such that the conveyor belt continuously conveys proppant at the well site from the plurality of containers to the chute. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: controlling the rate of proppant as it flows through the one or more outlets of each respective container using a flow gate positioned at the one or more outlets to reduce the risk of production and release of silica dust into the air through the one or more outlets, the flow gate optionally controlled by hydraulics or electronics to enhance opening and closing of the flow gate, and wherein the container cradle includes a plurality of conveyor hoppers positioned side-by-side and are substantially aligned with the plurality of containers. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inclined lower inner portions of each respective container are inclined inwardly from inner walls of the respective container toward the respective bottoms of the plurality of containers at an angle of about 31 degrees to about 37 degrees relative to a horizontal plane of the bottom of each respective container when each respective container is level. 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: controlling the rate of proppant as it flows from one or more controllable openings of each respective conveyor hopper to reduce the risk of production and release of silica dust into the air through the one or more controllable openings, the one or more controllable openings having a hopper gate and a hopper gate actuator, the hopper gate actuator being controlled by: (a) hydraulics, or (b) electronics; andwherein a plurality of inclined side portions of the conveyor hopper further comprise a pair of short side portions of the conveyor hopper having a funnel angle or slope of approximately 35 to 40 degrees relative to a horizontal plane, and a pair of long side portions of the conveyor hopper having a funnel angle or slope of approximately 28 to 33 degrees relative to a horizontal plane, to maximize the capacity of the conveyor hopper and the flow of proppant from the conveyor hopper. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second end portion includes a shrouded portion positioned between a last respective container on the container cradle and the chute at an angle of approximately 30 to 60 degrees from a horizontal plane when the container cradle is level, and the respective receptacles comprise walls fixed to the container cradle and extending upwards from a top surface of the container cradle, the walls directing the plurality of containers to the respective compartments. 6. A method for reducing risk of production and release of silica dust at a well site during the transport of proppant for fracking, the method comprising: utilizing a plurality of containers having proppant for fracking contained therein, each respective container having a plurality of inclined lower inner portions, each respective container further having an outlet, a top positioned to reduce risk of release of silica dust associated with proppant from the top of each respective container, structurally supported sidewalls extending between corners posts to thereby at least partially define an interior volume of each respective container of the plurality of containers, and support braces arranged along the sidewalls in a cage-like configuration to support the container when proppant is contained therein, the support braces shaped to conform to an outer surface of the inclined lower inner portions and extend radially inward toward the outlet;positioning each respective container on a conveyor at the well site, the conveyor having a plurality of hoppers arranged below a top surface of the conveyor and each of the plurality of hoppers having a controllable opening that is in fluid communication with a conveyor belt that underlies the conveyor to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust associated with proppant as the proppant flows from each respective container;downwardly discharging the proppant from each respective container through each respective opening of each respective hopper onto the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt having a first end portion and a second end portion;conveying the proppant to a blender hopper; anddepositing the proppant into the blender hopper by gravity feed. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of inclined lower inner portions are each inclined at an angle of about 31 degrees to about 37 degrees relative to a horizontal plane of a bottom of each respective container when each respective container is level, such that proppant downwardly flows by gravity feed along the plurality of inclined lower inner portions to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust associated with proppant into the air at the outlet of each respective container until each respective container is substantially empty of proppant, and wherein the support members are substantially parallel to one or more of the corner posts. 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: after proppant has been downwardly discharged from each respective container, removing each respective container from the conveyor at the well site with a forklift via engagement of one or more slots coupled to a frame for replacement with a second respective container filled with proppant for fracking contained therein such that the conveyor belt is continuously conveying proppant to the blender hopper. 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: controlling the rate of proppant flowing from each respective container using a flow gate positioned at the outlet of each respective container to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust associated with proppant into the air as proppant flows out of the outlet; andcontrolling the flow gate by hydraulics or electronics to enhance opening and closing of the flow gate to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust associated with proppant into the air as proppant flows out of the outlet. 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising: controlling the rate of proppant downwardly flowing from each respective hopper using a hopper gate and a hopper gate actuator positioned at the controllable opening of each respective hopper, wherein the plurality of hoppers are positioned side-by-side and are substantially aligned with the plurality of containers; andcontrolling the hopper gate actuator by hydraulics or electronics to enhance opening and closing of the hopper gate to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust associated with proppant into the air as proppant flows out of the controllable opening. 11. The method of claim 6, further comprising positioning a shroud over a portion of the second end portion of the conveyor belt thereby to define a shrouded portion, the shroud substantially enclosing the shrouded portion to reduce the risk of release of silica dust associated with the proppant into the air, and wherein the support members extend along substantially an entire length of the sidewalls. 12. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of containers is positioned side-by-side on the conveyor, a top surface of the conveyor is substantially aligned with a plane of a respective top portion of each hopper of the plurality of hoppers, and the support members are arranged in a spaced relationship and positioned about a perimeter of the container. 13. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of containers are positioned adjacent each other on the conveyor, and wherein each of a plurality of partitions of the conveyor belt extend upwardly from a top surface of the conveyor belt toward the plurality of hoppers when positioned to underlie the plurality of hoppers and each of the plurality of partitions is spaced-apart from another one of the plurality of partitions so that the top surface of the conveyor belt receives the proppant thereon and between the plurality of partitions.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (315)
Patrick Asher Taylor, Access bar for a shipping container.
Horowitz Franklin B. (Stamford CT) Pfeffer Martin (Norwalk CT) Hertanu Herold T. (New York NY), Additive inventory control, batching and delivery system.
Jensen Darrell V. (Blackfoot ID) Hobbs Carl J. (Blackfoot ID) Blight M. Andrew (Blackfoot ID), Apparatus and methods for efficient and precise placement of discrete quantities of materials adjacent to the apparatus.
Hulbert ; Jr. Clarence E. (Muskogee OK), Apparatus for facilitating flow of solid particles by gravity through a container having an opening in the bottom thereo.
Loyer Georges (Viviers FRX) Bonnet Jean (Carry-le-Rouet FRX) Lazzarini Roger (Marseille FRX), Apparatus for loading bulk materials from a storage bin into a truck.
Friesen Garry D. (704 Clover La. Storm Lake IA 50588) Waldner Raymond P. (816 Kalvin Dr. Storm Lake IA 50588), Auger assembly for a bulk seed transport bin.
Smith, Russell J.; Loscutova, John R.; Coker, Christopher E.; Barron, Andrew R.; Skala, Robert D.; Whitsitt, Elizabeth A.; Wiesner, Mark; Costantino, Stephen A.; Bordia, Rajendra, Composition and method for making a proppant.
Andrew J. Hinkle ; Craig C. Menzemer ; Janet C. Swearingen ; Charles I. Fuller ; David S. Bennett ; Daniel D. Roup ; James T. Burg, Container module for intermodal transportation and storage of dry flowable product.
Padgett Paul O. (Duncan OK) Crain Stephen F. (Duncan OK) Handke Wayne A. (Duncan OK) Logan Jerry L. (Katy TX) Stegemoeller Calvin L. (Duncan OK) Covington Ricky L. (Duncan OK) Ritter David W. (Duncan, Continuous multi-component slurrying process at oil or gas well.
Kierbow Gerald C. (Duncan OK) Tomlinson Harvard L. (Duncan OK) Horinek Herbert J. (Duncan OK) Crain Stephen F. (Duncan OK), Controlled additive metering system.
Wolf Helmut (Sielkamp 52 3300 Braunschweig MN DEX) Schlegel Hans J. (6129 72nd La. ; North Minneapolis MN 55429), Device for building-up and discharging an annular dump of bulk material.
Heinrici Harald (Biebesheim DEX) Bachmann Uwe (Seeheim-Jugenheim DEX) Toerner Ludger (Eppertshausen DEX), Dosing device for bulk material including liquids.
Ruhmann Douglas C. (Brentwood MO) Britton Ralph A. (St. Charles MO) Mundloch James D. (Florissant MO) Vorwerk Frederick E. (St. Peters MO), Filament wound railway hopper car.
Berning, Christian; Koetting, Heinz; Schneider, Bjoern; Ley, Herbert; Berges, Joerg; Lenz, Martin, Folding transport conveyor for a construction machine, automotive construction machine, as well as method for pivoting a transport conveyor.
Lark, Larry Mitchell; Jahnke, Darren; Willman, Eric; Pannkuk, Warren, Formulating chemical solutions based on volumetric and weight based control measurements.
Brannon Harold D. (Glenpool OK) Hodge Richard M. (Broken Arrow OK) England Kevin W. (Highlands Ranch CO), High temperature guar-based fracturing fluid.
Spoerre Julie K. (Tallahassee FL) Lin Chang-Ching (Tallahassee FL) Wang Hsu-Pin (Tallahassee FL), Machine performance monitoring and fault classification using an exponentially weighted moving average scheme.
Sweatman Ronald E. (Cypress TX) Freeman Earl R. (Oklahoma City OK) Gottschling John (Williamstown WV), Method and apparatus for increasing the concentration of proppant in well stimulation techniques.
Key Ted G. (HCR3 ; Box 865 F1 New Braunfels TX 78132), Method and apparatus for the receiving of carbon black pellets for weighing prior to injection into a mixer which inhibi.
Campbell Clarence R. (6150 S. Jordan Canal Rd. Salt Lake City UT 84118) Mickelson Elliot S. (3357 West 4630 South West Valley City UT 84119) Baumgartner Steven A. (3443 Kathy Ave. West Valley City UT, Method for fabricating non-linear side wall conveyor belting.
Stutzman, Scott S.; Reininger, Robert Sean; Balthaser, David S., Method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus therefor.
Kilheffer Kenneth E. (Waco TX) Stegemoeller Calvin L. (Waco TX) Hays Lesley T. (Waco TX), Mobile paving system using an aggregate moisture sensor and method of operation.
Benedict, Charles E.; Pfeifer, Brian G.; Dobbs, James R.; Bladen, Scott K.; Yates, Christian A.; Lackinger, Richard E., Port storage and distribution system for international shipping containers.
Gunteret ; Jr. Ronald M. ; Cape William R. ; Cape Christopher ; Salgarollo Roberto,BEX ; Campbell Lowell B., Portable and modular batching and mixing plant for concrete and the like.
Dubbert Patrick C. (Cole County MO) Neely Nathan R. (Callaway County MO) Albertson Daniel L. (Maries County MO) Luebbert Norbert A. (Osage County MO), Portable mini silo system.
Oetiker Hans (St. Gallen CHX) Kummer Emanuel (Gossau CHX) Rusterholz Kurt (Jona CHX) Gmperle Hermann (Bronschhofen CHX), Process and filter control system for the cyclic counter-scavenging of diaphragm-activated filter hoses.
Hurst ; Jr. Billy J. (Mandeville LA) Waters ; Jr. Kenneth M. (Carriere MS), Programmable modular system providing controlled flows of granular materials.
DiLuigi Michael W. (Asheville NC) Lund Raymond R. (Asheville NC) Bramlett Kevin D. (Mars Hill NC), Railway hopper car gate valve and operating assembly.
Copas Jimmy W. (Clover SC) MacLennan ; III Roderick G. (Matthews NC) Overcash Thomas L. (Charlotte) Sawyer Michael D. (Charlotte NC) Willingham Thomas D. (Rock Hill SC), Slide gate.
Corcoran John (Los Angeles CA) Molvi Ikbal A. (Hawthorne CA) Hower Joseph W. (Long Beach CA) Moseley William A. (Redondo Beach CA), System and method for controlling emissions created by spraying liquids from moving vehicles.
Heider Merle J. (203 12th St. SW. Humboldt IA 50548) Heider Dale J. (1108 Eighth Ave. SW. Humboldt IA 50548) Heider Leon J. (1107 Third Ave. SW. Humboldt IA 50548) Heider Craig J. (812 S. Taft St. Hu, Trailer construction.
James M. Ehlbeck ; Christopher L. Kirn ; Thomas Lenz DE; Joerg Moellenhoff ; Gerd Roters DE; Gerhard Ruhnau DE, Vehicle operator advisor system and method.
Ricciardi Ronald J. (108 Malcolm Ave. Garfield NJ 07026) Ferrara Angelo (7 Bryn Mawr Way Fairfield NJ 07006) Hartmann Joseph L. (85 Hillside Ave. West Caldwell NJ 07006), Weigh feeder system.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.