RU2644738C2 - System and method for delivery of oilfield materials - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: oil and gas industry.

SUBSTANCE: oilfield material is stored in at least one silo which enables use of gravity to feed the oilfield material to a blender or other suitable equipment. Each modular silo is transportable and may be engaged with a support structure via a pivot connection. Once engaged, the silo is pivoted to a raised, upright position on the support structure. Oilfield material is then moved to an interior of the silo, and gravity may be used to feed the oilfield material to a blender or other equipment in a controlled manner.

EFFECT: mobile support structure for at least one modular silo for oilfield materials is proposed.

15 cl, 26 dwg

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] To facilitate the recovery of hydrocarbons from oil and gas wells, subterranean formations surrounding such wells may be subject to hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing can be used to create cracks in the rock strata to ensure the movement of oil and / or gas to the well. The formation of cracks in the rock stratum occurs by introducing a specially designed fluid, sometimes called hydraulic fracturing fluid or clay mud for hydraulic fracturing, at high pressure and with a high feed rate into the rock strata through at least one or more boreholes. Hydraulic fracturing fluids can be saturated with proppant that has particle sizes that can be mixed with hydraulic fracturing fluids to help form an efficient channel for hydrocarbon production from the rock mass into the wellbore. The proppant may contain natural grains of sand or gravel, man-made proppants, such as sand coated with fibers or resin, high-strength ceramic materials, such as sintered bauxite or other suitable materials. The proppant accumulates non-uniformly or uniformly within the fracture to maintain open fractures formed in the rock mass. Essentially, the proppant creates planes of permeable channels through which produced fluids can flow into the wellbore.

[0002] At the drilling site, proppants and other components of the fracturing fluid are mixed on the low pressure side of the system. Oilfield materials are often delivered from storage facilities to the mixer using pneumatic systems that pump oilfield materials. Water-based fluid is added and the resulting fracturing fluid is pumped into the well at high pressure. However, when the proppant is transported into the mixer using blowers, conveying the proppant for mixing leads to a significant concentration of dust. As a result, devices that control the concentration of dust, such as vacuum cleaners, are used to control the concentration of dust. Variants of the equipment used in the process also lead to the creation of a large supporting surface at the drilling site, and the control of the equipment is essentially a tense manual process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In general, the present invention relates to a system and method that facilitates the economical transportation of oilfield materials in space. The oilfield material is stored in at least one bin, which makes it possible to use gravity to feed the oilfield material into a mixing system or other appropriate equipment. In many cases, oilfield material is delivered to each hopper without air blowers. A mobile support structure is proposed that includes one or more modular bunkers at a drilling site. Each modular hopper is made with the possibility of transportation and can be brought into interaction with the supporting structure, which can be transported to the drilling site separately, using the connection, which provides controlled movement of the modular hopper during installation. After being brought into contact, the modular hopper can be rotated to a raised, vertical position on the supporting structure. Then, the oilfield material is moved inside the hopper, and gravity can be used to feed the oilfield material into the mixer or other equipment in a controlled manner.

[0004] Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a mobile installation for transporting oilfield material. Such an installation includes a chassis having a first end, a second end, a support beam extending between the first end and the second end, and wheels operably connected to the support beam to support the ability to move the support beam. The installation also includes a mounting mast assembly, including a mast connected to the chassis near the second end and a drive system connected to the mast and the chassis for moving the mast between a horizontal position and a vertical position. The installation also has a first conveyor device including a support frame connected to the mast and arranged to move between a horizontal position and a vertical position, the first conveyor device comprising a first conveyor connected to a support frame, an input and an upper unloading part, wherein the first conveyor is made with the ability to move the volume of oilfield material from the entrance to the upper discharge part.

[0005] However, many changes are possible without substantially deviating from the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, it is contemplated that such modifications will be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Some embodiments of the invention are further described with reference to the attached drawings, with the same numbers denoting the same elements. However, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments described herein and do not limit the scope of the various technologies described herein and:

[0007] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example proppant delivery system located at a drilling site in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is an illustration of another embodiment of a proppant delivery system in which a plurality of enclosed modular silos are used to store oilfield materials in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an example of a vertical conveyor system housed in a hopper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example support structure with hopper receiving portions on which modular hoppers can be mounted in a raised orientation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a plurality of modular silos transported by trucks and mounted in place on a support structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an example of a rotary joint used to rotate a modular hopper from a lateral position to a raised position on a support structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a plurality of modular hoppers located on a support structure, with load cells mounted at appropriate locations to control the load, and thus the mass content of each modular hopper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an example plate system on which a support structure at a drilling site can be mounted in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example of a support structure located on a plate system illustrated in FIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 10-12 depict various illustrations of the installation of a mobile support structure in place, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 13-15 depict various illustrations of the alignment of a modular silo in conjunction with a mobile support structure in place, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 16-17 depict various illustrations of mounting modular silos on a mobile support structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the exemplary mobile support structure shown in FIG. 10-17.

[0020] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mobile support structure constructed in accordance with the present invention having a mixing system integrated in a support base of a mobile support structure and in a passage formed by a frame structure.

[0021] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an example of a mobile installation for transporting oilfield material in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with a first conveyor device shown in a horizontal position;

[0022] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a mobile installation for transporting oilfield material of FIG. 20 showing the first conveyor device in an upright position;

[0023] FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of a support frame of a first conveyor device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an example of a discharge chute of a first conveyor device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a mobile installation for transporting oilfield material shown in conjunction with a modular silo in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a mobile unit for transporting oilfield material of FIG. 24, shown with a trailer for delivering oilfield material thereon, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mobile installation for transporting oilfield material, shown with a modular hopper and a trailer for delivering oilfield material thereon, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the following description, many details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a system and / or method can be implemented without these details and that many variations or modifications of the described embodiments are possible.

[0029] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the expression “or” refers to the inclusive, and not exclusive, “or”. For example, condition A or B is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present), and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and as A , both B are true (or present).

[0030] In addition, the use of various forms of the indefinite article implies a description of the elements and components of the embodiments described herein. This is done simply for convenience and to give an overview of the concept of the invention. The present description should be construed as including one or at least one, and the singular also includes the plural, unless otherwise indicated.

[0031] The terminology and phraseology used herein is used for the purpose of description and should not be construed as limiting. Formulations such as “including”, “comprising”, “having”, “having in composition” or “involving”, and their variants are used in a broad sense and cover the elements listed after them, equivalents and not mentioned additional objects.

[0032] Finally, any reference to “one embodiment” or “embodiment”, as used herein, means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment includes at least one embodiment. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” at various places in the description does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0033] The present invention generally includes a system and method for facilitating economical transportation of oilfield materials in space. In one embodiment, the oilfield materials may be transported to the well site using suitable trucks and loaded into at least one modular silo without using air to deliver the oilfield material. By way of example, oilfield materials can be transported into a plurality of modular silos using vertical conveyors to transport oilfield material without air blowers. In some embodiments, each modular hopper comprises an outer casing forming a closed inner portion for receiving oilfield material. The corresponding vertical conveyor is located in the closed inner part and is used to lift the oilfield material from the inlet of the hopper, for example a loading funnel, to the top of the modular hopper without using air flow to transfer the oilfield materials. Once the oilfield material is placed in a raised modular hopper, the outlet flow of the oilfield material through the outlet of the hopper can be controlled by gravity so that it is possible to optionally discharge the required amount of material into a mixing system or other suitable equipment located under the modular hopper.

[0034] According to an example, the vertical hopper is designed as a modular hopper that can be transported to the drilling site by a truck before installation, mainly in the raised position on the supporting structure. A lorry is a vehicle, such as a road train, having a trailer towed by a tractor. In this example, the modular hopper is transported using a truck trailer. However, the truck may also include a single truck or other suitable truck for transporting the modular hopper and for transporting the modular hopper on public roads. The supporting structure can be made in such a way that allows you to mount the hopper from a lateral position on the truck in a raised, for example vertical, position on the drilling site. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, a crane may be used to raise the modular hopper and mount the modular hopper on the supporting structure. The use of vertically mounted hoppers provides an effective solution for the proppant delivery in many applications. Gravity, in essence, forces the oilfield material to flow down into the right equipment, such as a mixing system.

[0035] The support structure can be made in a variety of shapes and configurations to support individual modular silos or multiple modular silos. As an example, the support structure may be composed of beams arranged in the form of an A-shaped frame or other type of configuration capable of supporting and securing at least one modular hopper in a desired raised position. In at least some cases, the support structure is configured to interact with each modular hopper when the modular hopper is located on a transport truck. This allows you to turn the modular hopper vertically directly from the truck to a working, raised position. The support structure can also be made to support each modular hopper at a sufficient height to allow the supply of oilfield material by gravity through the lower feeder into a portable mixer located below. In some cases, weight sensors are integrated into the support structure to monitor the load generated by each modular hopper, which provides tracking of the amount of oilfield material in each modular hopper. In one embodiment, the supporting structure is a mobile supporting structure made in the form of a trailer having wheels and a curved portion for connection with a truck. In this embodiment, the curved portion can be converted into an inclined platform to assist in positioning the mixing system under the modular silos. In another embodiment, the mixing system may be integrated into the platform of the mobile support structure.

[0036] In some embodiments, a conveyor, such as a mechanical conveyor belt, can be used to transfer oilfield material discharged from a gravity discharge transport mechanism to a hopper of a vertical conveyor placed in a modular hopper. A mechanical conveyor belt may be supported by a trailer transporting oilfield material with a plurality of nozzles overlapping the mechanical conveyor belt, or other types of vehicles such as dump trucks or trailers with a moving bottom may be used. By way of example, a vertical conveyor may comprise a bucket elevator or other type of vertical conveyor capable of delivering oilfield material to the upper end of a modular silo over a considerable distance, for example from 30 to 70 feet, above the surface of the drilling site. The conveyor transporting the oilfield material to the hopper and the vertical conveyor can be closed to provide dust-free conditions when transporting the oilfield material at significantly higher speeds, with greater energy efficiency and less friction than is achieved in existing pneumatic, e.g. blower, transportation systems. To increase the capacity of the modular hopper compared to a cylindrical hopper, the outer casing may have a substantially rectangular shape bounded by four corners (which may form sharp peaks or may be rounded). The modular hopper can be transported on a trailer equipped with a curved part. As best seen in FIG. 5, in order to further increase the capacity of the modular hopper while maintaining the possibility of transportation by truck, the vertical conveyor can extend beyond the upper part of the outer casing and be offset to one of the corners to bypass the curved part of the trailer.

[0037] Depending on the parameters of this fracturing process, a plurality of modular bins can be grouped together so that the feeders of the plurality of modular bins feed oilfield material to a common site, such as a truck-mounted mixing system equipped with a proppant dosing / flow control system, or another mobile mixer or mixing system located under the modular silos. To reduce the space required for a plurality of modular silos at the rig site, a common platform may be located under the outer housing of the modular silos. In this example, the outer enclosures of the modular silos cover the common area. In addition, some or all of the modular silos can be divided into compartments. In some cases, individual modular silos may have multiple internal compartments for storing various types of oilfield materials. Separate bins can be divided into main storage compartments and auxiliary storage compartments located under the main storage compartments. In the last example, the main storage compartment can be used to gravity feed oilfield materials to an output feeder for distribution to the mixing system. Some systems may use a tape feeder or other type of feed system instead of gravity feed. The auxiliary storage compartment can be opened to the internal vertical conveyor, and the proppant from the auxiliary storage compartment can be continuously lifted and unloaded into the main storage compartment. In some cases, the auxiliary compartments or other compartments of the modular hopper may have separate features that enable independent filling of these separate compartments. In addition, the output feeders can be equipped with controlled mechanisms, such as valves, which are made with the possibility of regulation to control the output stream of oilfield material.

[0038] The modular silos can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes, including cylindrical shapes or rectangular shapes selected to allow transportation using a suitable truck. By way of example, modular silos may vary in size in accordance with a proppant delivery plan for a given fracturing operation, but an example of a suitable modular silo may hold 2,000-4,000 cubic feet of oilfield material. In some systems, the modular silos are provided with sufficient clearance on the underside to form an unobstructed passage to create a mobile mixing system, such as a truck-mounted mixing system, fed under a combined modular silo system to receive oilfield material by gravity feed. For example, a mobile mixing system can be mounted on a caravan that reverses to a position under the output feeders of a plurality of modular silos. In some embodiments, the modular silos can be configured as stand-alone silos, and in other embodiments the modular silos can be configured to be mounted on a frame / support structure that supports the modular silos at the right height. In one embodiment, the mixing system can be mounted on a platform to be transported on a trailer to the rig site and then mounted under the silo system using a suitable mechanical device such as a winch.

[0039] In each of these embodiments, a closed vertical conveyor may be used to avoid pneumatic pumping of oilfield material, although in other embodiments, a pneumatic loading tube may be used as a vertical conveyor. Each modular hopper can be filled using an integrated oilfield material loading and supply system using an enclosed conveyor or other suitable system to transport the oilfield material from the discharge site to the inlet connected to the vertical conveyor at the lower end of the modular hopper. In some cases, the vertical conveyor may be driven by a belt or other device driven by a closed conveyor system used to move oilfield material from the discharge site to the inlet of the modular hopper. This essentially provides automation of the system. However, individual moving systems, such as a vertical conveyor and an enclosed conveyor extending from the discharge site, can be driven separately or together using a variety of sources, including various motors, motors or other devices.

[0040] With reference mainly to FIG. 1, in a position on a drilling site, an embodiment of a proppant feed system for forming a clay slurry suitable for fracturing a rock formation is shown. By way of example, a proppant feed system may include many types of equipment, including vehicles, storage containers, material handling equipment, pumps, control systems, and other equipment designed to assist in the fracturing process.

[0041] In the example of FIG. 1, a proppant filing system 20 is illustrated in a position at a drilling site 22 having a well 24 with at least one wellbore 26 extending downward to the formation / formation. The proppant filing system 20 may comprise a plurality of types and locations of equipment, and location types may vary from one fracturing operation to another. By way of example, the proppant feed system 20 may include at least one modular hopper 28, for example, a plurality of modular hoppers that can be transported by trucks capable of operating on public roads. Modular silos 28 are designed to store oilfield material, such as proppant, used to support an open fracture during fracturing, or guar gum, used to increase the viscosity of a hydraulic fracturing fluid. In the illustrated example, several modular bins 28 receive oilfield material along conveyors 30, such as belt conveyors, and oilfield material rises to the top 31 of each modular hopper 28 using respective vertical conveyors 32. Conveyors 30 and vertical conveyors 32 can operate by transferring oilfield material, instead of pneumatic injection of oilfield material to avoid erosion of components and dusting of the site. In addition, the conveyors 30 and the vertical conveyors 32 may be closed to further reduce dust concentration when oilfield material is supplied from the discharge site 34 to the modular bins 28.

[0042] As shown, a truck 36 for transporting oilfield material can be used to deliver oilfield material to an unloading platform 34. In this example, trucks 36 are tractor trucks with trailers having trailers 37 that can be reversed over part of a selected conveyor 30. Caravans 37 can be gravity caravans or other types of caravans capable of transporting oilfield material to the drilling site 22. Caravans can work thaw to release the oilfield material onto a belt or other suitable conveying means of a selected conveyor 30 for transfer to an associated modular hopper or hoppers 28 along a closed passage in the conveyor 30.

[0043] In this example, the proppant supply system 20 may include a variety of other components, including water tanks (not shown) for supplying water that mixes with the oilfield material to form a hydraulic fracturing fluid, such as a proppant slurry that can be pumped down, into the wellbore 26 using a plurality of pumps (not shown). By way of example, pumps can be truck mounted pumps, for example pump systems mounted on caravans for road transport. A plurality of pumps may be connected to a common manifold (not shown) for supplying hydraulic fracturing fluid to the wellbore 26. The proppant filing system 20 may also include a mixing system 44 designed to mix the oilfield material delivered from the modular silos 28. B as an example, the mixing system 44 may be a mobile mixing unit, such as a truck-mounted mixing unit or mounted on a platform Orme mixing plant. In the specific example shown, the mixing system 44 is mounted on a caravan 46, which can be fed, for example, fed back to a common platform 47 (shown in Fig. 3), that is, mounted under or near the modular hopper 28. The proppant feed system 20 may also contain a number of other components, such as a control device 48 and / or other components designed to facilitate this fracturing operation. In one embodiment, the common platform 47 is located under the outer casing 49 of the modular hopper 28. In this embodiment, the outer casing 49 of the modular bins 28 overlap the common platform 47.

[0044] Referring mainly to FIG. 2, an embodiment of modular silos 28 connected together in a co-operative installation is shown. In this example, a plurality of modular silos 28, such as four modular silos 28, are connected together on a modular support structure or frame 50, which can be mounted on a slab system 52 that can be mounted on a pad such as a concrete slab, gravel, or other system. 52 slabs distributes the load from the modular silos 28 to the ground. The modular silos 28 can be mounted with the possibility of dismantling, mainly in a raised or vertical orientation on the support structure 50. The support structure 50 is made using a plurality of receiving sites 54 of the hoppers, on which individual hoppers 28 can be mounted, mainly in the raised or vertical orientation. The support structure 50 and hopper receiving platforms 54 can be configured to raise the modular hoppers 28 to a sufficient height, so as to allow the movable mixing system 44 to move to a position low enough relative to the modular hoppers 28 within the common platform 47 to receive an adjustable output stream oil field material. For example, as shown, the support structure 50 can be designed to allow the truck-mounted mixing system 44, for example, to feed back, to a position under the modular bins 28. In addition, the cushion can be made in various sizes and shapes, including concrete pillows, compacted crushed stone pillows, pillows made as portable structures, mixtures of these various structural elements and / or other suitable types of pillows to support a plurality of modular silos 28.

[0045] In the illustrated example, each of the modular silos 28 may be configured with a silo frame 56 supported by an outer casing 49 that forms an enclosed interior space 60 for storing oilfield material 62 (see also FIG. 3). Depending on the fracturing operation, oilfield material 62 may contain natural grains of sand or gravel, man-made proppants, tar-coated sand, high-strength ceramic materials, such as sintered bauxite, other hard materials such as fibers, mica, oilfield mixtures of various sizes, mixtures various types of oilfield materials and / or other suitable oilfield materials. In some cases, the selected modular bins 28 or each of the modular bins 28 may be divided into compartments 64 for storing various types of oilfield materials 62, which may optionally be discharged from the modular bunker 28 and mixed using a mixing system 44. Each closed vertical conveyor 32 is designed to lift oilfield material (for example, with or without pneumatic injection) from the inlet 66, for example, an inlet funnel located in the lower part 68, to the upper discharge part 70 for I release into the enclosed interior space 60 through the end 72 of the vertical conveyor. In some embodiments, the end 72 of the conveyor may have a rotatable or otherwise displaceable outlet device that is selectively controlled to supply the necessary oilfield material to the corresponding desired compartment 64 in this modular hopper 28.

[0046] With further reference to FIG. 3, the vertical conveyor 32 can be installed in an enclosed space 60 in a manner that limits dust leakage, while creating a unified modular installation that can be easily transported using a truck, such as a truck 36 with a trailer of a suitable design. The vertical conveyor 32 can also be made in a number of forms. For example, the vertical conveyor 32 may be made in the form of a bucket elevator 74, having a plurality of buckets 75, movable in a continuous chain, lifting oilfield material 62 from the inlet 66 to the upper discharge part 70 for discharge into the enclosed space 60 through the end 72 of the vertical conveyor. The effluent of the oilfield material 62 into the mixing system 44 may pass through an outlet, such as a feeder 76, and the magnitude of the effluent through the feeder 76 may be controlled by a suitable effluent control mechanism 78. For example, the mixing system 44 may include a funnel 79-1 having an inlet 79-2 located below the feeder 76. In one embodiment, the outer housing 58 overlaps the inlet 79-2 of the funnel 79-1. The inlet 79-2 of the funnel 79-1 may have a width of 79-3 to 12 feet and preferably between 8 feet and 8.5 feet. Funnel 79-1 may also have an output flow control mechanism 79-4 that is similar to the output flow control mechanism 78. As an example, the output flow control mechanisms 78 and 79-4 may include an adjustable shutter, such as a hydraulic shutter, a control valve, or other flow control mechanism that is controlled by a control device 48 or other suitable control system. In this example, the oilfield material 62 is fed by gravity through the feeder 76, and the amount of effluent is controlled by the effluent control mechanism 78. In one embodiment, the amount of oilfield material 62 discharged into the mixing device 79-5 of the mixing system 44 can be controlled by both the outflow control mechanisms 78 and 79-4. In this case, the exit flow control mechanism 79-4 may be maintained in a fixed open position, while the exit flow control mechanism 78 is controlled in real time by a control device 48 to control the amount of oilfield material 62 discharged into the mixing device 79-5. Since the feeder 76 is within the funnel 79-1, when the funnel 79-1 is filled with oilfield material 62, the field material 62 will fit snugly against the source 76 and form a plug. Thus, the exit flow control mechanism 79-4 is self-adjusting, and the exit flow control mechanism 78 and the regulating device 48 can independently control the amount of oilfield material 62 discharged to the mixing device 79-5.

[0047] With reference mainly to FIG. 4, an example of a support structure 50 is shown. In this example, the support structure 50 comprises a plurality of supports 82 that are connected by a suitable fastening method to create a strong, stable structure to support at least one modular hopper 28. A weld joint may be used in the fastening methods bolt and nut and / or other suitable types of fasteners. The supports 82 are connected to form at least one hopper receiving platform 54. In the illustrated example, the supports 82 are positioned so as to create a plurality of receiving sites 54 of the hopper for receiving and supporting, for example, two modular hoppers 28. However, the support structure 50 can be made in a variety of configurations to support different numbers of modular hoppers 28 in many types of layouts and configurations.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the supports 82 are also positioned so as to provide a supporting structure 50 with an entrance under a section or passage 84 that provides space for system equipment, such as a mobile mixing system 44, and also covers a common area 47. As As an example, the support structure 50 may be positioned such that the hopper receiving areas 54 are able to support the modular hoppers 28 with the hopper frames 56 in a raised position, which allows the lower feeders 76 to to direct the flow of oilfield material 62 down into the mobile mixing system 44 when the mobile mixing system 44 is located and / or led into the passage 84. As shown, the upper beams 86 can be used to connect the receiving platforms 54 of the hopper and to create an upper support for part of the frames 56 modular hopper. The upper beams 86 can be mounted at a sufficient height to provide access to a truck-mounted mobile mixing system 44, for example fed in reverse, to drive under a section or passage 84 for receiving oilfield material 62 from modular silos 28. However, in other embodiments, the upper beams 86 can be divided into parts and supported by additional vertical supports to ensure separation of the receiving sites 54 of the hopper. The separation of the receiving sites 54 of the hopper allows you to separate individual bins 28 or groups of bins 28 and provide a space through which equipment can be introduced between the divided modular bins 28, for example a mobile mixing system 44.

[0049] The support structure 50 may also contain a number of additional parts, including reinforcing transverse beams 88, which can be installed in various positions in the structure of the support structure 50 to enhance the strength of the support structure. The support structure 50 may also comprise pivot beams 90 to which pivotable connecting elements can be attached (shown in FIG. 6), which is described in more detail below. The swivel beams 90 create a strong section of the supporting structure 50, with which each modular hopper 28 can initially be brought into interaction, and then rotated during installation of each modular hopper 28 from a lateral position to a raised, working position. In some cases, the swivel beams 90 are located at a height that is consistent with the corresponding swivel connecting elements of the frame 56 of the modular hopper when the modular hopper 28 is mounted in a lateral position, for example horizontally, on a suitable truck 36.

[0050] Again, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the support structure 50 may also comprise or be connected to at least one expandable base 92 for stabilizing the support structure 50 and the modular hoppers 28 when mounted in a raised position on the support structure 50. In the illustrated example, a plurality of expandable bases 92 are connected movement with part 94 of the base of the support structure 50. As shown, to ensure greater stability of the support structure 50, the expandable base 92 can be moved I enter the base portion 94 to move between a retracted position in the base portion 94 and an extended position. The extension and retraction of the expandable bases 92 can be accomplished using a variety of suitable drive mechanisms, including hydraulic drive mechanisms, for example hydraulic cylinders, electric drive mechanisms, for example stepper motors, which control a worm gear connected to the expandable bases, and / or mechanical drive mechanisms For example, expandable bases can be manually translated between positions. In addition, the translation of the expandable bases 92 between the extended and retracted positions can be facilitated by a variety of types of movable joints, including hinges and other types of swivel mechanisms, which make it possible to quickly connect and disconnect the expandable bases 92, and / or other suitable mechanisms. The number and orientation of expandable bases 92 can also be adjusted in accordance with the parameters of this application. The expandable bases 92 can be connected to the support structure 50 in such a way as to provide seismic isolation of the base relative to the support structure 50. The expandable bases 92 can include additional cantilever beams that can be moved or folded connected on the side of the expandable base 92 for additional stabilization supporting structure 50.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows an example in which a plurality of modular silos 28 are mounted in place on two support structures 50 adjacent to each other. In this example, each individual modular hopper 28 is transported to the drilling site 22 using a suitable truck 36. As shown, a suitable truck 36 may include a tractor 98, a towing trailer 100 having appropriate dimensions for receiving one of the hoppers 28 in the side, for example horizontal orientation. In the shown example, the modular hopper 28 is designed so that the end 72 of the vertical conveyor protrudes from the closed upper part 80 of the hopper body 58, mainly along the side of the modular hopper 28. This makes it possible to transport the modular hopper 28 on a conventional trailer 92 with a curved part, as shown .

[0052] Each truck 36 can be reversed in order to move the laterally mounted hopper 28 in cooperation with the respective receiving platform 54 of the hopper of the support structure 50. As described above, the support structure 50 may include pivot beams 90 or other suitable structures located on the corresponding height for receiving and introducing into the interaction of each modular hopper 28 with a lateral location on the truck 36. As an example, the supporting structure 50 and the corresponding modular b the unlockers 28 can use pivoting couplers 102, with which the hopper 28 can optionally be brought into engagement with the support structure 50. The pivoting couplers 102 are mounted so that each hopper 28 interacts and connects with the support structure 50, while the hopper 28 is in a lateral position on the truck 36. The rotary connecting elements 102 are also designed to maintain contact of the modular hopper 28 with the supporting structure 50 when the hopper is turning from a lateral position to a working elevated, for example, vertical, orientation.

[0053] The modular silos 28 can rotate or move around the rotary connecting elements 102 from a lateral position on the truck 36 to a working, raised position on the supporting structure 50 using a variety of mechanisms. For example, a lift 104 (shown in dashed lines) can be used to raise each hopper 28 between a side and a raised position. The elevator 104 may be a hydraulic or pneumatic elevator mounted on a trailer 100 to act adjacent to the frame 56 of each modular hopper 28 to rotate the modular hopper 28 around the pivoting couplers 102 until the hopper 28 is securely mounted in a raised position relative to the hopper receiving platform 54. The elevator 104 may be designed to operate outside the hydraulic (or pneumatic) system of the truck 36. In other cases, the elevator 104 may be configured to rotate the trailer 100 or part of the trailer 100 upward, while the modular hopper 28 remains attached to the rotary part of the trailer 100. B In other methods, cranes, hoists and / or other mechanisms can be used to rotate each modular hopper 28 around the rotary joint when the modular hopper 28 is moved from a lateral position to a working, raised orientation.

[0054] Swivel connectors 102 are used to facilitate the formation of a swivel connection between each modular hopper 28 and the support structure 50 and may include a variety of individual or multiple mechanisms of the connecting elements. Basically, each pivotable connecting member 102 comprises a pivoting member 106 mounted on a hopper 28, and a corresponding pivoting member 108 mounted on a support structure 50, for example mounted on pivot beams 90, as shown in FIG. 6. In the specific example shown in FIG. 5 and 6, each modular hopper 28 communicates pivotally with the support structure 50 using a pair of pivoting couplers 102. As an example, each pivoting member 106 may include a pin 110 that pivots, for example pivotally, into a corresponding pin receptacle 112, which forms part of the corresponding pivot member 108. Although the pin 110 is shown as being connected to the frame 56 of the modular hopper 28, and the pin socket 112 is shown as being connected to the pivot beams 90 of the supporting structure 50, yr slot 110 and pin 112 may be inverted. In addition, the rotary connecting members 102 may include a number of other structures designed to selectively engage the modular hopper 28 with the support structure 50 and to control the movement of the modular hoppers 28 relative to the supporting structure 50. Depending on the design of the rotary connecting elements 102, to maintain connections with the possibility of rotation between the modular hopper 28 and the supporting structure 50 during the translation of the modular hopper 28 from the lateral position to the raised dix can be used a number of restraint devices such as head 114 pulls pin.

[0055] With reference to FIG. 7, the support structure 50 and / or the modular silos 28 may comprise other means for determining and / or monitoring certain functions of the system. For example, to determine and / or control the parameters associated with the delivery of oilfield material 62 for a given fracturing operation, various sensors 116 may be installed on the support structure 50 and / or on the modular bins 286. As an example, the sensors 116 may include load sensors, mounted on receiving platforms 54 bins to control the loads applied by individual modular bins 28. The load data can be used to track the amount of oil field material left in a closed space 60 of each modular hopper 28.

[0056] FIG. 5, 7, 8, and 9 show an operation example to facilitate explaining how a proppant delivery system can be constructed at a given drilling site 22. As shown in FIG. 8, in this example, at the drilling site 22, a 52 plate system is first constructed. The plate system 52 may have various sizes and shapes, depending on the environment and the size and parameters of a given fracturing operation. By way of example, as shown in FIG. 8, the slab system 52 may comprise a structural material made of steel or other suitable structural material and mounted on a pad for distributing the weight of the modular silos 28 to the ground.

[0057] When the plate system 52 is in place, at least one supporting structure 50 can be assembled and / or mounted on the plate system 52, as shown in FIG. 9. The support structure 50 is oriented to receive the modular silos 28 in the desired orientation on the well 22. In the particular example shown, the support structure 50 is constructed and installed to receive a plurality of modular silos 28, for example two, three or four modular silos 28. After the support is correctly installed structures 50, trucks 36 are used to deliver modular silos 28. In one embodiment, a plate system 52 may be integrated into the base of the support structure 50.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, for example, a separate modular hopper 28 can be mounted horizontally on a trailer 100 of a truck 36. As described above, each modular hopper 28 can be implemented as a modular installation, used alone or in conjunction with other hoppers 28. The modular construction together with the layout and dimensions of the modular bins 28 makes it possible to transport individual modular bins 28 on public roads using trucks 36. When the truck 36 and the corresponding module th hopper 28 arriving at the well site 22, a truck 36 is used for supplying a backing modular hopper 28 before entering into engagement with the first reference compound support structure 50 on the system 52 plates. For example, the first support connection of the support structure may include pivoting members 106. The modular hopper 28 moves to the support structure 50 until the pivoting members 106 of the hopper frame 56 interact with the corresponding pivoting elements 108 of the supporting structure 50 to form pivoting connecting members 102. Pivoting connecting elements 102 provide a connection between the modular hopper 28 and the supporting structure 50, which allows you to safely mount the modular hopper 28 in a controlled mode from lateral, for example horizontal, position in working, raised position. By way of example, the hydraulic elevator 104 of FIG. 5 can be used to raise the modular hopper 28 to a raised position.

[0059] Trucks 36 are used to deliver subsequent modular silos 28 to the support structure 50 until the required number of modular silos 28 is located at the drilling site 22, as shown in FIG. 7. Each of the modular silos 28 is rotated to a raised position on the receiving platforms 54 of the silos of the supporting structure 50, as shown in FIG. 7. After the modular bins 28 are mounted vertically on the supporting structure 50, the modular bins 28 can be additionally bolted or otherwise mounted on the supporting structure 50. In some cases, the modular bins 28 can also be coupled together for added stability installation. In the illustrated example, the support structure 50 supports the modular silos 28 at a sufficient height to receive the mobile mixing system 44 when accessing under the site or passage 84. In this example, the feeders of the modular silos 28 can be located to discharge oilfield material into the passage 84. In addition, closed conveyor belts systems 30 can be connected to inlet funnels 66 of vertical conveyors 32. At this stage, oilfield material 62 can be delivered to drilling platform 22 and loaded into a modular hopper Steps 28 using conveyors 30 and vertical conveyors 32.

[0060] It should be noted that in some cases, the outer conveyor or conveyors 30 have open-belt compartments that allow gravity to discharge oilfield material from appropriately-made trucks with gravity feed which are reversed above open belts. The oilfield material fed to the belt is then transferred to the closed compartment of the conveyor 30 and transported along an inclined plane for discharge to at least one outlet 66 of the corresponding modular hopper 28.

[0061] The location and components of the proppant delivery system 20 can vary significantly depending on the parameters of a given fracturing operation. Modular bins 28 can be used separately or in groups of modular bins that are securely mounted on the supporting structure 50. The modular bins can be mounted at a sufficient height for direct outflow of oilfield material through an output feeder located in the lower part of the enclosed space and into passage 84. In others In some cases, feeders can be located to allow direct flow of oilfield material from the upper compartment in the modular hopper 28. In some cases, the modular hoppers 28 can include closed interior space for storing various types of oilfield material which may optionally be metered into the mixing system 44 for mixing to the desired composition of the mixture, which is then pumped down into the well.

[0062] In addition, various types of conveyor belts or other conveyors may be enclosed to deliver oilfield material from the discharge site to the vertical modular hopper 28. The modular bins 28 may also include a series of vertical conveyors for lifting oilfield material to the upper unloading platform of the modular bins 28. The various layouts of the vertical modular bins 28 make it possible to store a significant amount of oilfield materials that can be quickly delivered for use in fracking operations. The vertical arrangement of the modular silos 28 also ensures efficient use of the well site space. In addition to the efficient use of space, a closed storage and delivery system for oilfield material ensures that the drilling site is clean without substantially producing dust. However, depending on the specifics of this fracturing operation, various quantities and arrangements of modular silos 28, conveyors 30 and 32, mixing systems 44 and other rig site equipment may be used.

[0063] The supporting structure 50 and the plate system 52 can also be made in various shapes and configurations, depending on the parameters of the desired fracturing operation. For example, the support structure 50 may be made of many types of beam configurations, combinations of beams and other structural components, and / or load-bearing walls or other devices for supporting the modular bins 28. In some cases, the support structure 50 may be in the form of an A-frame or a truncated A-frame. The supporting structure 50 may also be in the form of a single connected unit supporting structure or in the form of a plurality of supporting structure elements that can be divided to accommodate compartments of individual modular bins 28 and / or compartments of groups of modular bins 28. Similarly, the plate system 52 may be made of various materials and in various configurations, depending on the parameters of the fracturing operation and the characteristics of the corresponding equipment, for example, modular bins 28, mixing systems 44 and other borudovaniya that facilitates fracturing operation.

[0064] FIG. 10-17, a mobile support structure 200 is shown to support one or more modular silos 28 in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 10 shows a mobile support structure 200 in a transport configuration in which the mobile support structure 200 is configured for road transport when towed by a truck 201. FIG. 11, on the other hand, shows a mobile support structure 200 in the process of converting to a working configuration to support one or more modular silos 28 attached to a truck 201. FIG. 12 shows a mobile support structure 200 in a working configuration and disconnected from a truck 201. In general, a mobile support structure 200 may be configured to comply with various state and federal regulations for driving on highways. In this regard, the mobile support structure 200 may have a width and height of less than about 14 feet and a length of less than 53 feet.

[0065] In the example shown, the mobile support structure 200 is provided with a support base 202, a frame structure 204, a curved portion 206 and a plurality of wheels 208 to support the support base 202, a frame structure 204 and a curved part 206. The curved part 206 of the mobile support structure 200 can be attached to the truck 201, so that the truck 201 can move the mobile support structure 200 between different places, such as drilling sites. As described in more detail below, the mobile support structure 200 is designed to be transported to the well site, and then for installation on the well site and then to support one or more modular silos 28. In the example shown, the mobile support structure 200 is designed to support up to four modular bins 28 (as shown in Fig. 1). However, it should be borne in mind that the mobile support structure 200 may be designed to support more or less modular bins 28, depending on state and federal regulations that determine the size of the mobile support structure 200, as well as the width and / or size of the modular bins 28.

[0066] The support base 202 is provided with a first end 220, a second end 222, an upper surface 224 and a lower surface (not shown). The frame structure 204 is connected to the support base 202. The frame structure 204 extends above the support base 202 so as to form a passage 230 mainly located between the upper surface 224 and the frame structure 204. The frame structure 204 has at least one hopper receiving area 232, having such dimensions and configuration to receive at least one modular hopper 28. In the shown example, the frame structure 204 has four receiving platforms 232, each of the receiving platforms 232 bun EPA is intended to support one of the 28 modular bins.

[0067] The curved portion 206 extends from the first end 220 of the support base 202 and is configured to connect to the truck 210, as described above. The axis 208 may be located near the second end 222 of the support base 202, as, for example, shown in FIG. 10. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the mobile support structure 200 is provided with two axles. However, it should be understood that more than two axes can be used and they can be located in different places relative to the support base 202 to support the components of the mobile support structure 200.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 10, the mobile support structure 200 is also provided with a first expandable base 240 and a second expandable base 242 to provide additional lateral support for the modular hoppers 28 to prevent the modular hoppers 28 from falling. In the example shown, a first side 244 and a second side 246 are provided in the support base 202. The first expandable base 240 is located on the first side 244 of the support base 202, and the second expandable base 242 is located on the second side 246 of the support base 202.

[0069] The first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 may be movably coupled to at least one of the frame structures 204 and the support base 202 by mechanical connections 248, so that the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 can be located optionally between the transport position, as shown in FIG. 10 and the reference position as shown in FIG. 11. In the transport position shown in FIG. 10, the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 extend substantially vertically and are adjacent to the frame structure 204 so as to be within acceptable dimensions for transporting the mobile supporting structure 200 along public roads and highways. However, in the support position shown in FIG. 11, the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 extend substantially horizontally from the frame structure 204 to provide additional lateral support for the modular silos 28.

[0070] In one embodiment, the support base 202 is provided with a link (not shown) supported on the wheels 208 to move the support base 202 in a vertical direction relative to the wheels 208, between the transport position in which the support base 202 is located higher in the lower part 249 wheels 208 (as shown in FIG. 10), and a supporting position in which the supporting base 202 is located on the ground, and at least a portion of the supporting base 202 is aligned with the bottom 249 of the wheels 208. When the supporting base 202 is located on the ground, and the first and the second expandable base 240 and 242 are located in the support position, the supporting base 202 and the first and second expandable base 240 and 242 can be coplanar. In addition, the support base 202 and the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 can be mounted on the pad to help stabilize the support base 202 and the expandable bases on the ground, at the drilling site, before mounting the modular hoppers 28 on the mobile support structure 200. The support base 202 may provide support for one or more silos in an unsatisfactory ground surface condition.

[0071] The mechanical coupling 248 movably connecting the frame structure 204 and / or the supporting base 202 to the bases 240 and 242 may be coplanar. For example, mechanical coupling 248 may be provided with a first set of hinges connecting the first expandable base 240 to the frame structure 204, and a second set of hinges connecting the expandable base 242 with the frame structure 204. To automate the movement of the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 between the support position and transport position, the mechanical link 248 may be provided with a first set of drive mechanisms 260 and a second set of drive mechanisms 262. The first set of drive mechanisms 260 connected to the frame structure 204 and the first expandable base 240. A second set of drive mechanisms 262 is connected to the frame structure 204 and the second expandable base 242. In general, the first set of drive mechanisms 260 and the second set of drive mechanisms 262 are configured to move the first and a second expandable base 240 and 242 between the support position and the transport position. The first and second sets of drive mechanisms 260 and 262 can be made in various ways and may include a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder or solenoid. In the example shown, the first set of drive mechanisms 260 is provided with two drive mechanisms, and the second set of drive mechanisms 262 is also provided with two drive mechanisms. However, it should be understood that in the first and second set of drive mechanisms 260 and 262, more or less drive mechanisms may be provided, depending on the size of the drive mechanisms used.

[0072] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a mobile support structure 200 having first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 mounted in a support position and showing the frame structure 204 more clearly than in FIG. 10. The frame structure 204 is provided with a plurality of frames 270 that are mutually connected by a plurality of beams 272. In the shown example, the frame structure 204 is provided with four frames 270 (which are indicated in FIG. 11 by reference numbers 270-1, 270-2, 270-3 and 270-4. However, it should be understood that the frame structure 204 may include more than four frames 270 or less than four frames 270. In the example shown, each frame 270 is parallel and substantially identical in design and function. further will be described in detail Just one of the frames 270.

[0073] The frame 270-1, for example, is provided with an upper element 280, a lower element 282 and two side elements 284 and 286, which are connected so as to form a closed structure surrounding at least part of the passage 230. The lower element 282 is located in the channel (not shown) extending through the support base 202 and connected to the side members 284 and 286 to support the side members 284 and 286 at a fixed distance from each other. As shown in FIG. 11, the side members 284 and 286 and the top member 280 may be formed and connected so as to form an arch shape to increase the structural strength of the frame 270-1. The upper element 280 is provided with a vertex 290, which can be centered between the side elements 284 and 286. The upper element 280 includes a first support 292 and a second support 294, which are connected together at the apex 290. The first support 292 is connected to the side element 284, and the second the support 294 is connected to the side element 286. The upper element 280 may also be provided with a support beam 296 so as to increase the strength of the upper element 280. In particular, the support beam 296 reinforces the first support 292 and the second support 294 to prevent the first support 292 about tilt relative to the second support 294 and vice versa, when the modular hoppers 28 are supported. The frame 270-1 may be made of any suitable strong and resistant material capable of withstanding the load from the modular hoppers 28. For example, the upper element 280, the lower element 282 and two side elements 284 and 286 may be made of pieces of tubular steel that are joined together using any suitable method, such as mechanical fastening methods using a combination of bolts, plates, and welds.

[0074] Frames 270-1 and 270-2 are connected using beams 272 and are adapted to support two modular silos 28 together. Similarly, frames 270-3 and 270-4 are connected by beams and adapted to support two modular silos 28, as shown in FIG. 17. In particular, the frames 270-1 and 270-2 form two receiving areas 232 of the hopper of the mobile support structure 200, and the frames 270-3 and 270-4 form two other receiving areas 232 of the hopper. In each of the receiving sites 232 of the hopper, the mobile support structure 200 is provided with a first connection 300 and a second connection 302. The first connection 300 in each of the receiving platforms 232 of the hopper is located at the apex 290 of the frames 270-1-4. The second connection 302 in each of the receiving areas 232 of the hopper is located either on the first expandable base 240 or on the second expandable base 242, and at a lower mark than the first connection 300 to contact the hopper frame 56 when the modular hopper 28 is on the trailer 37.

[0075] The first connection 300 in each of the receiving sites 232 of the hopper includes a first connecting element 306 and a second connecting element 308, configured to secure the frame 56 of the hopper of the modular hoppers 28. The second connection 302 in each of the receiving platforms 232 of the hopper includes a first connecting element 310 and a second connecting member 312 configured to secure the hopper frame 56 of the modular hoppers 28. The first connecting member 310 and the second connecting member 312 of the second connection 302 are configured to connect the frame 56 unkera modular hopper 28 when the hopper module 28 is located on the trailer 37 as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the trailer 37 may be reversed until the hopper frame 56 aligns with the first connecting member 310 and the second connecting member 312 of the second joint 302. As shown in FIG. 13 and 14, to assist in reversing the trailer 37 until the hopper frame 56 aligns with the first connecting member 310 and the second connecting member 312 of the second joint 302, leveling rails 320 may be provided on the first expandable base 240 and the second expandable base 242 in each of receiving sites 232 bunker.

[0076] In any case, when the hopper frame 56 of the modular hoppers 28 mounted on the mobile support structure 200 is connected to the second connection 302, the modular hopper 28 can be moved to a vertical position, as described above, using a hoist, crane or other suitable mechanical device. When the modular hopper 28 is in an upright position, the hopper frame 56 is connected to the frame structure 204 via a first joint 300 to securely support the modular hopper 28 on the mobile support structure 200.

[0077] When the support base 202 and the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 are deployed in the support position, the truck 201 can be detached from the curved portion 206 of the mobile support structure 200. When the truck 201 is detached, the curved portion 206 can be controlled to be folded. it to the ground and install it mainly coplanar with a support base 202. In this configuration, the curved portion 206 may form an inclined platform to assist the operator in positioning the mixing system 44 in the passage 230, as shown of FIG. 1. The curved portion 206 may be provided with a first portion 320 and a second portion 322. The first portion 320 projects from the first end 220 of the support base 202. The first portion 320 has a first end 324 and a second end 326. The first end 324 of the first portion 320 is movably connected with a support base 208, so that when using a set of hinges, openings and pins or other types of joints, it can be fixed in more than one position. The second portion 322 is movably coupled to the second end 326 of the first portion 320. For example, the first portion 320 may be a four-link articulated mechanism that can be locked in the raised position to form a curved part, or in the lowered position to form an inclined platform.

[0078] FIG. 12 shows a mobile support structure 200 in an operational configuration. In the operating configuration shown in FIG. 12, the modular silos 28 may be loaded onto the mobile support structure 200, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and 13-17, and the mixing system 44 may be located in the passage 230.

[0079] FIG. 13-17 show an example in which the modular hopper 28 is positioned on the mobile support structure 200. In this example, each individual modular hopper 28 is transported to the drilling site 22 by truck 36. As shown, truck 36 may include a tractor 98, a towing trailer 100 having suitable dimensions for receiving one of the hoppers 28 in a lateral, for example horizontal, orientation.

[0080] Each truck 36 can be reversed to move the side mounted modular hopper 28 into contact with the corresponding receiving pad 232 of the hopper of the mobile support structure 200. Additional guide rails can be provided in the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 to help alignment of the hopper trailer with the receiving platform 232 of the hopper. In addition, to assist in proper alignment, the first and second expandable bases 240 and 242 can also serve as an initial mark for the hopper trailer.

[0081] As described above, the mobile support structure 200 may include a second connection 302 or other suitable structures located at an appropriate height for receiving and contacting each modular hopper 28 when laterally located on the truck 36. As an example, the mobile support structure 200 and the respective modular hoppers 28 may use the first and second connecting elements 310 and 312, with which the modular hopper 28 can optionally be brought into contact with the mobile support structure 200. The first and second connecting elements 310 and 312 may be rotatable connecting elements that are arranged to contact and connect each modular hopper 28 with the mobile support structure 200 when the modular hopper 28 is in a lateral position on the truck 36. The first and the second connecting elements 310 and 312 are also made to maintain contact of the modular hopper 28 with the mobile support structure 200, when the modular hopper 28 is rotated from a lateral position to the working raised for example, vertical orientation.

[0082] The modular bins 28 can rotate or move around the first and second connecting elements 310 and 312 from a lateral position on the truck 36 to a working, raised position on the support frame 204 of the mobile support structure 200 using a variety of mechanisms. For example, hoist 104 may be used to raise each hopper 28 between lateral and elevated positions. The elevator 104 may be a hydraulic or pneumatic elevator mounted on a trailer 100 to act adjacent to the frame 56 of each modular hopper 28 to rotate the modular hopper 28 around the first and second connecting members 310 and 312 until the modular hopper 28 is securely mounted in the raised position relative to the receiving platform 232 of the hopper. The elevator 104 may be designed to operate outside the hydraulic (or pneumatic) system of the truck 36. In other cases, the elevator 104 may be configured to rotate the trailer 100 or part of the trailer 100 upward, while the modular hopper 28 remains attached to the rotary part of the trailer 100. B in other methods, cranes, hoists and / or other mechanisms can be used to rotate each modular hopper 28 around the first and second connecting elements 310 and 312, when the modular hopper 28 is moved from the lateral position to the working, odnyatuyu orientation.

[0083] The first and second connecting members 310 and 312 are shown in more detail in FIG. 14 and 15. The first and second connecting elements 310 and 312 are used to facilitate the formation of a connection between each modular hopper 28 and the mobile support structure 200 and may contain a variety of individual or multiple mechanisms of the connecting elements. In general, each of the first and second connecting elements 310 and 312 is designed to enable controlled movement of the modular hopper 28 relative to the mobile support structure 200. The first and second connecting elements 310 and 312 may include a pivoting element mounted on the hopper 28 and a corresponding pivoting element, mounted on a mobile support structure 200, for example mounted on beams 330, as shown in FIG. 14 and 15. In the specific example shown in FIG. 14 and 15, each modular hopper 28 interacts pivotally with the mobile support structure 200 using a pair of pivoting elements. By way of example, each pivot member may comprise a pin that pivots, for example pivotally, into a corresponding pin socket of the pivot member. Although the pin can be connected to the frame 56 of the modular hopper 28, and the pin socket can be connected to the pivot beams 330 of the support structure 50, the pin and pin socket can be reversed. In addition, the first and second connecting elements 310 and 312 may include a number of other structures designed to selectively bring the modular hopper 28 into contact with the mobile support structure 200 and to control the movement of the modular hoppers 28 relative to the mobile support structure 200. Depending on the design of the first and the second connecting elements 310 and 312, to maintain the connection with the possibility of rotation between the modular hopper 28 and the supporting structure 200 during the transfer of the modular hopper 28 from In the raised position, a series of holding means, such as a pull-out pin head, can be used.

[0084] The mobile support structure 200 may also be provided with other types of equipment to facilitate transportation of the oilfield material and / or mixing the oilfield material to form a slurry, as described previously. For example, the mobile support structure 200 can be rotated using a power plant 340 supported by wheels 208. In this embodiment, the power plant 340 can be used to generate power that can be supplied to conveyors 30 and 32, as well as other equipment in the proppant delivery system 20 Mobile support structure 200 can also be equipped with dry additive feeders, energy sources, controls and controllers, runners to support the mixing system, integrated a second supporting base 202. Further, the mobile supporting structure 200 may be equipped with climate protection for protection against harsh environmental conditions of the system environment. In addition, to determine and / or control the parameters associated with the delivery of oilfield material 62 for a given fracturing operation, the mobile support structure 200 may be equipped with a variety of sensors 116 located on the frame structure 204 and / or on the modular hopper 28. As an example, the sensors 116 may contain four load sensors in each receiving area 232 of the hopper and may be part of the connecting elements 306, 308, 310 and 312 to monitor the loads applied by the individual modular hoppers 28. To control In stocks, load data can be used to track the amount of oilfield material remaining in the enclosed space 60 of each modular hopper 28.

[0085] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the mobile support structure 200. The connecting members 306, 308, 310, and 312 may be arranged in the form of a truncated triangle 350, such as a trapezoid, to enhance the stability of the modular hopper 28 supported within the hopper receiving area 232. In addition, in order to support the modular hopper 28, the combined horizontal platform of the support base 202, the first expandable base 240 and the second expandable base 242 is much larger than the horizontal platform occupied by one of the modular bins 28 when installed on the mobile support structure 200. For example, the first a horizontal platform 352 occupied by one of the modular silos 28 when installed in a vertical orientation is shown in FIG. 18. As you can see, the support base 202, the first expandable base and 240 the second expandable base 242 occupy the second combined horizontal platform, which is at least one and a half times larger than the horizontal platform 352, and may be eight or ten times larger than the first horizontal platform 352.

[0086] FIG. 19 shows a second embodiment of a mobile portable structure 400, which is similar in design and function to the mobile portable structure 200, except that the mobile portable structure 400 has an integrated mixing system 410. The integrated mixing system can be transported using other components of the mobile portable structure 400 and being provided with runners or guiding devices, move away from the support base 412 of the mobile portable structure 400.

[0087] With reference mainly to FIG. 20-21, an embodiment of a mobile oilfield material transporting unit 450 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown. Mobile installation 450 for transportation of oilfield material may include a chassis 452, a horizontal conveyor system 454, which may here be referred to as the "second conveyor system 454", node 456 mounting mast and the first conveyor device 458.

[0088] The chassis 452 includes a support base 460 and a curved portion 462. The chassis 452 may be configured to support the first conveyor device 458 and be towed by a truck 36 to transport the first conveyor device 458 to any desired location on the rig site. The chassis 452 is connected to the assembly mast assembly 456 and may be further configured to mount the first conveyor device 458 in a raised or vertical operating position to feed oilfield material into the hopper (which may be a modular hopper), as described in more detail with reference to FIG. 24. The chassis 452 may interact with the assembly mast assembly 456 to move the first conveyor device 458 from a horizontal or transport position on the chassis 452 to a raised or vertical operating position. In some embodiments, the chassis 452 may also be configured to dock or otherwise align with the modular hopper, as will be described below.

[0089] The chassis 452 is provided with a support base 460 having a first end 464 (eg, a front end) and a second end 466 (eg, a rear end). The chassis 452 may also be equipped with a support beam 468 extending between the first end 464 and the second end 466 of the support base 460 and a plurality of wheels 470 located at least partially below the support beam 468 (for example, near the second end 466) and functionally associated with the support beam 468. Wheels 470 may be coupled to one or more axles, and in some embodiments of the present invention may include folding suspensions, so that when the suspension of wheels 470 is folded, the support base 460 may be mounted on a load nt.

[0090] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20-21, the chassis 452 is provided with two support beams, for example, 468-1 and 468-2, which are separated from each other by a lumen 472, and can be joined together to jointly form the support base 460 using one or more transverse support elements 474 (Fig. 21). The clearance 472 extends longitudinally along the support base 460 between the first end 464 and the second end 466. The support beams 468-1 and 468-2 can be made in the form of a steel beam, channel, I-beam, wide-shelf I-beam, universal I-beam with wide shelves , standard I-beam profile or any other design. In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of transverse support members 474 may be spaced apart from each other between the first end 464 and the second end 466 of the support base 460, while passing between the support beams 468-1 and 468-2.

[0091] The curved portion 462 protrudes from the first end 464 of the support base 460 and is configured to connect the chassis 452 to a truck, such as a truck 36, for example, using a suitable coupling device. When the truck 36 is disconnected from the bent portion 462, the indicated portion 462 can be steered to lay said portion on the ground and mounted substantially coplanar with the support base 460, as shown in FIG. 25. In this configuration, the curved portion 462 may form an inclined platform to provide access or reverse feed onto the support base 460 of a truck or trailer for the delivery of oilfield material. For example, the curved portion 462 may be provided with a first portion 476 and a second portion 478. The first portion 476 may protrude from the first end 464 of the support base 460. The first portion 476 has a first end 480 and a second end 482. The first end 480 of the first portion 476 is optionally connected movement with a support base 460, so that when using a set of hinges, openings and pins or other types of joints, it can be fixed in more than one position. The second portion 478 is movably coupled to the second end 482 of the first portion 476. For example, the first portion 476 may be a four-link hinge that can be locked in the raised position to form a curved portion 462, or in the lowered position to form a pad. Any necessary coupling device, such as a curved part, having a structure referred to in the art as a “pivot pin”, for example, can be made to connect the curved part 462 to a truck 36, which will be understood by a person skilled in the art taking advantage of the present invention.

[0092] The second conveyor system 454 may be in the form of any suitable material handling device such as a conveyor belt or auger and may be coupled to the support base 460 such that the second conveyor system 454 is located at least partially in the clearance 472 between the support beams 468-1 and 468-2. In another embodiment, the second conveyor system 454 may be rotatably coupled to the chassis 452 so as to move oilfield material to the second end 466 of the chassis 452. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the second conveyor system 454 extends along the center line of the support base 460, as shown in FIG. 20-21. The second conveyor system 454 has a second conveyor 484 and a third conveyor 486. The second conveyor 484 can be recessed in the lumen 472 and mounted essentially horizontally so that the upper surface of the second conveyor 484 is flush with the upper surface of the support beams 468-1 and 468- 2 or below it, and is configured to allow a truck or trailer for oilfield material mounted on a support base 460 to unload, dump, or otherwise lay the volume of oilfield material on a second conveyor 484 and transport the volume of oilfield material from the first end 464 to the second end 466 of the support base 460. In some embodiments, a second conveyor 484 may be installed at the center line of the support base 460. A third conveyor 486 is installed between the second conveyor 484 and the second end 466 of the chassis 452 and made in such a way as to take the amount of oilfield material from the second conveyor 484 and transport the oilfield material to the second end 466. As should be clear to a person skilled in the art, the second onveyernaya system 454 may comprise a screw conveyor belt with a smooth surface or surfaces for the transfer of oilfield material (e.g., a third conveyor 486). In addition, in some embodiments, the second conveyor 484 may be open, and the third conveyor 486 may be closed, as should be understood by a person skilled in the art, taking advantage of the present invention. The third conveyor 486 can be installed with a slope up (not zero, a positive angle) relative to the second conveyor 484.

[0093] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second conveyor system 454 can be rotatably coupled to the support base 460 and / or chassis 452, so that the second conveyor system 454 can be rotated sideways from the support base 460 at any desired angle, such as shown in FIG. 24 below.

[0094] The assembly mast assembly 456 may include a mast 488 supported by the chassis 452 and a drive system 490 cooperating with the mast 488 and the chassis 452. The assembly mast assembly 456 is configured to abut against a support base 460 (eg, support beams) 468-1 and 468-2) when the chassis 452 is transported, and to release the second conveyor system 454 when the assembly mast assembly 456 is deployed in a raised or vertical position. The range of movement of the mounting mast assembly 456 during deployment may extend from horizontal to slightly above vertical position (for example, greater than the 90-degree range of movement) to allow for angular displacement due to differences in ground height. Assembly mast assembly 456 may be made of a steel beam, a channel, an I-beam, a wide-shelf I-beam, a universal I-beam with wide shelves, a standard I-beam, or any other material.

[0095] The mast 488 may be supported by the support beams 468-1 and 468-2 of the chassis 452 near the second end 466 of the chassis 452. The mast 488 is designed to support the first conveyor device 458 and to move between a horizontal position (Fig. 20) and a vertical position ( Fig. 21) using the drive system 490, for lifting the first conveyor device 458 to a vertical position and for connecting the first conveyor device 458 to the modular hopper, as will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 24.

[0096] The mast 488 may be equipped with a frame 492 including a first end 494, a second end 496, a first support beam 498-1 extending between the first end 494 and a second end 496, and a second support beam 498-2 extending between the first end 494 and a second end 496. The first and second support beams 498-1 and 498-2 may be spaced apart in parallel orientation and configured to jointly support the first conveyor device 458, as will be described below.

[0097] The drive system 490 interacts with the mast 488 and at least one of the support beams 468-1 and 486-2 of the chassis 452 to move the mast 488 along an arcuate path to move the first conveyor device 458 between horizontal and vertical positions. As shown in FIG. 20 and 21, the drive system 490 may include a plurality of drive mechanisms 500-1 and 500-2 working together to move the mast 488 from a horizontal position to a vertical position. However, it should be borne in mind that the drive system 490 can be made in the form of a single drive mechanism 500 or any number of drive mechanisms 500. The drive mechanisms 500 can be made in the form of hydraulic drive mechanisms, pneumatic drive mechanisms, electric drive mechanisms, mechanical drive mechanisms or any suitable mechanisms capable of moving the 488 mast to a vertical position.

[0098] The first conveyor device 458 may be in the form of a closed vertical bucket elevator or screw (for example, not using an air stream to transfer oilfield material), and may include a first conveyor 502 and a support frame 504 that is movably connected to the mast 488 assembly mast assembly 456 such that the first conveyor 502 is able to move between the horizontal position when the first conveyor 502 abuts the support base 460 during transport and vertically position when the first conveyor 502 is oriented vertically to transport the volume of oilfield material into one or more modular silos. In some embodiments, the first conveyor 502 may be configured and have functions similar to the vertical conveyor 32 described above.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 22, the support frame 504 may be movably coupled to the mast 488 using one or more mechanical ties 506 attached to the mast 488 and one or more drive mechanisms 508 configured to smoothly move or otherwise move the support frame 504 relative to the first end 494 of mast 488 within a predetermined range. In some embodiments, the actuators 508 may be in the form of hydraulic or pneumatic actuators. It should be understood that mechanical connections 506 can be made in various ways, such as skids (as shown in FIG. 22), hydraulic or pneumatic manipulators, mechanisms, worm gear jacks, cables, or combinations thereof.

[0100] Now, as shown in FIG. 23-24, the first conveyor 502 may include an inlet 510 and an upper discharge portion 512. The inlet 510 may be installed close to and / or below the third conveyor 486 of the second conveyor system 454, so that the volume of oil material transported along the third conveyor 486 of the second conveyor system 454 enters the first conveyor 502 through the input 510.

[0101] The upper discharge portion 512 may include a discharge chute 514, which may be a double discharge chute configured to fill two or more modular silos 516 at the same time, so as to have two or more outlets 517 operably associated with, for example, two or a plurality of receiving channels 518 of modular silos 516. In some embodiments, the discharge channel 514 may include an integrated control valve 520 (e.g., a three-way control valve ) to ensure that the discharge chute 514 is filled with one, two or more modular silos 516, which should be understood by a person skilled in the art. The discharge chute 514 may dock or otherwise connect to the receiving chutes 518 of the modular silos 516 in any desired manner, protected, for example, from rain and / or moisture, by incorporating one or more rain hoods or shields.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 23, the support frame 504 may comprise one or more additional hopper-cooperating elements 522, which may be in the form of hooks, L-shaped protrusions, or, for example, combinations thereof. The elements interacting with the hopper 522 can be made to come into contact with the corresponding attached to the frame elements 524 made in the modular hoppers 516, so that the support frame 504 and the first conveyor 502 can be securely fastened or otherwise connected with the modular hoppers 516. One skilled in the art will appreciate that elements 522 interacting with the hopper and / or elements 524 attached to the frame in some embodiments of the present invention may be omitted.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 20, in some embodiments, an additional power supply system 526 may be implemented with a mobile unit for transporting oilfield material 450 and it may be configured to power a drive system 490, a first conveyor 502, and drive mechanisms 508. However, in some embodiments, the power supply system 526 may be is omitted, and the drive system 490, the first conveyor device 458, and the drive mechanisms 508 can be powered by any necessary energy source, such as an energy source, by ny with modular bins 516, a separate generator, electric line connected to a network or a local energy source, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the implementation of the power supply system 526 is equipped with a mobile unit 450 for transporting oilfield material, while the power supply system 526 is dimensioned and mounted on the support base 460 so as not to interfere with the operation and movement of the assembly mast assembly 456 and the second conveyor system 454.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 25, during operation, the mobile oilfield transport unit 450 may function as follows: the truck 36 reverses the chassis 452 close to one or more modular silos 516 (for example, a co-operating installation of two or more modular silos 516). When the truck 36 is disconnected from the chassis 452, the curved portion 462 can be controlled to be laid on the ground and installed mainly coplanarly with the support base 460 to form an inclined plane to allow access or backward transport of the oil transport trailer 528 to the support base 460 The assembly mast assembly 456 rises to a vertical position to also raise the first conveyor device 458 to a vertical position. The drive mechanisms 508 can operate to raise the first conveyor 502 to the upper limit of a predetermined range of movement of the drive mechanisms 508 by moving the support frame 504 relative to the first end 494 of the mast 488 (for example, along a mechanical link 506). The position of the chassis 452 relative to the modular hoppers 516 can be adjusted as necessary (for example, in three dimensions, for example, by moving the chassis 452, by docking or otherwise aligning the second end 466 of the chassis 452 with the modular hoppers 516 and / or by folding the suspension chassis 452 to install the discharge chute 514 to come into contact with the receiving chutes 518). The drive mechanisms 508 can operate to lower the first conveyor 502 over the modular hoppers 516, so that the discharge chute 514 comes into contact with the receiving chutes 518. Alternatively, lowering the first conveyor 502 can also cause contacting the interacting with the hopper elements 522 with the corresponding attached to frame 524, so that the support frame 504 of the first conveyor device 458 is securely attached or otherwise connected to the modular hoppers 516, forcing the discharge chutes 514 to align with receiving channels of 518 modular silos.

[0105] The oilfield transport trailer 528 may be fed back over the chassis 452 so that the discharge openings (not shown) of the oilfield trailer 528 are positioned higher and vertically aligned with the second conveyor 484 of the second conveyor system 454. When the oilfield’s volume the material is dumped, unloaded or otherwise laid (for example, by gravity) onto the second conveyor system 454, the oilfield material is transported using the second conveyor 484 to the third conveyor 486. T A third conveyor 486 is optional in the sense that the second conveyor 484 can deliver oilfield material directly to the first conveyor 502. The third conveyor 486 continues to move the volume of oilfield material to the second end 466 of the chassis 452. When the volume of oilfield material reaches the first conveyor 502, oilfield material enters to the input 510 of the first conveyor 502. The volume of oilfield material is transported upward along the first conveyor 502 and is stacked in modular bins 516 using a discharge chute a 514 and receiving troughs 518.

[0106] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second conveyor system 454 can be rotated sideways from the support base 460 at any desired angle, and the transport trailer 528 of oilfield material can be mounted above the second conveyor system 454 without reversing over the chassis 452, as shown in FIG. 24, which should be understood by a person skilled in the art, taking advantage of the present invention.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 26, in another embodiment, the second conveyor system 454 comprises a swivel conveyor device 530 rather than a discharge chute 514. The swivel conveyor device 530 includes a conveyor 532 that can be attached to a housing and / or a support frame extending around the first conveyor 502 with a unit horizontal control and vertical control node. The horizontal control unit may comprise a mechanical connection with one swivel joint or a plurality of swivel joints working together to provide a range of movement of the conveyor 532 along a horizontal path, which can be approximately in the range from 0 degrees to 180 degrees, as shown by arrow 534. Conveyor device 530 may also comprise a vertical control assembly (not shown) including mechanical coupling to provide a range of movement of conveyor 532 along a horizontal path an axis, which can be in the range from 0 degrees to 120 degrees, as shown by arrow 536. The horizontal and vertical control units can contain one or more drive mechanisms for performing controlled movement along the horizontal and vertical path, as described above.

[0108] The horizontal and vertical control units allow movement between the stowed position when the conveyor 532 extends substantially parallel to the first conveyor 502 and the extended position in which the conveyor 532 extends laterally from the first conveyor 502. In some embodiments, the present invention conveyor 532 can be made in the form of a screw or a closed belt conveyor with two-way movement, and can be rotated using one or more drive mechanisms (not shown). Conveyor 532 may function similarly to discharge chute 514 and may be connected to one or more receiving chutes 518 of modular silos 516, similarly to discharge chute 514. For example, conveyor 532 may be connected to one or more receiving chutes 518 in a manner protecting the receiving chutes 518 from rain or moisture, such as with rain hoods or screens. As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize, the swivel conveyor 530 allows the chassis 452 to be mounted at any desired angle, orientation or position relative to the modular silos 516, for example, in parallel, at an angle, or perpendicularly. In addition, when executing the rotary conveyor device 530, the support frame 504 may or may not be attached to the hopper (s) using elements 522 interacting with the hopper.

[0109] As should be understood by those skilled in the art taking advantage of the present invention, the mobile oilfield material transporting unit 450 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention uses a first conveyor that is external to the hopper and is transported to any desired location and connected to one or a lot of bins in place. In addition, the chassis 452 or mobile unit 450 for transporting oilfield material in accordance with the teachings of the invention disclosed herein forms an inclined platform that allows transport trailers 528 of oilfield material to be pushed back onto the chassis 452 and lay oilfield material on a second conveyor system 454 of the mobile unit 450 for conveying oilfield material. Mobile unit 450 for transportation of oilfield material can provide flexible positioning and fast and efficient transfer of oilfield material to modular silos 516 in place. In addition, the removal of the vertical conveyor from the hopper (for example, the first conveyor external to the hopper) increases the available volume of the hopper. It should be borne in mind that in some embodiments, an external first conveyor, as described herein, can be used in modular silos containing, for example, internal vertical elevators.

[0110] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, one skilled in the art will appreciate that many changes are possible without substantially departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is contemplated that such modifications will be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims.

Claims (23)

1. Mobile support structure to support at least one modular hopper for oilfield materials, containing: a support base having a first end and a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface, a first side and a second side; a frame structure connected to the support base and extending above the support base to form a passage between the platform and the frame structure, wherein the frame structure has at least one hopper receiving area and is configured to accommodate at least one modular hopper; a first expandable base on a first side of the support base; and a second expandable base on a second side of the support base. 2. The mobile support structure of claim 1, wherein the first expandable base and the second expandable base are movable to a support position, wherein the support base, the first expandable base and the second expandable base are configured to provide at least vertical and lateral support one modular hopper. 3. The mobile support structure according to claim 2, which further comprises a first set of movable joints connecting the first expandable base to at least one of the components selected from the frame structure and the support base, and a second set of movable joints connecting the second expandable base to with at least one of the components selected from the frame structure and the supporting base. 4. The mobile support structure according to claim 1, which further comprises a first drive mechanism connected to the frame structure and the first expandable base and configured to move the first expandable base between the support position and the transport position. 5. The mobile support structure according to claim 4, wherein when the first expandable base is installed in the support position, it extends substantially horizontally from the frame structure, and when the first expandable base is installed in the transport position, it extends essentially vertically and next to the frame structure. 6. The mobile support structure according to claim 4, which further comprises a second drive mechanism connected to the frame structure and the second expandable base and configured to move the second expandable base between the support position and the transport position. 7. The mobile support structure according to claim 1, wherein the first expandable base has a first surface facing the frame structure, wherein the mobile support structure further comprises a pair of alignment guides that extend from the first surface and which are aligned with said at least one of receiving sites of the bunker. 8. The mobile support structure according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the frame structure is located above the support base, and the second part of the frame structure is located on the first and second expandable bases, and further comprises a first connection on the first part of the frame structure for receiving and supporting the first part a modular hopper within each hopper receiving area and second connections on the second parts of the frame structure within each hopper receiving platform on the first and second expandable bases, made with the possibility of receiving and supporting the second part of the modular hopper above the first and second expandable bases. 9. The mobile support structure of claim 8, wherein the first connection and the second connection are arranged to form a truncated triangle. 10. The mobile support structure of claim 9, wherein the truncated triangle has a trapezoid shape. 11. The mobile support structure according to claim 8, in which the frame structure has an upper part and in which the first connection is located in the upper part of the frame structure. 12. The mobile support structure according to claim 1, which further comprises: a plurality of load sensors on the first connection and the second connection within each receiving area of the hopper and one or more controllers connected to the load sensors and configured to receive signals from the load sensors indicating the force applied to the load sensors and converting the signals into data indicating at least one of the values selected from the weight of each modular hopper mounted on frame structure, and the amount of oilfield material contained in each modular hopper mounted on the frame structure. 13. The mobile support structure according to claim 1, which further comprises: many load sensors within each receiving area of the hopper and one or more controllers connected to the load sensors and configured to receive signals from the load sensors indicating the force applied to the load sensors and converting the signals into data indicating at least one of the values selected from the weight of each modular hopper mounted on frame structure, and the amount of oilfield material contained in each modular hopper mounted on the frame structure. 14. The mobile support structure according to claim 1, in which one of the modular bins occupies the first horizontal platform, being installed in a vertical orientation, and the support base, the first expandable base and the second expandable base occupy the second combined horizontal platform, which is at least one and a half times more than the first horizontal platform. 15. The mobile support structure according to claim 1, which further comprises an integrated mixing system supported by the support base and within the passage formed by the frame structure.

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