RU2692297C2 - Integrated supply in process at drilling site - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: mining.SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to underground operations of well treatment in oil and gas industry, and in particular to formation hydraulic fracturing. Device for mixture formation provides for use of mixing unit. This assembly comprises a frame and a rheological inspection assembly. Rheology control unit comprises a means for receiving the first material from the first transporting mechanism, a dispersion and / or mixing system connected to the frame, and a first dosing system. This system is configured to dispense the first material from the first material receiving material into the dispersion and / or mixing system. Dispersion and / or mixing system is configured to disperse and / or mix the metered first material with fluid to form a first fluid mixture. There is a unit for mixing of coarse solid fraction. This assembly comprises means for receiving second material from second conveying mechanism. Second material is a material of a coarse solid fraction. There is a solid fraction mixing system connected to the frame and a second metering system configured to dispense the second material from the second material receiving material into the solid fraction mixing system. Solid fraction mixing system is configured to mix the dosed second material with the first fluid mixture to form a second fluid mixture.EFFECT: technical result is increased efficiency of operations of formation treatment, including hydraulic fracturing, and reliability of device operation.20 cl, 22 dwg

Description

Cross reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority on provisional application US No. 61/992146, called "Integrated Process Delivery at Wellsite", patent registry No. IS14.8472-US-PSP, filed May 12, 2014, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein link.

Background of the invention

[0002] High viscosity fluid mixtures or gels containing hydratable material and / or additives mixed with water and / or other hydrating fluid are used in hydraulic fracturing and other underground well treatment operations. These high viscosity fluid mixtures are compiled at the well site or transported to the well site from a remote site. Hydration is a process in which the hydratable material is solvated, absorbed and / or otherwise reacts with the hydrating fluid, creating a fluid mixture with high viscosity. The degree of hydration of the hydrated material can be increased by keeping the hydrated material in the hydrating fluid during a process step called the holding time, for example, the step can take place in one or more hydration tanks.

[0003] Hydration and the associated increase in viscosity occurs over a period of time corresponding to the holding time of the hydrated material in the hydrating fluid. Thus, the hydration rate of a hydratable material is a carefully studied factor in gelation operations, by means of which a fluid mixture with high viscosity is continuously produced at the place of work and during the work on the drilling site. To obtain sufficient hydration and / or viscosity, tanks of considerable length or a sequence of large tanks are used, providing sufficient material for the hydrated material and, therefore, a holding time in a hydrating fluid. Such tanks are transported to the drilling site or place near the site. For example, a hydratable material can be mixed with a hydrating fluid prior to being introduced into the sequence of tanks, and during the passage of a fluid mixture through the sequence of tanks, the hydrated material can be hydrated sufficiently.

[0004] A conventional gravity flow hydration tank cannot work with a fluid mixture of high concentration. Therefore, other large-volume tanks are used to sufficiently dilute the fluid mixture until a sufficiently low viscosity is obtained to allow the fluid mixture to pass through the hydration tank with a gravity flow. Large-volume hydration tanks occupy a large area, create difficulties in transportation and / or can be non-transportable. Therefore, high-performance mechanical mixers are used for mixing or mixing high-viscosity fluid mixtures with proppants, solid additives and liquid additives during mixing operations to form other fluid mixtures, such as fracturing fluids of a subterranean formation.

[0005] Before mixing, the proppant and solid additives are transported to the well site by means of delivery and fed to the mixers during mixing operations. To prevent interruptions in the supply of material, delivery vehicles periodically arrive at the drilling site, creating a congestion of vehicles. In addition, a limited number of delivery vehicles may be parked at the well site adjacent to the mixers when unloading materials and feeding them into mixers during mixing operations.

[0006] Individual equipment units are used to perform gelation and mixing operations. Such a functional separation between equipment leads in itself to poor performance, reduced reliability, possibility of installation with deviations from the established norms and poor management of technological processes. When the equipment is divided into gel-forming and mixing units, equipment blocks are often used with duplicate functions in the implementation of the joint technological process, which increases the area occupied by the drilling site and the complexity of its construction.

[0007] Each equipment unit may also contain its own engine, generator, and / or other power source, which is charged independently and which increases the amount of maintenance work. Also, problems of safety and environmental protection are exacerbated, for example, characteristic of large-sized and numerous hoses, pipes and / or other tubular products connecting various components for mixing and mixing, each of which is sensitive to leakage and installation with deviations from the established norms.

[0008] Gelation and mixing operations also become more complex as they adapt to specific subsurface reservoirs. This also increases the workload for field personnel and organization, increasing the number of units of equipment that is managed and maintained. In addition, since the gelation and mixing controls are mainly controlled manually, field personnel and organization include a large number of experienced, highly skilled operators.

Summary of Invention

[0009] This overview provides a collection of concepts, further discussed below in the detailed description of the invention. This review generally does not identify the inherent features of the claimed subject matter and does not limit its scope.

[0010] The present disclosure provides a device that includes a mixing unit having a frame, a rheological control section and a mixing section for a coarse solid fraction. The rheological monitoring section includes means for receiving the first material from the first transport mechanism, a dispersing and / or mixing system connected to the frame, and a first metering system for dispensing the first material from the means receiving the first material into the dispersing and / or mixing system. The dispersing and / or mixing system is configured to disperse and / or mix the metered first material with the fluid to form the first fluid mixture. The mixing section of the coarse solid fraction includes means for receiving the second material from the second conveyor mechanism, the mixing system for the solid fraction connected to the frame, and the second dosing system for dispensing the second material from the material receiving second material into the mixing system for the solid fraction. The mixing system of the solid fraction is made with the possibility of mixing the metered second material with the first fluid mixture to form a second fluid mixture. The second material may be a material of a coarse solid fraction, such as, for example, a proppant or other granular material.

[0011] The present disclosure also provides a method in which the first transport mechanisms are employed to transfer the respective materials received from the respective delivery vehicles to the respective containers. Each of the materials has a different composition. The second conveying mechanisms are used to transfer one of the mentioned relevant materials from one of the mentioned respective containers to the mixing unit. The mixing unit is activated to at least partially form the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation using each of the materials received from each of the second conveying mechanisms.

[0012] The present disclosure also provides a device that includes a system for a drilling site for use in a fracturing operation of a subterranean formation. The system for the drilling site includes a mobile base frame, having an open zone extending at least partially through it, and multiple containers located on the mobile base frame on said open zone. Tanks are designed to contain solid materials of large volume. The system for the well site also includes a mixing unit having first and second mixers. The mixing unit is designed to move within the open area so that in the open area the receiving means of the first mixer is combined with the unloading of the gravitational supply of solid materials of large volume from at least one of the containers.

[0013] The present disclosure also provides a method that includes deploying a mobile base frame at a well site. The mobile base frame includes an open zone extending at least partially through it. Numerous capacities are mounted on the mobile main frame. Tanks are designed to contain solid materials of large volume. The mixing unit is transported to the open area so that the material receiving facilities of the mixing unit are combined with the unloading of gravitational supply of solid materials of large volume from at least one of the containers. The mixing unit includes a frame, the first mixer is connected to the frame, and the second mixer is connected to the frame and in fluid communication with the first mixer. Receiving material means accept and direct the unloading of the gravitational supply of solid materials of large volume to at least one of the first and second mixers.

[0014] The data and additional aspects of the present disclosure are set forth in the description below, and / or may be considered by a person skilled in the art when reading the materials in this document and / or putting into practice the principles described in this document. At least some aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented by the means indicated in the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] The present disclosure becomes clear from the following detailed description with the attached figures. We specifically point out that according to standard industry practice, various elements are drawn without respecting scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various elements can be arbitrarily increased or decreased for clarity when considering.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a schematic of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 9-12 are flow diagrams of at least portions of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 13 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of at least a portion of a device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 15 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 2, 3, and 4, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0035] It is understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for the performance of different elements of different embodiments. Specific examples of components and structures are described below to simplify the understanding of the present disclosure. In this description, of course, only examples are given that do not impose restrictions. In addition, in the present disclosure, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in various examples. This repetition provides simplicity and clarity and does not dictate the relationships between the various options and / or configurations under consideration. In addition, the execution of the first element above or on the second element in the description below may include variants in which the first and second elements are performed in direct contact and may also include variants in which additional elements may be introduced between the first and second elements so that the first and second elements may not have direct contact.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a system 100 for a drilling site installed on the surface 101 of a drilling platform in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The well site system 100 comprises a mixing unit 200 functionally connected to a plurality of bulk storage tanks 102 filled with various fluids, solids, additives, granular materials and / or other materials (hereafter referred to collectively as “many materials”) with using a variety of transporting mechanisms 104. Transporting mechanisms 104 are made with the ability to move or otherwise deliver a variety of materials from the corresponding one of the containers 102 for bulk x Anenij 200 of mixing assembly. The mixing unit 200 is configured to receive and mix or otherwise mix a variety of materials to form one or more fluid mixtures that can form at least a portion of a substantially continuous flow of fracturing fluid from a subterranean formation used in hydraulic fracturing operations of a subterranean formation.

[0037] For example, a well site system 100 may contain bulk storage capacity 110, such as a hopper or tank for containing hydratable material, such as gelling agents, guar, polymers, synthetic polymers, galactomannan, polysaccharides, cellulose, and clay among other examples . The bulk storage tank 110 may be functionally connected to the mixing unit 200 via a transport mechanism 112 extending between the bulk storage tank 110 and the mixing unit 200. The conveying mechanism 112 may include a metering feeder, a screw feeder, a screw conveyor, a conveyor and / or the like, and may extend between the bulk container 110 and the mixing unit 200, so that the inlet of the conveying mechanism 112 may be located as a whole below capacity 110 for bulk storage, and the release may be located generally above the mixing unit 200. A blade extending along the length of the transport mechanism 112, for example, may be functionally connected to an engine configured to rotate the blade. When the mixing unit 200 is operating, the rotating blade can move the hydrated material from the inlet to the outlet, with the result that the hydrated material can be discharged, fed or otherwise introduced into the mixing unit 200.

[0038] The conveying mechanism 112 may also or instead include a pneumatic feed system in which compressed gas, such as air, is used to propel the hydrating material from bulk storage 110 to the mixing unit 200. The pneumatic supply system may contain a vacuum pump that can create a vacuum, designed to draw out hydrating material from the tank 110 for bulk storage and transfer the hydrating material to the mixing unit 200 through a pipe system.

[0039] The bulk storage tank 110 may be a mobile tank or semi-trailer, which may allow its transportation to the surface 101 of the drilling site. However, the bulk storage tank 110 may be movable or stationary and / or may be temporarily or permanently installed on the surface 101 of the drilling site.

[0040] The well site system 100 may further comprise bulk storage tank 120, which may include a plurality of storage tanks for liquid additives, such as crosslinkers, gel diluents, surfactants, unstable clay stabilizers, hydrochloric acid and friction reducers among other examples. The bulk storage tank 120 may be operatively connected to the mixing unit 200 via a transport mechanism 122 extending between one or more of the bulk storage tanks 120 and the mixing unit 200. The transport mechanism 122 may include one or more fluid tubes extending between bulk storage 120 and mixing unit 200. The transporting mechanism 122 may further comprise one or more fluid pumps configured to transfer the liquid additive from the bulk storage tank 120 to the mixing unit 200.

[0041] The bulk storage tank 120 may form part of the mobile tank or semi-trailer, which may allow transportation to the surface 101 of the drilling site. However, the bulk storage tank 120 may be movable or stationary and / or may be temporarily or permanently installed on the surface 101 of the drilling site.

[0042] The system 100 for a well site may also contain bulk storage capacity 130, which may include a hopper or a box for storing a large amount of bulk material (hereinafter referred to as a solid additive). The solid additive may be dry or partially dry and may include fibrous materials such as fiberglass, phenol formaldehyde, polyesters, polylactic acid, cedar bark, crushed sugarcane stems, mineral fiber and hair, among other examples. The solid additive may be packaged in small shells, for example, bags, tablets, bags, and / or other packaging agents that can improve circulation during the transfer and / or flow within the bulk storage 130 and that can reduce dust generation. The packaging means may dissolve or rupture after being introduced into the mixing unit 200.

[0043] The bulk storage container 130 may be functionally connected to the mixing unit 200 via the transport mechanism 132, extending between the bulk storage container 130 and the mixing unit 200. The conveying mechanism 132 may include a metering feeder, a screw feeder, a screw conveyor, a conveyor and / or the like and may extend between the bulk storage 130 and the mixing unit 200, so that the inlet of the conveying mechanism 132 may be located generally below the capacity 130 for bulk storage, and the release may be located generally above the mixing unit 200. A blade extending along the length of the transport mechanism 132, for example, may be functionally connected to an engine configured to rotate the blade. When the mixing unit 200 is in operation, the rotating blade can move the solid additive from the inlet to the outlet, whereby the solid additive can be dropped, supplied or otherwise introduced into the mixing unit 200.

[0044] The transport mechanism 132 may also or instead include a mechanism with a gravity feed. For example, the lower part of the bulk storage tank 130 may have a tapering configuration ending in a discharge chute, located generally above the mixing unit 200 or in the feed hopper or other material receiving part of the mixing unit 200. During blending operations, the bleed chute can be opened and closed by an actuator to ensure the discharge, supply, or other introduction of solid additives to the mixing unit 200. The bulk storage container 130 may be vertically oriented and positioned in a raised position above the mixing unit 200, so as to ensure that the mixing unit 200 is at least partially below the bulk storage 130. Such an embodiment can provide the location of a drain chute of bulk container 130 above the mixing unit 200 or in the material receiving part of the mixing unit 200 to provide for the discharge, supply or other introduction of solid additives to the receiving part of the mixing unit 200. The bulk storage tank 130 may be a mobile tank or semi-trailer, which may allow its transportation to the surface 101 of the drilling site. However, the capacity 130 for bulk storage may be movable or stationary, and / or may be temporarily or permanently installed on the surface 101 of the drilling site.

[0045] The system 100 for a well site may also include bulk storage tank 140, which may include a plurality of bins or boxes for storing granular material. The particulate material may be or comprise a solid and / or dry material, for example a proppant comprising sand, sand-like particles, silica and quartz, among other examples. The granular material may also or instead contain mica and / or fibrous materials. The granular material can also be encapsulated, as described above with respect to the materials of the solid additive. Granular material is also referred to herein as coarse solid fraction.

[0046] The bulk storage container 140 may be functionally connected to the mixing unit 200 via a transport mechanism 142 extending between the bulk storage container 140 and the mixing unit 200. The conveying mechanism 142 may include a metering feeder, a screw feeder, a screw conveyor, a conveyor, etc., and may extend between the bulk storage container 140 and the mixing unit 200, so that the inlet of the conveying mechanism 142 may be located generally under the container 140 for bulk storage, and the release may be located generally above the mixing unit 200. A blade extending along the length of the conveying mechanism 142, for example, may be functionally connected to an engine configured to rotate the blade. When the mixing unit 200 is in operation, the rotating blade can move the granular material from the inlet to the outlet, whereby the granular material can be discharged, fed, or otherwise introduced into the mixing unit 200.

[0047] The transport mechanism 142 may also or instead include a mechanism with a gravity feed. For example, the lower part of the bulk storage container 140 may comprise a tapering structure ending in a discharge chute, located generally above the mixing unit 200 or in the feed hopper or other material receiving part of the mixing unit 200. During blending operations, the bleed chute can be opened and closed by an actuator, providing a reset to allow for the discharge, feeding, or other insertion of granular material into the mixing unit 200. The bulk storage container 140 may be vertically oriented and located in an elevated position above the mixing unit 200, so that the mixing unit 200 may be mounted at least partially below the bulk storage container 140. Such a configuration can provide installation of a drain chute of bulk container 140 over the mixing unit 200 or in the material receiving part of the mixing unit 200 in order to discharge, feed or otherwise introduce granular material into the receiving part of the mixing unit 200.

[0048] The bulk storage tank 140 may be a mobile tank or semi-trailer, which may allow its transportation to the surface 101 of the drilling site. However, the container 140 for bulk storage can be movable or stationary and / or can be temporarily or permanently installed on the surface 101 of the drilling site.

[0049] The well site system 100 may also contain bulk storage tank 150, which may include a plurality of storage tanks for hydrating fluid, such as water-based fluid or a water-containing solution, among other examples. The bulk storage tank 150 may be flow-through connected to the mixing unit 200 via the transporting mechanism 152, configured to move the hydrating fluid from the bulk storage tank 150 to the mixing unit 200. The transport mechanism 152 may comprise one or more fluid tubes extending between the bulk storage tank 150 and the mixing unit 200. Transporting mechanism 152 may additionally contain one or more pumps for the fluid, made with the possibility of moving the hydrating fluid from the tank 150 for bulk storage in the node 200 mixing.

[0050] The bulk storage tank 150 may be a mobile tank or semi-trailer, which may allow its transportation to the surface 101 of the drilling site. However, the bulk storage tank 150 may be movable or stationary and / or may be temporarily or permanently installed on the surface 101 of the drilling site.

[0051] The system 100 for a well site may further comprise a plurality of additional transport mechanisms 106 configured to move or otherwise deliver one of a plurality of materials from a corresponding one of a plurality of delivery means 108 to corresponding containers for bulk storage. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, transporting mechanisms 106 include a transporting mechanism 162, a transporting mechanism 172, a transporting mechanism 182 and a transporting mechanism 192. During mixing operations, the delivery means 108 may enter the material delivery area 103 on the surface 101 of the drilling site to unload a variety of materials. The material delivery area 103 may be adjacent to each of the transport mechanisms 106 and at a distance from the mixing unit 200 and / or bulk storage tanks 102. The bulk storage tanks 102 may be located between the mixing unit 200 and the material delivery area 103.

[0052] The hydrated material may be periodically delivered to the surface 101 of the drilling site by the delivery means 160 comprising a container that stores the hydrated material. At the time of submission, the delivery means 160 may be located adjacent to the transport mechanism 162, in order to allow the transport of hydrated material by the transport mechanism 162 from the delivery device 160 to the container 110 for bulk storage. For example, each delivery means 160 may comprise a container having a bottom with a tapered configuration ending in one or more trays. During feeding, the trays can be placed above the inlet part of the transport mechanism 162 and then opened, allowing for the discharge, supply or other introduction of the hydrated material into the transport mechanism 162.

[0053] The conveying mechanism 162 may include a metering feeder, a screw feeder, a screw conveyor, a bucket conveyor, and / or the like. The transport mechanism 162 may extend between the delivery means 160 and the bulk storage container 110, so that the inlet of the transportation mechanism 162 may be located generally under the delivery medium 160, and the release of the transportation mechanism 162 may be located generally above the bulk storage capacity 110. A blade extending along the length of the conveying mechanism 162, for example, can be functionally connected to an engine configured to rotate a blade that can move the hydrated material from the inlet to the outlet, whereby the hydrated material can be dumped, fed or otherwise introduced into the container 110 bulk storage.

[0054] The transport mechanism 162 may also or instead include a pneumatic supply system in which a compressed gas, such as air, is used to transfer the hydrated material from the delivery means 160 to the bulk storage 110. The pneumatic supply system may contain a vacuum generator that can generate a vacuum designed to draw hydrated material from the delivery means 160 and transfer the hydrated material to the container 110 for bulk storage through the piping system.

[0055] The capacity of the delivery means 160 may be a capacity 110 for bulk storage. For example, the delivery means 160 may supply the full bulk storage 110 to the surface 101 of the drilling site for replacement or with emptying the bulk bulk storage 110.

[0056] The liquid additive may be periodically delivered to the surface 101 of the well site by means of a delivery means 170, containing a container storing the liquid additive. At the time of submission, the delivery means 170 may be located adjacent to the transport mechanism 172 to allow the transport of the liquid additive by the transport mechanism 172 from the delivery means 170 to the container 120 for bulk storage.

[0057] The transport mechanism 172 may include one or more fluid tubes extending between the delivery means 170 and the bulk storage 120. Transporting mechanism 172 may additionally contain one or more pumps for fluid, made with the possibility of moving the liquid additive from the means 170 delivery in the tank 120 for bulk storage.

[0058] The solid additive may be periodically delivered to the surface 101 of the drilling site by means of delivery 180, containing a container storing the solid additive. During delivery, the delivery means 180 may be located adjacent to the transport mechanism 182 to allow the solid additive to be transported by the transport mechanism 182 from the delivery means 180 to the container 130 for bulk storage. For example, each delivery means 180 may comprise a container having a bottom with a tapered configuration ending in one or more trays. During feeding, the trays can be placed above the inlet part of the transport mechanism 182 and then opened, providing a discharge, supply or other introduction of solid additives into the transport mechanism 182.

[0059] The conveying mechanism 182 may include a dustless conveyor, a metering feeder, a screw feeder, a screw conveyor, a bucket conveyor, and / or the like. and may extend between the delivery means 180 and the bulk storage 130, so that the inlet of the transport mechanism 182 may be located generally under the delivery means 180, and the release of the transportation mechanism 182 may be located generally above the bulk storage 130. A blade extending along the length of the conveying mechanism 182, for example, can be functionally connected to an engine configured to rotate a blade that can move the solid additive from the inlet to the release, whereby the solid additive can be dropped, supplied or otherwise introduced into the container bulk storage.

[0060] The transport mechanism 182 may also or instead include a pneumatic supply system in which a compressed gas, such as air, is used to transfer the solid additive from the delivery means 180 to the bulk storage 130. The pneumatic supply system may contain a vacuum generator that can create a vacuum designed to draw out a solid additive from the delivery means 180 and transfer the solid additive to the bulk container 130 for storage through a pipe system.

[0061] The granular material may be periodically delivered to the surface 101 of the drilling site delivery tool 190 containing a container storing the granular material. At the time of submission, the delivery means 190 may be located adjacent to the transport mechanism 192 in order to allow the transfer of the particulate material by the transport mechanism 192 from the delivery means 190 to the container 140 for bulk storage. For example, each delivery device 190 may comprise a container having a bottom with a tapered configuration ending in one or more trays. During feeding, the trays can be placed above the inlet part of the transport mechanism 192 and then opened, allowing the granular material to be discharged, fed or otherwise introduced into the transport mechanism 192.

[0062] The conveying mechanism 192 may include a metering feeder, a screw feeder, a screw conveyor, a bucket conveyor, and / or the like. and may extend between the delivery means 190 and the bulk storage container 140, so that the inlet of the transport mechanism 192 may be located generally under the delivery medium 190, and the release of the transport mechanism 192 may be located generally above the bulk storage capacity 140. A blade extending along the length of the conveying mechanism 192, for example, can be functionally connected to an engine configured to rotate a blade that can move the particulate material from the inlet to the outlet, whereby the granular material can be dropped, fed or otherwise introduced into the container 140 bulk storage.

[0063] The transport mechanism 192 may also or instead include a pneumatic supply system in which a compressed gas, such as air, is used to transfer the particulate material from the delivery means 190 to the bulk container 140. The pneumatic supply system may comprise a vacuum generator, which may create a vacuum designed to draw the granular material out of the delivery means 190 and transfer the granular material to bulk container 140 via a pipe system.

[0064] Although FIG. 1 each of the delivery means 160, 170, 180, 190 is shown with dimensions larger than some of the sizes of the respective containers 110, 120, 130, 140 for bulk storage, it is clear that each of the containers 110, 120, 130, 140 for bulk storage can to have a storage volume approximately equal to or greater than the storage volume of the corresponding delivery means 160, 170, 180, 190. Accordingly, each of the bulk storage tanks 110, 120, 130, 140 may be configured to receive the entire quantity of the corresponding material transported by the respective delivery means 160, 170, 180, 190.

[0065] Furthermore, since bulk storage tanks 110, 120, 130, 140 may be configured to store a variety of materials, the mixing unit 200 may be configured to form one or more fluid mixtures almost continuously when one or more of the transporting mechanisms 106 do not move the corresponding material from the corresponding delivery means 160, 170, 180, 190. In other words, each of the transport mechanisms 106 may be configured to periodically or intermittently move the appropriate materials from the delivery means 160, 170, 180, 190 to the respective containers 110, 120, 130, 140 for bulk storage, while the transport mechanisms 104 can be made with the ability to almost continuously move the appropriate materials from the respective containers 110, 120, 130, 140 for bulk storage in the node 200 mixing.

[0066] The system 100 for the well site may also include a power supply 195, which may be configured to provide centralized power distribution to the mixing unit 200 and / or other components of the system 100 for the well site. Power supply 195 may be or comprise an engine block with a generator, which may include a gas turbine generator, a generator with an internal combustion engine, and / or other power sources. Electrical energy can be transferred between power supply 195 and mixing unit 200 and / or other components of system 100 for a drilling site via various electrical conductors 197. Power supply 195 can be placed on a suitable truck, semi-trailer, and / or other conveyor transportation to the surface of 101 drilling sites. However, the power supply 195 is washable or stationary, and / or may be temporarily or permanently installed on the surface 101 of the drilling site.

[0067] The system 100 for a well site may include more than one power supply 195, which may allow each power source 195 to be located as close as possible to the power consumption point. For example, one power supply 195 may be used to power one or more of the plurality of conveying mechanisms 106, while another power supply 195 may be used to power the mixing unit 200 and / or one or more of the other plurality of conveying mechanisms 104. Two or more power supplies 195 may also provide redundancy of operation of system 100 for the well site.

[0068] The mixing unit 200 comprises a rheological control section 202. For example, the rheological control section 202 may be configured to disperse and hydrate the hydrated material in a hydrating fluid to form a first fluid mixture, which may be or contain what is known in the art as a gel or suspension.

[0069] The mixing unit 200 further comprises a mixing section 210 for coarse solid fractions. For example, a coarse solid fraction mixing section 210 may be configured to mix the discharge from the rheological control section 202 with liquid additives, solid additives and / or granular material to form a second fluid mixture, which may be or contain what is known in the art as a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation. The second fluid mixture may then be unloaded from the mixing unit 200, for example, for further processing and / or injection into the wellbore during hydraulic fracturing and / or other operations at the well site.

[0070] The mixing unit 200 may further comprise a control section 212. For example, the control section 212 may be configured to monitor and control the operating parameters of the multiple components of the mixing unit 200 and possibly other components of the system 100 for the drilling site to form the first and second fluid mixtures.

[0071] The system 100 for a well site is shown in FIG. 1 and described above, as configured to store and mix a variety of materials to form a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation. However, it is understood that the system 100 for a well site may be configured to mix other fluids and materials to form other mixtures that may be under pressure and / or individually or jointly injected into the wellbore during other oilfield operations, , drilling, cementing, acidizing and / or jet cutting among other examples.

[0072] FIG. 2 is a schematic of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the mixing unit 200 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Node 200 mixing can be applied in various versions of the drilling site. However, for clarity and ease of understanding, the mixing unit 200 is described below in the context of the system 100 for the drilling site shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the following description refers to FIG. 1 and 2, together.

[0073] The mixing unit 200 may comprise means 204 for receiving and / or storing a first solid material. The first solid material may be sent to the receiving and / or storing means 204 by means of conventional and / or future developed means. For example, the first solid material may be a hydratable material taken from the bulk storage tank 110 through the transport mechanism 112.

[0074] The first solid material may then be transferred to the system 214 for dispersing and / or mixing the solid fraction. Such movement can occur with a predetermined flow rate, for example, using the solid fraction dosing system 206.

[0075] Water and / or other fluid can also be transferred to the dispersion and / or mixing system of the solid fraction 214. For example, the fluid may be drawn out or otherwise moved from the intake manifold and / or other inlet (s) 218 of the mixing unit 200.

[0076] The system 214 dispersing and / or mixing the solid fraction can then be used to disperse the first material of the solid fraction in a fluid taken from one or more inlets 218. For example, in versions in which the first solid material is guar or other hydratable material, the system 214 dispersion and / or mixing of the solid fraction can mix the hydrated material with water to form the first fluid mixture described above.

[0077] The fluid discharged from the dispersion and / or mixing of the solid fraction 214 may then be directed to the hydrating system 220. For example, the hydrating system 220 may be a tank system operating in the first inlet-first outlet (FIFO) mode containing one or more tanks for hydration, and the first fluid mixture discharged from the dispersion and / or mixing system 214 of the solid fraction can be directed through one or more hydration tanks of the hydrating system 220 to ensure the first to hydrate fluid mixture.

[0078] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the rheological control section 202 of the mixing unit 200 includes a tank 204, a solid fraction dosing system 206, a dispersion and / or a solid fraction mixing system 214, and a hydrating system 220. The rheological control section 202 may also include a dosing system 245 for dispensing the discharge from the section 202 of the rheological control. However, the hydrating system 220 and the dosing system 245 are optional components and may be omitted in some embodiments of the rheological monitoring section 202.

[0079] The fluid discharged from the rheological monitoring section 202 can be moved to the mixing section 210 of the coarse solid fraction of the mixing unit 200. For example, the fluid discharged from the rheological monitoring section 202 may be transferred to the buffer tank 260 of the coarse solid mixing section 210. The mixing unit 200 may also contain a conveying pump 240, configured to direct additional water (or other fluid from one or more inlets 218) to the buffer tank 260. The transporting pump 240 may also discharge into one or more outlets 275 of the mixing unit 200.

[0080] The mixing portion 210 of the coarse solid fraction may comprise means 266 for receiving and / or storing the coarse solid fraction. The coarse solids may be sent to a receiving and / or storing means 266 using a gravity feed, for example, from a storage bin mounted above the receiving and / or storing means 266. For example, the coarse solid fraction may be a particulate material taken from the bulk storage tank 140.

[0081] The coarse solid fraction can then be transferred to the solid fraction mixing system 265. Such movement can occur with a predetermined flow rate, for example, using the coarse-fraction dosing system 267. The coarse solid mixing portion 210 may include more than one solid fraction mixing system 265, and the coarse solid fraction moving through the coarse solid dosing system 267 may occur in one or more of the solid fraction mixing systems 265.

[0082] The coarse solid mixing portion 210 may also comprise means 280 for receiving and / or storing a second solid material. The second solid material may be sent to the means 280 for receiving and / or storing the usual type or in the future. For example, the second solid material can be taken from the bulk storage tank 130 through the transport mechanism 132.

[0083] The second solid material may then be transferred to one or more solids mixing systems 265. Such movement can occur at a predetermined flow rate, for example, using a different system for dispensing the solid fraction 281.

[0084] The one or more solid fraction mixing systems 265 can then be used to mix two or more of: the discharge from the rheological control section 202 (for example, via the buffer tank 260); coarse solid fraction and the second solid material. For example, in versions in which the discharge from the rheological control section 202 is a hydrated gel and the coarse solid fraction contains a proppant or other granular material, one or more of the solid fraction mixing systems 265 may mix the hydrated gel with the granular material to form a second fluid mixture described above.

[0085] The fluid discharged from the coarse solid fraction mixing section 210 can be discharged from the mixing unit 200 through one or more outlets 275. The different outlets 275 can be used for various mixtures discharged by the solid fraction mixing systems 265. The mixtures discharged from the solid fraction mixing system 265 may be combined or kept separated prior to transfer to one or more releases 275 for discharge from the mixing unit 200.

[0086] The mixing unit 200 may also contain one or more liquid dispensing systems 208 for selectively introducing one or more liquid additives in the operations described above. For example, the liquid dispensing system 208 may selectively inject one or more liquid additives into the fluid from one or more inlets 218 into the system 214 dispersing and / or mixing the solid fraction. The liquid dispensing system 208 may also, or instead, selectively introduce one or more liquid additives into the first fluid mixture discharged from the dispersing and / or mixing solids 214, for example, upstream of the hydrating system 220. The liquid dispensing system 208 may also or instead, selectively inject one or more liquid additives into the fluid coming from one or more inlets 218 into the conveying pump 240. The liquid dispensing system 208 may also, or instead, selectively introduce one or more liquid additives to the fluid discharged from the rheological control section 202 for use in one or more solid fraction mixing systems 265, for example, downstream of the buffer tank 260. The liquid dispensing system 208 may also, or instead, selectively introduce one or more liquid additives in the fluid discharged from the site 210 mixing large coarse fraction. However, this is only an example, and the liquid dispensing system 208 may introduce one or more liquid additives in other locations than described above and shown in FIG. 2

[87] FIG. 3 and 4 together represent a schematic representation of at least part of an exemplary embodiment of the mixing unit 200 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 generally shows a portion 202 of the rheological control, and FIG. 4 generally shows the mixing section 210 of a coarse solid fraction. For clarity and ease of understanding, the mixing unit 200 is also described below in the context of the system 100 for a drilling site shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the following description relates to FIG. 1-4 together.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a reception and / or storage means 204, performed as a container 204 for a hydratable material, a solid fraction dosing system 206, performed as a hydrating material transporting device 206, and a solid fraction dispersing and / or mixing system 214, shown as the first mixer 214, configured to receive and mix hydrated material and hydrating fluid. For example, a hydratable material can be mixed with a hydrating fluid at a rate of about 120 pounds of hydratable material per about 1000 pounds of hydrating fluid, thus creating a 120 pound fluid mixture. However, the fluid formed and discharged by the first mixer 214 may have from about 80 to about 300 pounds of hydratable material per 1000 gallons of hydrating fluid, among other ratios, also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0089] The first mixer 214 may receive the hydrated material from the tank 204 for the hydrated material. The container 204 for the hydratable material may contain a bunker, a duct, a feed hopper and / or another container that can store the hydrated material in order to provide an almost continuous supply of hydrated material to the first mixer 214. The lower part of the tank for the hydratable material 204 may have a tapering configuration ending with a damper or other exhaust device, providing a gravity feed of hydrated material and / or other almost continuous movement in n rvy mixer 214. The hydratable material can be continuously or intermittently movable container 204 in the hydratable material from the container 110 for bulk storage 112 by the conveyor mechanism.

[0090] The hydratable material can be dosed and / or otherwise transferred to the first mixer 214 using the material transporting hydrated material device 206. For example, if the hydrated material mainly contains a liquid, the material transporting hydrated material device 206 can contain a dosing pump and / or a metering valve which are arranged to control the flow rate with which the hydrated material is introduced into the first mixer 214.

[0091] However, if the hydrated material mainly contains solid or encapsulated particles, the hydrating material transporting device 206 may contain a metering device with a volume or dry mass measurement, configured to control the volume or mass flow rate of the hydrated material supplied from the tank 204 for hydrated material in the first mixer 214. In such versions, the transporting hydrated material device 206 may include a dosing feed actor, screw feeder, screw conveyor, conveyor and / or the like and may extend between the tank for the hydrated material 204 and the first mixer 214 so that the inlet of the transporting hydrated material of the device 206 may be located generally under the tank of 204 for the hydrated material, and the release of the hydrating material of the device 206 may be located generally above the first mixer 214 The blade extending along the length of the transporting hydrated material of the device 206, for example, can be functionally connected to a motor made with the possibility of rotation blades. During operation of the first mixer 214, the rotating blade can move the hydrated material from the inlet to the outlet, whereby the hydrated material can be dumped, fed or otherwise introduced into the first mixer 214.

[0092] In embodiments in which the first mixer 214 is used to mix hydrated material and hydrating fluid to form a gel, for example, the first mixer 214 may be a vortex-type mixer, as further described below. However, as generally described above with respect to FIG. 2, it is understood that the first mixer 214 may be in the form of a chemical mixer or another “rheology modifier”, configured to mix various rheology modifying materials, which may include additives that provide high viscosity at low shear rates. Such rheology modifiers may include hydrated material used to form the gel, as described above. Rheology modifiers can also include additives in the form of fiber, nanoparticles, dry friction reducers, dimeric and trimeric fatty acids, imidazolines, amides, and / or synthetic polymers, among other examples within the scope of this disclosure. In such versions, the first mixer 214 may be a vortex-type mixer and / or another type of mixer.

[0093] Although not shown in FIG. 3, the mixing unit 200 may contain more than one container for hydrated material 204 and corresponding transport devices 206. For example, the mixing unit 200 may contain a first container for hydrated material 204 that stores the hydrated material, which mainly contains liquid, and a second container 204 for storage of hydratable material, storage of hydratable material, which mainly contains solid particles. In such versions, the transporting hydrated material device 206, corresponding to the first tank 204 for hydrated material, may contain a metering pump and / or metering valve, and the transporting hydrated material device 206, corresponding to the second tank 204 for hydrated material, may contain a volume metering device or dry matter.

[0094] The container 204 for the hydrated material may contain one or more force sensors 216, such as load sensors and / or other sensors, configured to generate information relating to a mass or other parameter indicating the amounts of hydrated material in the hydrated container 204 material. Such information can be used to control the actual speed of movement of the hydrated material from the tank 204 for hydrated material to the first mixer 214, control the accuracy of the transporting hydrated material device 206 and / or control the speed of movement of the hydrated material discharged from the hydrated material tank 204 and / or transporting hydrated the material of the device 206 for feeding into the first mixer 214.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows one or more inlets 218 of mixing unit 200, performed as a source of hydrating fluid 218 that can be configured to receive hydrating fluid from bulk storage 150 through a transporting mechanism 152. Source of hydrating fluid 218 storage tank, box, pipe, collector and / or other component for storing and / or receiving hydrating fluid. For example, the hydrating fluid source 218 may comprise a plurality of inlet ports 249, which may be configured to flow with the transport mechanism 152 and receive hydrating fluid from the bulk storage tank 150.

[0096] The supplied hydrating fluid may be drawn into the first mixer 214 by suction force generated by a turbine mixer and / or another internal component of the first mixer 214. The suction force may be sufficient to transfer the hydrating fluid from the source of hydrating fluid 218 to the first mixer 214. However, the transfer of hydrating fluid from the source of hydrating fluid 218 to the first mixer 214 may instead, or in addition, be carried out by a pump (not shown), which, For example, it is designed to inject pressure in a hydrating fluid and / or transfer it from a hydrating fluid source 218 to a first mixer 214.

[0097] The mixing unit 200 may further comprise a plurality of valves configured to control the flow of hydrating fluid concentrated to the first fluid mixture discharged from the first mixer 214 or diluted supply of the first fluid mixture, depending on their location. The valves may be ball valves, gate valves, double flap valves and / or other types of valves that are designed to shut off the flow of fluid or otherwise regulate the flow of fluid passing through them. Valves can be actuated remotely using an electric actuator, such as a solenoid, an electric motor or a hydraulic actuator, as well as a pneumatic cylinder or rotary actuator. Valves can also be operated manually by a human operator. For example, the inlet ports 249 may be selectively opened and closed by a plurality of corresponding valves 239 installed on each of the inlet ports 249, which can selectively move the hydrating fluid to the hydrating fluid source 218. Similarly, another valve 219 may be in fluid communication between the source of hydrating fluid 218 and the first mixer 214, which may be configured to shut off the flow or otherwise control the flow of hydrating fluid to the first mixer 214.

[0098] The mixing unit 200 may further comprise a plurality of pressure sensors configured to generate electrical signals or information relating to the pressure of the hydrating fluid concentrated to the first fluid mixture or to the diluted first fluid mixture in different places on the mixing unit 200. For example, the pressure sensor 227 may be placed at the inlet of the first mixer 214, which may be configured to generate signals or information relating to the pressure of the hydrating fluid at the inlet of the first mixer 214.

[0099] The mixing unit 200 may also comprise a plurality of flowmeters configured to generate electrical signals or information relating to the flow rates of the selected fluids at a plurality of locations on the mixing unit 200. For example, the flow meter 291 may be placed between the source of hydrating fluid 218 and the first mixer 214 to control the flow rate of the hydrating fluid introduced into the first mixer 214.

[0100] The first mixer 214 may be configured to mix the hydrated material and the hydrating fluid and pressurize the resulting first fluid mixture sufficient to pump the first fluid mixture through the hydrating system 220. FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of at least a portion of the first mixer 214 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The following description refers to FIG. 3 and 5 together.

[0101] The first mixer 214 may include a housing 302, a fluid inlet 304 and a material inlet 306 extending into the housing 302. A fluid inlet 304 may be flow-through connected to a hydrating fluid source 218 to receive hydrating fluid from it. The material inlet 306 may typically include or operate in conjunction with a receiving structure 308, which may or may include a cone, chamber, tank, feed funnel, or the like. The receiving structure 308 may have an inner surface 309 that receives materials (for example, hydrated material transferred from the tank 204 for the hydrated material using a device 206 transporting the hydrated material) moved into the case 302. Materials may be dry, partially dry, crystalline, flowable , briquetted, encapsulated, and / or packaged, and can also be liquids or suspensions, and / or other materials to be dispersed and / or otherwise mixed w in a first mixer 214. The material received via the inlet 306 material may also be pre-wetted with the possible formation of a partial suspension, for example, to prevent lump formation and / or accumulation of material.

[0102] The first mixer 214 may further comprise a turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 driven by a shaft 312. The housing 302 may form a mixing chamber 314 communicating with inlets 304, 306, and the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 may be placed in 314 a mixing chamber . The rotation of the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 may allow the hydrating fluid to be drawn from the fluid inlet 304, mixing the drawn hydrating fluid with the material supplied from the material inlet 306 to the mixing chamber 314, and evacuating the resulting first fluid mixture through the release 316. Release 316 may direct the first fluid mixture through one or more fluid tubes to a hydrating system 220.

[0103] The shaft 312 may extend upwardly through the inlet 306 and exit the receiving structure 308 for connection with an electric motor and / or other primary drive (not shown in FIG. 5). The shaft 312 may be connected to the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310, so that rotation of the shaft 312 rotates the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 in the mixing chamber 314.

[0104] The first mixer 214 may also include a stator 318 disposed around the turbine agitator / stator assembly 310. The stator 318 may be configured as an annular or arcuate portion, examples of the details of which are described below.

[0105] The first mixer 214 may further comprise a flushing line 320 connected in flow between the receiving structure 308 and the area of the mixing chamber 314, which is located close to the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310. Wash line 320 may divert the hydrating fluid from the mixing chamber 314 in a relatively high pressure area and supply it to the inner surface 309 of the receiving structure 308, which may be under reduced (eg, environmental) pressure. In addition to maintaining a relatively high pressure, the hydrating fluid discharged by the flushing line 320 may be relatively “pure” (i.e., have a relatively low content of additives as described below). Here, the hydrating fluid discharged by the wash line 320 can be used to pre-wet the receiving structure 308 and eliminate the formation of lumps of material supplied through the receiving structure 308. The washing line 320 can supply the pre-wetting fluid without using additional pumping devices provided by turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310) or additional sources of hydrating fluid or lines from hydration source 218 conductive fluid. However, one or more pumps may be provided in addition to or in lieu of withdrawing the hydrating fluid from the mixing chamber 314.

[0106] The housing 302 may comprise an upper portion of the housing 322 and a lower portion of the housing 324. The connection between the upper and lower portions of the housing 322, 324 may form a mixing chamber 314 between them. The lower part of the casing 324 may form the lower mixing zone 326, and the upper part of the casing 322 may form the upper mixing zone 328 (shown by dotted lines), which can be essentially aligned with the lower mixing zone 326. The mixing zones 326, 328 can together form a mixing chamber 314, in which the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 and the stator 318 can be placed.

[0107] The upper part of the housing 322 may be connected to the receiving structure 308 and may provide a material inlet 306. The bottom of the casing 324 may include a fluid inlet 304 that may extend through the bottom of the casing 324 to a typically centrally located opening 332. An opening 332 may be formed in the inner surface 330. The release 316 may extend from the opening 334 associated with the lower zone 326 mixing.

[0108] The turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 may include a reflector 336 and a turbine agitator 338. The reflector 336 and the turbine agitator 338 may have inlet surfaces 340, 342, respectively, and rear surfaces 344, 346, respectively. The inlet surfaces 340, 342 can each be open (as shown) or at least partially closed by a screen (not shown) that can form an inlet in the radially inner part of the reflector 336 and / or turbine agitator 338. The rear surfaces 344, 346 can be placed close together and connected together so that, for example, turbine agitator 338 and reflector 336 can be placed in a back-to-back configuration. Thus, the inlet surface 340 of the reflector 336 may be facing the material inlet 306, while the inlet surface 342 of the turbine agitator 338 may be facing the fluid inlet 304. Accordingly, the inlet surface 342 of the turbine agitator 338 may face the inner surface 330, and an opening 332 formed on the inner surface 330 may be aligned with the radially central part of the turbine agitator 338.

[0109] The reflector 336 may be substantially plate-shaped, typically with a horizontal (or flat) middle section and arcuate or sloping sides, together forming at least part of the inlet surface 340. The sides may be formed, for example, in the form of a similar torus or portions of the torus that extend around the middle of the reflector 336. Reflector 336 may also be in the form of a bowl (for example, typically a portion of a sphere). Reflector 336 includes six blades 348 on inlet surface 340, although a different number of blades 348 also corresponds to the volume of the present disclosure. The blades 348 can extend radially almost straight or along a curve. As the reflector 336 rotates, the hydrated material received from the inlet 306 is driven radially from the center, due to the interaction with the blades 348, and axially upward under the influence of the shape of the inlet surface 340.

[0110] Although this is hidden in FIG. 5, the turbine agitator 338 may also include one or more blades on the inlet surface 342. Rotating the turbine agitator 338 may draw in hydrating fluid through opening 332 and then push hydrating fluid axially down and radially from the center. As a consequence, a relatively high pressure region may be created between the bottom of the casing 324 and the turbine agitator 338, driving the hydrating fluid around the mixing chamber 314 and in the direction of the reflector 336.

[0111] The flushing line 320 may include an opening 350 formed in the casing bottom 324 near this high pressure area. For example, the opening 350 may be formed in the inner surface 330 in place between the outside radial extension of the turbine agitator 338 and the opening 332 of the fluid inlet 304. Wash line 320 may be or contain a pipe 352, flow connected to the inlet 354 of the receiving structure 308, for example, so that the hydrating fluid moves from the opening 350 to the receiving structure 308 through the pipe 352. The hydrating fluid can then follow a generally spiral path the inner surface 309 of the receiving structure 308 as a result of rotation of the reflector 336 and / or shaft 312 before passing through the material inlet 306 to the reflector 336. Thus, the hydrating fluid received through the inlet 354, m Jet tend to form a fluid wall along the inner surface 309 of the receiving structure 308.

[0112] The flow rate of the hydrating fluid through the pipe 352, and thus along the inner surface 309 of the receiving structure 308, can be increased and decreased using the flow control device 217 (shown in FIG. 3). The flow control device 217 may contain one or more different types of flow control valves, including needle valves, metering valves, two-leaf valves, ball valves, or other valves configured to control the flow rate of the fluid.

[0113] During operation, a pressure gradient may be created between the turbine agitator 338 and the bottom of the casing 324, and the pressure in the fluid increases radially outward from the opening 332. Another gradient relating to concentration may also be created in this area, while the concentration hydrated material increases radially outwards. In some cases, a high hydrostatic head and a low concentration may be provided so as to allow a relatively clean fluid to flow through the flushing line 320, driven by the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310. Accordingly, the opening 350 for the flushing line 320 can be placed at a point along this area, realizing an optimal compromise between the hydrostatic pressure of the hydrating fluid and the concentration of material from the inlet 306 in the hydrating fluid received in the flushing line 320.

[0114] The stator 318 may form a shifting ring extending around the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 in the mixing chamber 314. The stator 318 may be kept, as a rule, stationary with respect to the rotating node 310 of the turbine agitator / reflector, for example, fastened to the upper part 322 of the casing. However, the stator 318 may instead rely on the turbine agitator / reflector assembly 310 and may also rotate with it. In any of these exemplary embodiments, the stator 318 may move on the inlet surface 340 of the reflector 336 or may separate from it.

[0115] The stator 318 may include first and second annular portions 356, 358, which may be implemented integrally or in the form of discrete components connected together. The first annular portion 356 may minimize obstructions to the flow passage and may include a screen 360 and web 362, forming relatively wide grooves 364, to provide a relatively free flow of fluid through them. Unlike this, the second annular region 358 can maximize the flow offset, for example, to ensure turbulent mixing. For example, the second annular portion 358 may contain a series of stator blades 366 located close to each other, unlike wide intervals between bridges 362 of the first annular portion 356. Thus, narrow flow paths 368 may be formed between stator blades 366 as opposed to wide openings 364 of the first ring section 356.

[0116] The total area of the working section of the flow paths 368 may be less than the sum of the areas of the blades 366. The ratio of the total area of the stator blades 366 that hinder the flow passage and the total area of the working section of the flow paths 368 may be about 1.5: 1. However, the ratio may be in the range of between about 1: 2 and about 4: 1 among other examples within the scope of the present disclosure. The area of each blade 366 that hampers the passage of a stream may be larger than the area of the working section of each stream path 368.

[0117] The stator blades 366 may be placed at different stepping angles with respect to the circumference of the stator 318. For example, the axially extending surfaces of the stator blades 366 may be almost straight (for example, almost parallel to the diameter of the stator 318) or inclined (for example, to increase shear) , as in the direction of rotation of the node 310 turbine agitator / reflector, and its opposite.

[0118] As also shown in FIG. 3, the first mixer 214 may discharge the first fluid mixture, hereinafter referred to as the concentrated first fluid mixture, under pressure to the hydrating system 220. The hydrating system 220 is shown in FIG. 3 as implemented as a plurality of first vessels 220. Valve 215 may be flow-through connected downstream of first mixer 214, for example, may be configured to hydraulically isolate first mixer 214 from other parts of mixing and control unit 200 and / or flow control of concentrated first fluid mixture discharged from the first mixer 214. Another valve 225 may be flow-through connected along the length of the pipe 226 bypass the fluid, so that it can provide hydrating fluid or other fluid to bypass the first second mixer 214 during mixing or other operations, for example, during washing operations. Another valve 221 may be flow-connected upstream of the first tanks 220, for example, can be configured to control the flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture in the first tanks 220. Pressure sensor 228 may be placed at the outlet of the first mixer 214, for example, the ability to generate signals or information related to the pressure of the concentrated first fluid mixture at the release of the first mixer 214.

[0119] Each of the first containers 220 may be or contain a continuous channel or flow path for transferring or delivering the concentrated first fluid mixture for a time sufficient to provide adequate hydration, in which the concentrated first fluid mixture can reach a predetermined degree of hydration and or viscosity. Each first container 220 may have a first-mode operation at the inlet, a first at the outlet, and may include an outer casing covering the receiving box, having an elongated flow path or space provided for storing and transmitting the concentrated first fluid mixture through it.

[0120] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of the first tank 220 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The first container 220 may comprise a plurality of cavities 410, 420, 430, 440, which include the first cavity 410, the second cavity 420, and one or more intermediate cavities 430, 440. The first container 220 may further comprise a first channel 412 located on the outer wall 414 of the first cavity 410 and configured to receive a concentrated first fluid mixture, and a second channel 422 placed on the outer wall 424 of the second cavity 420 and configured to discharge the concentrated first fluid mixture after hydration. The channels 412, 422 can be flush or extend outward from the outer walls 414, 424, including versions where the channels 412, 422 extend outward in the tangential direction relative to the outer walls 414, 424.

[0121] The cavities 410, 420, 430, 440 may contain divided compartments through which the concentrated fluid mixture can move some distance in a period of time sufficient to allow adequate hydration. Cavities 410, 420, 430, 440 can be flow-linked together, for example, so that they can ensure that the concentrated fluid mixture is introduced through the first channel 412 into the first cavity 220 and then sequentially flows through the first cavity 410, through the intermediate cavity 430, through intermediate cavity 440 and the second cavity 420, and then was unloaded through the second channel 422.

[0122] The first container 220 may further comprise a first plate 450 connected to the first cavity 410 to hold the concentrated first fluid mixture in the first cavity 410 as it passes through the first cavity 410. The first plate 450 may be connected to the first cavity 410 by various means, including removable fasteners attached to the flange 418 of the first cavity 410 by welding and / or other means, or can be formed as an integrated section of the first cavity 410. The cavities 410, 420, 430, 440 can be connected with other r with a friend of the same or similar means. For example, each of the cavities 410, 420, 430, 440 may include a flange 416, 418, 426, 428, 436, 438, 446, 448 extending along the top and bottom of the outer walls 414, 424, 434, 444, for example, configured to receiving threaded fasteners and / or other means of fastening the cavities 410, 420, 430, 440 with each other.

[0123] Each of the cavities 410, 420, 430, 440 may contain an internal space 460, 470, 480, 490. Each internal space 460, 470, 480, 490 may constitute or form at least one channel of a continuous fluid supply or another passage 462, 472, 482, 492, respectively, each having a length greater than the circumferential length of the corresponding outer wall 414, 424, 434, 444. For example, each passage 462, 472, 482, 492 may be formed in the corresponding inner space 460, 470, 480, 490 wall 464 spiral or other shape. Passages 462, 472, 482, 492 can be oriented and connected so that the first and second channels 412, 422 are in fluid communication.

[0124] For example, during the hydration operation, the concentrated first fluid mixture can be introduced into the first channel 412, pass through the passage 462, and exit or otherwise be discharged from the first cavity 410 through the near-center channel 466 (shown in dashed lines). The concentrated first fluid mixture can then flow into the first intermediate cavity 430 at the central end 484 of passage 482, pass through passage 482 and exit from the first intermediate cavity 430 into the second intermediate cavity 440 through channel 486 (shown in dotted lines) extending vertically through the first intermediate cavity 430. The concentrated first fluid mixture can then pass through passage 492 and exit from the second intermediate cavity 440 into the second cavity 420 through channel 496 (shown in dotted lines), extending vertically through the second intermediate cavity 440. The concentrated first fluid mixture may then pass through passage 472 and exit through the second passage 422.

[0125] Although FIG. 6, four cavities 410, 420, 430, 440 are shown, the first container 220 may contain one, two, three, five or more cavities within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, although in FIG. 3 shows the first four tanks 220, the mixing unit 200 may contain one, two, three, five or more first tanks 220 that can be connected in parallel and / or in series if, for example, additional flow rate and / or longer hydration is expected.

[0126] When multiple first containers 220 are used, the mixing unit 200 may comprise a plurality of pressure sensors 224 configured to generate signals or information relating to pressure between the instances of the first tanks 220. Information generated by pressure sensors 224 may be used to determine the concentration , viscosity and / or level of hydration of the concentrated first fluid mixture supplied through the first tanks 220. At the bottom of the first tank 220, another sensor can be placed to 229 pressure, which may be configured to generate signals or information relating to the pressure of the concentrated first fluid mixture at the outlet of the lowest first tank 220. Each of the first tanks 220 may additionally contain a discharge or overflow pipe 222, which can be selectively open and closed by the corresponding valve 223. When open, each discharge or overflow pipe 222 may be configured to relieve pressure or bypass the concentrated first flow. I take the mixture from the corresponding first tank 220 to the second tank 260.

[0127] In versions of the mixing unit 200, where multiple instances of the first containers 220 are used, one or more shifters and / or other mixing devices (not shown) that are part of the system can be connected through flow between the first containers 220, for example, to increase speed hydration in one or more first reservoirs 220. Heat removed from one or more components of the mixing unit 200 and / or other components of the system 100 for a well site, such as engines or motors, may also or instead be It is given in one or more of the first tanks 220, e.g., for heating the first fluid mixture concentrated in one or more first containers 220 to expedite the hydration.

[0128] Although the mixing unit 200 is shown to contain the hydrating system / first tanks 220, some versions of the mixing unit 200 may exclude the hydrating system / first tanks 220. For example, in some papers or applications use solid materials or rheology modifiers that are not used hydration or hydration time. Accordingly, the concentrated first fluid mixture discharged from the first mixer 214 can bypass the hydrating system / first tanks 220, or the hydrating system / first tanks 220 can be excluded from the composition of the mixing unit 200.

[0129] After unloading the concentrated first fluid mixture from the first containers 220, the concentrated first fluid mixture can be moved or transferred through the diluent 230. In FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a diluent 230 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. As shown jointly in FIG. 3 and 7, diluent 230 may be configured to mix or otherwise combine the concentrated first fluid mixture with additional hydrating fluid or other aqueous based fluid to dilute the concentrated first fluid mixture or otherwise reduce the concentration of hydrated material in the concentrated first fluid mixture to the level predetermined concentration. The diluent 230 may be or contain a fluid fusion device, a tee connection, a Y-shaped connection, an eductor, a mixing valve, a linear mixer and / or another device configured to combine and / or mix two or more fluids.

[0130] As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7, diluent 230 may comprise a first passage 231 configured to receive a substantially continuous supply of a concentrated first fluid mixture, a second passage 232 adapted to receive a nearly continuous supply of hydrating fluid, and a third passage 233 configured to unload with an almost continuous feed diluted first fluid mixture. The first passage 231 may be flow-through connected to the outlet channel 422 of the lowest first tank 220 directly or through one or more pipes allowing the concentrated first fluid mixture to move to the diluent 230, as indicated by the arrow 236. The second passage 232 may be flow-through connected to the source 218 of the hydrating fluid through one or more pipes, ensuring the transfer of the hydrating fluid to the diluent 230, as indicated by the arrow 237. The third passage 233 may be flow-through connected to the inlet of the second one bone 260 through one or more tubes that allow the diluted first fluid mixture to move to the second tank 260, as indicated by arrow 238.

[0131] The hydrating fluid may be transferred to the diluent 230 by a conveying pump 240, which may be configured to pressurize and / or transfer the hydrating fluid from the hydrating fluid source 218 to the diluent 230. The conveying pump 240 may be or contain a centrifugal another type of pump or pump that is capable of moving or otherwise practically continuously transferring the hydrating fluid from the source 218 to the diluent 230 and / or other places in le 200 mixing. For example, conveying pump 240 may carry hydrating fluid from source 218 at a flow rate in the range of from about zero barrels per minute (BPM) to about 150 barrels per minute. However, the performance of the mixing unit 200 is adjustable, and the conveying pump 240 can operate with other flow rates.

[0132] The mixing unit 200 may also include a pressure sensor 235 at the outlet of the hydrating fluid source 218, which may be configured to generate signals or information relating to the pressure of the hydrating fluid at the outlet of the hydrating fluid source 218. Another pressure sensor 253 may be placed at the inlet of the conveying pump 240, for example, may be configured to generate signals or information related to the pressure of the hydrating fluid at the inlet of the conveying pump 240. Valve 248 may be flow-through connected between conveying pump 240 and source 218 hydrating fluid, for example, can be configured to control the flow of hydrating fluid from the source of hydrating fluid 218 to the transporting OS 240 and / or hydraulic isolation of source 218 of hydrating fluid from conveyor pump 240. Pressure sensor 254 can also be placed at the outlet of conveyor pump 240, for example, can be configured to generate signals or information related to the pressure of hydrating fluid at the outlet transporting pump 240.

[0133] The ratio of the concentrated first fluid mixture to the hydrating fluid supplied to the diluent 230, which determines the concentration of the resulting diluted first fluid mixture, can be controlled by adjusting the metering system 245, which is shown in FIG. 3, performed as a first flow control device 245, configured to control the flow rate of a concentrated first fluid mixture supplied to diluent 230. The ratio of concentrated first fluid mixture to hydrating fluid supplied to diluent 230 may also or instead be controlled by a second adjustment device 250 flow, made with the ability to control the flow of hydrating fluid supplied to the diluent 230. For example, if you choose to reduce the concentration of dilute The downstream first fluid mixture for downstream use is relative to the current concentration of the diluted first fluid mixture discharged from diluent 230, the diluted first fluid mixture concentration can be reduced by reducing the flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture to diluent 230, thanks to the first flow control device 245 , and / or by increasing the flow rate of the hydrating fluid to the diluent 230, due to the operation of the second flow control device 250. The flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture supplied to the diluent 230 can be reduced by closing or otherwise reducing the flow area of the first flow control device 245, and the flow rate of the hydrating fluid into the diluent 230, can be increased by opening or otherwise increasing the flow area of the second device 250 flow control.

[0134] Similarly, if the concentration of the diluted first fluid mixture is chosen to be increasing for use downstream of the current concentration of the diluted first fluid mixture discharged from diluent 230, the concentration of the diluted first fluid mixture can be increased by increasing the flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture to the diluent 230 and / or by reducing the flow rate of the hydrating fluid into the diluent 230. The flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture into the diluent 230 can be increased by opening or otherwise increasing the flow area of the first flow control device 245 and the flow rate of the hydrating fluid in the diluent 230 can be reduced by closing or otherwise reducing the flow cross section of the second flow control device 250.

[0135] The first and second flow control devices 245, 250 may include various types of flow control valves, including needle valves, metering valves, double-leaf valves, ball valves, or other valves configured to control the flow rate of the fluid flowing through them. Each of the flow control devices 245, 250 may comprise a flow interrupting element 246, 251, for example, a plate or other element having a substantially circular configuration with a possible central bore or passage 247, 252 extending through it. The flow interrupting elements 246, 251 may be selectively rotated relative to the aisles 231, 232 to selectively change the effective flow area and / or the flow rate of the aisles 231, 232. This rotation can be performed using appropriate solenoids, engines and / or other actuators (not shown). The flow interrupting elements 246, 251 can also be used to inject turbulence into a flowing fluid flow, which can aid in mixing and / or further hydrating the diluted first fluid mixture discharged from diluent 230.

[0136] FIG. 7 shows the introduction of the concentrated first fluid mixture into the diluent 230 through the first passage 231 of the diluent 230 and the introduction of the hydrating fluid into the diluent 230 through the second passage 232. However, the concentrated first fluid mixture can instead be introduced through the second passage 232, and the hydrating fluid can instead be entered through the first fluid passage 231.

[0137] As further shown in FIG. 3, the flow meter 292, which is configured to generate signals or information relating to the flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture introduced into the diluent 230, can be placed upstream of the first passage 231 of the diluent 230. Another flow meter 293, which can be performed with The ability to generate signals or information related to the flow rate of the hydrating fluid introduced into the diluent 230 may be located upstream of the second passage 232 of the diluent 230.

[0138] The mixing unit 200 may comprise a metering pump 241 upstream or downstream of the first flow control device 245, which may be configured to transfer the concentrated first fluid mixture from the first tank 220 to the diluent 230 at a predetermined flow rate. The dosing system 245 shown in FIG. 2 may include both the first flow control device 245 and the metering pump 241 shown in FIG. 3. In other versions, however, the dosing system 245 shown in FIG. 2 may include a metering pump 241 instead of the flow control device 245 shown in FIG. 3

[0139] The metering pump 241 may be a vane pump, a gear pump, a piston pump, or another direct-flow pump configured to transfer liquids with a selected flow rate. A pressure sensor 242, which is configured to generate signals or information relating to the pressure of the concentrated first fluid mixture at the outlet of the metering pump 241, may be placed on the outlet of the metering pump 241.

[0140] The mixing unit 200 may further comprise a bypass pipe 243 for fluid, which may bypass the concentrated first fluid mixture or other fluid of the metering pump 241 during mixing or other operations, for example, during washing operations. The valve 244 may be flow-through connected along the length of the bypass pipe 243 for the fluid to selectively open and close the bypass pipe 243.

[0141] During mixing or other operations, the concentrated first fluid mixture may be redirected through the first tanks 220 via a recycle stream 258 containing one or more pipes, hoses, and / or other fluid tubing products, for example, when excessive flow is diluted first the fluid mixture takes place in the buffer tank 260, or to provide additional hydration time for the concentrated first fluid mixture. Accordingly, valve 259 may be selectively opened to allow recirculation of the concentrated first fluid mixture through the flow recirculation path 258 and then the first tanks 220. During such recirculation operations, the metering pump 241 may perform the function of recirculation or other movement of the concentrated first fluid mix through the recirculation path 258 flow and the first tank 220.

[0142] The third flow control device 255 may be placed at discharge or downstream of diluent 230. The third flow control device 255 may be configured to increase or decrease the flow rate of the diluted first fluid mixture discharged from the diluent 230 and introduced into the buffer tank 260. It is noted that the combination of the first flow control device 245 and the metering pump 241 shown in FIG. 3, and / or other embodiments of the dosing system 245 shown in FIG. 2 can additionally be configured to increase and decrease the aging time of the concentrated first fluid mixture in the first tanks 220 and, thus, increase the degree of hydration and viscosity of the concentrated first fluid mixture discharged by the first tanks 220. For example, reduced flow rates can ensure the retention of concentrated the first fluid mixture in the first containers 220 for a longer period of time before being introduced into the diluent 230 and / or the buffer tank 260.

[0143] Similar to the first and second flow control device 245, 250, the third flow control device 255 may include an interrupting flow element 256, which may include a plate or other element of substantially circular configuration and possibly having a central through hole or passage 257 extending through it. The flow interruption element 256 may selectively rotate relative to the third passage 233, selectively changing the effective flow area and / or the flow rate of the third passage 233, possibly in a manner similar to the selective rotation of the first and second flow interrupting elements 246, 251. The flow interrupting element 256 can also be used to create turbulence in the flowing fluid flow, which can facilitate mixing and / or additional hydration of the diluted first fluid mixture moving into toruyu capacity of 260.

[0144] The diluted first flowable mixture discharged by the diluent 230 can be transferred to the buffer tank 260, for example, to store a stock of the diluted first flowable mixture prior to use in the coarse solid mixing section 210. Buffer tank 260 may also provide additional hydration prior to unloading the diluted first fluid mixture. The buffer tank 260 may have an open or closed version and contain one or more spaces provided for the reception and content of the diluted first fluid mixture. However, the buffer tank 260 can be eliminated if a sufficient level of hydration and / or viscosity is reached by one or more instances of the first tank 220 and / or diluent 230. In such versions, the diluted first fluid mixture can be transferred directly to the large-sized solid fractions.

[0145] Buffer tank 260 may have the same or similar first tank design and / or function 220, or buffer tank 260 may be of the same type or type of tank, operating in the first inlet mode - the first in the outlet, which can provide additional hydration time for a diluted first fluid mixture. Buffer tank 260 may also contain one or more fluid level sensors 262, configured to generate signals or information relating to the amount of diluted first fluid mixture contained in buffer tank 260.

[0146] FIG. 4, described above, shows the mixing section 210 of a coarse solid fraction of the mixing unit 200. FIG. 4 shows the solids mixing system 265, performed as two second mixers 265, flow-through connected to the buffer tank 260 by one or more supply pipes 270. Each of the second mixers 265 may have a structure and / or functions the same or similar to the first mixer 214 shown in FIG. 5 and described above. However, the second mixers 265 may not have a stator 218 and / or a wash line 320. The mixing unit 200 may also contain one or more than two instances of the second mixers 265 within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0147] Similar to the first mixer 214, each second mixer 265 may be configured to receive fluid and solid materials and to mix or otherwise mix the fluid and solid materials to form a fluid mixture. For example, the second mixers 265 may be configured to receive a diluted first fluid mixture from the rheological control section 202, solid additives from the bulk storage tank 130, and coarse solid fraction from the bulk storage tank 140 to form the second fluid mixture. As described above, the second fluid mixture may include the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation used in hydraulic fracturing operations of the subterranean formation, the fluid mixture used in the hydraulic fracturing fluid and / or other fluid mixtures.

[0148] The diluted first flowable mixture can be transferred from the buffer tank 260 to the second mixers 265 through one or more supply pipes 270 extending between them. The diluted first fluid mixture can be drawn through the feed pipes 270 and into the fluid inlet of the second mixers 265, due to the suction force generated by the second mixers 265. The flow meter 294 can be placed on the feed pipe 270 downstream of the second tank 260, for example, configured to generate signals or information related to the flow rate of the diluted first fluid mixture introduced into the second mixers 265 from the second tank 260.

[0149] The second mixers 265 may receive a coarse solid fraction from the transport mechanism 142 through the receiving and / or storage means 266. The means 266 for receiving and / or storing are shown in FIG. 4, performed as bunkers, ducts, and / or other containers made with the ability to hold and / or store coarse solid fraction discharged by the exhaust parts of the transport mechanism 142. The lower part of the means 266 receiving and / or storage can be tapering or otherwise providing gravity coarse solids and / or other almost continuous overload into the mixing chamber (not shown) from the second mixers 265.

[0150] Prior to introducing the coarse solid fraction into the mixing chamber, 267 may dispense and / or otherwise move the coarse solid fraction with the selected flow rate. The coarse solid fraction dosing system 267 may be placed in the receiving and / or storing means 266 and may include a metering feeder, a screw feeder, screw conveyor, conveyor, etc., which can provide a predetermined flow of the coarse solid fraction into the chamber mixing from second mixers 265. A coarse solid fraction dosing system 267 may include metering valves in receptacle 266 storage and / or storage tanks 26 that may be selectively opened or closed to selectively control flow rate of coarse solid fraction in the mixing chamber. The transport mechanism 142 may be or contain the bottom of the bulk storage tank 140, ending in the receiving and / or storing means 266, which may provide the gravitational supply of a large solid fraction to the receiving and / or storing means 266.

[0151] The second mixers 265 may receive solid additives from the transport device 132 through the receiving and / or storage means 280. The receiving and / or storing means 280 is shown in FIG. 4 performed in the form of bunkers, ducts and / or other containers made to hold and / or store solid additives discharged from the discharge sections of the overloading device 132. The lower portion of the receiving and / or storing means 280 may have a tapering configuration ending in a flap or other release , providing a gravitational supply of solid additives and / or other almost continuous movement in the system 281 dosing of the solid fraction, which can be done with the ability to dispense and / or otherwise ohm to move solid additives into second mixers 265. The solid fraction dosing system 281 may include a screw feeder, screw conveyor, conveyor, etc. and may extend between the reception and / or storage means 280 and the solid material inlet of the second mixers 265.

[0152] The mixing unit 200 may further comprise pressure sensors 285, 286 mounted on the inlets and outlets of the second mixers 265, which can be configured to generate signals or information relating to the fluid pressure on the inlets and outlets from the second mixers 265. With the inlets and outlets of the second mixers 265, valves 285, 286 can be flowed in, configured to control the flow of the diluted first fluid mixture and the second fluid mixture through the second mixers 265 and / or hydraulically th e one or both of the second mixer 265 from other parts of the mixing assembly 200.

[0153] The mixing unit 200 may further comprise a density meter 268 coupled to the outlets from the second mixers 265. The density meter 268 may be configured to generate signals or information relating to the density or number of particles in the second fluid mixture, which may include solid additive and coarse solid fraction. Densitometer 268 may emit radiation absorbed by various particles in the second fluid mixture. Different absorption coefficients can exist for different particles, which can then be used to decode signals or information to determine the measured density.

[154] The mixing unit 200 may also include flow meters 295 placed on the outlets from the second mixers 265. The flow meters 295 may be configured to generate signals or information related to the flow rate of the second fluid mixture discharged from each of the second mixers 265.

[0155] The fluid injection systems 208 shown in FIG. 2, also generally shown in FIG. 4 as containing one or more liquid supply pipes 272 for introducing liquid additives into the diluted first fluid mixture upstream from the second mixers 265 and / or into the second fluid mixture downstream from the second mixers 265. The liquid injection system 208 may be flow-through connected to transporting mechanism 122 for receiving a liquid additive from the tank 120 for bulk storage. The liquid additive may be floating or otherwise transported through the liquid additive supply pipe 272 by a pump 273 for the liquid additive. The three-way valve 274 may be flow coupled to the liquid additive supply pipe 272, for example, may be selectively controlled to introduce the liquid additive into the diluted first fluid mixture upstream of the second mixers 265 or into the second fluid mixture downstream of the second mixers 265. Downstream of the liquid additive pump 273, a flow meter 296 may be flowed in, which is capable of generating signals or information relating to the flow rate of the liquid additive, input into the diluted first fluid mixture or second fluid mixture.

[0156] The liquid injection system 208 may include additional liquid additive supply pipes 272, pumps 273, and / or flowmeters 296 that can be used when additional and / or other liquid additives are required in a dilute first fluid mixture or second fluid mixture. Additional pipes 272 supply of liquid additives, pumps 273 and / or flow meters 296 can be made with the possibility of introducing liquid additives in different places along the node 200 mixing. For example, liquid additives may be introduced at the inlet and / or outlet of the first mixer 214, at the inlet to pump 240, at the outlets of the hydrating fluid source 218 and at the inlets and / or outlets from the second mixer 265. For example, used to inject the chemical into the source of hydrating fluid 218 to modify the pH and other properties of the hydrating fluid, such as water.

[0157] The mixing unit 200 may further comprise a bypass pipe 271 for the fluid, which may provide the first diluted fluid mixture or other fluid to bypass the second mixers 265 during mixing or other operations, for example, during washing operations. The valve 269 may be flow-through connected to a bypass pipe 271 for a fluid to selectively open and close a bypass pipe 271 for a fluid.

[0158] When the second mixers 265 form a second fluid mixture, the second fluid mixture can be almost continuously discharged by the second mixers 265 and transferred to the pressure manifold or other outlets 275 before being injected into the well zone. Although the mixing unit 200 is shown to contain two second mixers 265, both second mixers 265 may not be used simultaneously and / or not used to mix the same materials. For example, the second mixers 265 can be used to mix two different fluid mixtures, for example, two different chemical composition of fracturing fluids of the subterranean formation and unload them from the mixing unit 200 separately or together. It is possible to perform such “flow separation operations” where one of the second mixers 265 unloads a bespamous fluid (without a proppant), and another of the second mixers 265 unloads a fluid with impurities (with a proppant). Other operations include the supply of compatible chemicals to both second mixers 265 separately, and then mixing them downstream to create a proppant pack in the line in the use case of a water-based reagent to reduce surface tension. In such an application, it is possible to create, for example, islands of a crosslinked fluid of a complete proppant in a base fluid like water.

[0159] The outlets 275 may comprise a plurality of outflow channels 276 configured to discharge the second fluid mixture and / or other mixtures from the mixing unit 200. The exhaust ports 276 may be selectively opened and closed by a plurality of respective valves 277 located on each of the exhaust ports 276.

[0160] The outlets 275 may additionally comprise a plurality of additional valves 278, 279 that can be configured to selectively isolate one or more of the outlets 275 and / or select the source of the fluid discharged from them. For example, when valves 278 open and valves 279 close, outlets 275 can be configured to unload a second flow of fluid mixture discharged from second mixers 265. However, when valves 279 open and valves 278 close, outlets 275 can be performed with the ability to unload hydrating fluid discharged from the conveying pump 240.

[0161] Flow meters 291-296, level sensors 262, force sensors 216, density meter 268, and pressure sensors can generate signals or information related to relevant operating parameters (hereafter, collectively referred to as “parametric information”), as described above, and transmit the parametric information to the controller 510. The parametric information may be used by the controller 510 as feedback signals that may contribute to closed-loop regulation of the mixing node 200. For example, parametric information can be used to determine the accuracy of the pumps 240, 241, 273 and / or flow control devices 245, 250, 255, as well as control the flow rates of selected fluids, so that the concentration and flow rates of the concentrated first fluid mixture diluted first the fluid mixture and the second fluid mixture coincide with a predetermined value, which may be predetermined, selected by the human operator and / or determined by the controller 510 during the mixing operations.

[0162] FIG. 8 schematically shows at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a controller 510 communicating with conveying devices 206, 267, 281, mixers 214, 265, pumps 240, 241, 273, flow control devices 217, 245, 250, 255, 296, valves, force sensors 216, level sensors 262, pressure sensors, and a density meter 268 (collectively referred to herein as “mixing unit components”), in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. Such communication may be supported by wired and / or wireless communication. However, for clarity and ease of understanding, the communication tool is not shown in FIG. 4, and it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that many such communication devices are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0163] The controller 510 may be configured to execute exemplary machine-readable instructions for performing at least a portion of one or more of the methods and / or processes described herein, and / or performing portions of one or more exemplary oil-field devices described herein. document. The controller 510 may be or comprise, for example, one or more processors, special purpose computing devices, servers, personal computers, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), smart phones, Internet access devices and / or other types of computing devices.

[0164] The controller 510 may include a processor 512, for example, a universal programmable processor. The processor 512 may comprise a local storage 514, and may execute encoded instructions 532 residing on the local storage 514 and / or another storage. Processor 512 may execute encoded instructions 532, which in addition to other examples may include machine-readable instructions or programs for executing the methods and / or processes described in this document. Processor 512 may be, contain, or be implemented using one or more processors of various types suitable for a local application environment, and may include one or more general-purpose computers, special-purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (“DSP”), logic chips programmed under operating conditions (“FPGA”), specialized integrated circuits (“ASIC”), and processors based on a multi-core architecture as non-limiting s. Naturally, other processors from other families are also suitable.

[0165] The processor 512 may communicate with a main storage device, which, for example, may include volatile memory 518 and non-volatile memory 520, possibly via bus 522 and / or other communication means. Volatile memory 518 may be, contain, or be implemented as random access memory (RAM / RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), dynamic random access memory (RDRAM) and / or other types of random access memory. The non-volatile memory 520 may be, contain, or be implemented in a read-only memory, flash portable memory and / or other types of storage devices. One or more storage controllers (not shown) may regulate access to volatile storage 518 and / or non-volatile storage 520. Processor 512 may further be configured to provide controller 510 for receiving, collecting, and / or recording predetermined concentration and flow rates and / or other information generated by components of the hydration system and / or other sensors and transmitted to the main storage device.

[0166] The controller 510 may also contain an interface circuit 524. The interface circuit 524 may be, comprise or be implemented in standard interfaces of various types, such as Ethernet interface, universal serial bus (USB), third generation input / output interface (3GIO) , wireless interface, and / or mobile interface besides other examples. The interface circuit 524 may also contain a graphics driver card. The interface circuit 524 may also contain a communication device, such as a modem or network interface card, for exchanging data with external computing devices via a network (for example, via an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (“DSL”), a telephone line, a coaxial cable, mobile telephony, satellite, etc.).

[0167] One or more components of the mixing unit may be connected to the controller 510 via the interface circuit 524 for communication between them. For example, one or more components of the mixing node may contain a corresponding interface circuit (not shown) that can communicate with the controller 510. Each corresponding interface circuit can provide signals or information generated by the components of the mixing node to the controller 510 as feedback signals to control and / or control the operation of one or more of the components of the mixing unit, or possibly the whole mixing unit 200. Each corresponding interface circuit may provide control signals from the controller 510 for various engines, drives and / or other actuators (not shown) associated with the components of the mixing unit to control the operation of the respective components of the mixing unit and to control the whole mixing unit 200.

[0168] One or more of the input devices 526 may also be connected to the interface circuit 524. The input devices 526 may provide a human operator with input data and commands to the processor 512, which may include a predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined concentration of hydrated material in a dilute the first fluid mixture (hereinafter referred to as the “first predetermined concentration value”), the predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined concentration of the granular material in the second fluid mixture (n Hereafter, referred to as “the second preset concentration value”), and the preset value corresponding to the predetermined flow rate of the diluted first fluid mixture formed by the mixing unit 200 (hereinafter referred to as the “flow setpoint”). Introductory devices 526 may be, contain, or be implemented in a keyboard, computer mouse, touchscreen, touchpad, trackball, stylus, and / or voice recognition system, among other examples. One or more output devices 528 may also be connected to an interface circuit 524, for example, to display the first and second predetermined concentration values and the desired flow values, as well as information generated by one or more of the components of the mixing unit. Output devices 528 may be, contain or be implemented in a visual indication device (for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or cathode ray tube display (CRT), among others), printers and / or loudspeakers, among other examples.

[0169] The controller 510 may also be connected to one or more mass storage devices 530 and / or removable media 534, which may be or include floppy disks, hard disks, compact discs (CDs), digital versatile disks (DVDs) and / or USB and / or other flash media besides other examples. Target values and parametric information may be stored on one or more mass storage devices 530 and / or removable media 534.

[0170] The programmed instructions 532 may be stored in the mass storage device 530, the volatile memory 518, the non-volatile memory 520, the local memory 514 and / or removable media 534. Thus, the components of the controller 510 can be implemented according to hardware (possibly implemented in one or more chips, including an integrated circuit, for example, an integrated circuit associated with a particular application), or can be implemented as software or firmware to execute one or more processors. In an embedded software or software version, the implementation may be provided as a software product including a computer readable medium or data storage structure implementing the computer program code (i.e., software or firmware) on it for execution by the processor 512.

[0171] The programmed instructions 532 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by processor 512, cause the mixing node 200 (or at least its components) to perform the tasks described in this document. For example, the programmed instructions 532, when executed, may cause the controller 510 to receive and process the set values of the first and second concentration and the target flow rate and, based on the set values, cause the mixing unit 200 to form a diluted first fluid mixture with a predetermined concentration of hydratable material, the diluted first fluid mixture with a predetermined concentration of the granular material and the second fluid mixture at a predetermined flow rate. When executed, the programmed instructions 532 may cause the controller 510 to receive the parametric information generated by the components of the mixing node and process the information in the form of feedback signals that can assist the loop control of the mixing node 200 and / or the components of the mixing node. For example, information can be used to determine the accuracy of pumps 240, 241, 273, and / or flow control devices 245, 250 255 and flow control of selected fluids so that concentrations and flow rates of the concentrated first fluid mixture diluted with the first fluid mixture and the second fluid mixture corresponds to the predetermined values selected by the operator and / or other predetermined values determined by the controller 510 during the mixing operations.

[0172] Although this document discusses flow and concentration setpoints, it is understood that controller 510 can receive and process other setpoints within the scope of the present disclosure. The controller 510 can also monitor and regulate other parameters and operations of the mixing unit 200 that can be implemented to form the second fluid mixture.

[0173] FIG. 9-12 are flow diagrams of at least portions of an exemplary control method 600 stored as programmed instructions 532 and executed by controller 510 and / or one or more other controllers associated with components of the mixing unit according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The following description also relates to FIG. 3, 4 and 8-12, respectively.

[0174] The method 600 may be executed by the mixing unit 200 to form a diluted first fluid mixture, having a predetermined concentration of hydratable material, a second fluid mixture, having a predetermined concentration of granular material, and a diluted first fluid mixture at a predetermined flow rate based on predetermined values the first and second concentration and the setpoint flow rate entered in the controller 510. FIG. 9-12 show portions of a method 600, which may contain a series of interrelated steps or subprocesses 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, where each such subprocess may use a separate control loop, such as a proportional-integral-differential ( PID) control loop. For example, one or more subprocesses 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680 may use a control loop to achieve the intended output or result. Subprocesses 610, 620, 630, 640, 650 may be interconnected, as shown by arrows 622, 632, 642, 652, or otherwise.

[0175] Subprocess 610 may comprise determining a predetermined concentration value of the concentrated first fluid mixture (“CFFM”) and the degree of dilution. Subprocess input parameters may include a predetermined concentration value 612 of the first diluted fluid mixture (“DFFM”) (hereinafter referred to as the “predetermined concentration value”) and a predetermined value 614 of the maximum flow rate of the first diluted fluid mixture (hereinafter referred to as flow "), which can be compared with the information generated by the flow meter 294. The set values 612, 614 of the flow and concentration can be predetermined or selected parameters specific to the subject Drilling operations at the well site using the well site system 100, such as hydraulic fracturing. Flow and concentration setpoints 612, 614 can be determined based on other information relevant to the work at the well site, such as the characteristics of the subterranean formation (for example , dimensions, location, contents, etc.) into which the diluted fluid is to be injected the mixture discharged by the mixing unit 200. The flow and concentration setpoints 612, 614 can be entered into the controller 510 in a suitable mode, for example, through the input devices 526. The controller 510 can then determine and output parameters that can be used during hydration operations based on the input set points 612, 614 and concentrations and / or other input data. The controller 510 may then transmit other parameters to one or more equipment controllers (not shown) associated with the components of the mixing unit, which in turn may execute additional sub-processes.

[0176] Subprocess 620 may comprise controlling the transporting hydrated material by device 206 to transfer the hydrated material to first mixer 214. The input parameters in subprocess 620 may include one or more output parameters (i.e., predetermined values) generated by subprocess 610, along with the actual flow 626 of the hydrating fluid flow to the first mixer 214, determined by the flow meter 291. Signals generated by one or more force sensors 216, such as load cells, carried a hydrated material container 204 may be used in subprocess 620 to ensure that a suitable amount of hydrated material is introduced into the first mixer 214, and / or a comparison of the predicted amount of hydrated material with the actual amount of hydrated material introduced into the first mixer 214.

[0177] Subprocess 630 may comprise determining a predetermined flow rate value of the first diluted fluid mixture, which includes determining the predetermined flow rate value of the concentrated first fluid mixture and the predetermined flow rate value of the hydrating fluid (indicated in Fig. 9 as the “set speed value dilution ”). The input parameters to subprocess 630 may include one or more output parameters generated in subprocess 610, along with the total flow rate 634 of the hydrating fluid flow supplied to diluent 230 determined by flow meters 291,293 and the level 636 of the first diluted fluid mixture into the second capacitance 260, as determined by level sensor 262.

[0178] Subprocess 640 may comprise controlling the flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture to the diluent 230, which may be a function of the flow control device 245 and / or the metering pump 241. The input parameters in the subprocess 640 may include the specified flow rate setpoint 642 of the first flowable the mixture generated by subprocess 630 along with the actual flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture 644 determined by the flow meter 292.

[0179] The subprocess 650 may comprise adjusting the flow rate of the concentrated first fluid mixture fed to the diluent 230 so as to regulate the dilution of the concentrated first fluid mixture. The input parameters to subprocess 650 may include a predetermined dilution rate value 652 generated by subprocess 630 along with flow rate 654 of the hydrating fluid supplied to diluent 230 as determined by flow meter 293.

[0180] Subprocess 660 may include controlling transporting granular material (“PM”) devices 267, which may be performed using metering valves designed to dispense granular material into second mixers 265. The input parameters to subprocess 660 may include a predetermined value 662 granular material concentrations. Another input to subprocess 660 may include flow rate 664 of granular material, which may be based on or contain a control signal sent to the conveyor granular material of the device 267. Other input may include a signal 666 generated by the density meter 268. The signal 666 of the density meter can be compared with a target value of 662 for a particulate material.

[0181] Subprocess 670 may include controlling overloading solid transporting additive (“SA”) by dosing solid additive 281 supplied to second mixers 214. Input parameters to subprocess 670 may include a predetermined concentration of solid additive. Another input to subprocess 670 may include the flow rate 674 of the solid additive flow, which may be based on or contain a control signal sent to the solid additive transporting device 281. The flow 674 of the solid additive flow can be compared with the target value 672 of the concentration of the solid additive.

[0182] Subprocess 680 may include controlling a pump 273 for a liquid additive (“LA”) to dispense a liquid additive into a diluted first fluid mixture or a second fluid mixture. The input parameters to subprocess 680 may include a predetermined value of the concentration of the liquid additive 682. Another input to subprocess 680 may include the flow rate 684 of the liquid additive flow determined by the flow meter 296. The flow rate 684 of the liquid additive flow can be compared with a predetermined value 682 of the concentration of liquid additive.

[0183] Similar to the set values 612, 614 flow and concentration, the set value 662 is the concentration of granular material, the set value 672 is the concentration of the solid additive and the set value 682 is the concentration of the liquid additive can be predetermined or selected parameters that are specific to work on the well site execution using the system 100 for the drilling site, for example, hydraulic fracturing. The target values of 662, 672, 682 can be determined based on other information relevant for work at the well site, for example, the characteristics of a subterranean formation (such as size, location, content, etc.) in which the second fluid mixture produced node 200 mixing, to be forcing. The set values 662, 672, 682 can be entered into the controller 510 in a suitable mode, for example, through the input devices 526, while the controller 510 can determine and output the parameters used during the mixing operations based on the entered set values 662, 672, 682, and / or other input data. The controller 510 may then transmit other parameters to one or more equipment controllers (not shown) associated with the components of the mixing unit.

[0184] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 100 for a drilling site installed on the surface 101 of the drilling site shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The system 100 for the drilling site contains a mixing unit 200 located in the supporting structure 760 and functionally connected to bulk storage containers storing various fluids, solid additives and granular materials (hereinafter referred to collectively as “a plurality of materials”), through transport mechanisms (not shown), made with the possibility of moving or otherwise transfer a variety of materials from containers for bulk storage in the node 200 mixing.

[0185] The bulk storage container 110 is shown in FIG. 13 as a storage tank for hydratable material. The bulk storage tank 120 is shown in FIG. 13 as a set of storage tanks for liquid additives. The bulk storage container 130 is shown in FIG. 13 as a vertical storage bin for solid additives and is located at the top of the supporting structure 760. The bulk container 140 is shown in FIG. 13 as a plurality of silos for storing granular material, for example, proppant, and is located at the top of the supporting structure 760. The bulk container 150 is shown in FIG. 13 as a plurality of storage tanks for hydrating fluid.

[0186] As described above and shown in FIG. 1, a well site system 100 includes a plurality of conveying mechanisms configured to move or otherwise transfer a variety of materials from an appropriate delivery device 108 to containers 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 for bulk storage. During blending operations, the delivery device 108 may enter the material delivery area 103 on the surface 101 of the drilling site to unload a variety of materials.

[0187] The hydrated material may be periodically delivered to the well site by means of delivery (not shown in FIG. 13) containing a container that stores the hydrated material. During delivery, the delivery device may be located adjacent to the respective transport mechanism (not shown in FIG. 13) in order to transfer the hydrated material by the transport mechanism from the delivery vehicle to the bulk container 110.

[0188] The liquid additive may be periodically delivered to the well site by other means of delivery (not shown in FIG. 13) containing a container storing the liquid additive. During delivery, the delivery device may be located adjacent to the respective transport mechanism (not shown in FIG. 13) in order to transport the liquid additive by the transport mechanism from the delivery vehicle to bulk container 120.

[0189] The solid additive may be periodically delivered to the well site by the delivery means 180 comprising a container storing the solid additive. At the time of delivery, the delivery means 180 may be located adjacent to the transport mechanism 182 in order to transfer the solid additive by the transport mechanism 182 from the delivery means 180 to the container 130 for bulk storage.

[0190] The granular material may be periodically delivered to the drilling site by the delivery means 190 comprising a container storing the granular material. At the time of submission, the delivery means 190 may be located adjacent to the transport mechanism 192 in order to allow the transfer of the particulate material by the transport mechanism 192 from the delivery means 190 to the container 140 for bulk storage.

[0191] FIG. 13 shows delivery vehicles 180, 190 that are larger than bulk storage tanks 130, 140. However, it is clear that the bulk storage tanks 130, 140 have a storage capacity that can be approximately equal to or greater than the storage volume of the corresponding delivery facility 180, 190.

[0192] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of at least a portion of the support structure 760 shown in FIG. 13. The supporting structure 760 may be transported to the surface 101 of the drilling site and may comply with the rules and regulations for transportation on various state and federal and international highways. The following description refers to FIG. 13 and 14, considered jointly.

[0193] The support structure 760 may include a support base 761, a frame structure 762, a tongue portion 763, and a plurality of wheels 764 for supporting the support base 761, a frame structure 762, and a tongue portion 763. The tongue portion 763 may be attached to the primary actuator (not shown) so that the primary actuator can move the carrier structure 760 between different locations, for example, between the surface 101 of the drilling site and the surface of another drilling site. The support structure 760 may thus be transported to the surface 101 of the well site and then mounted to carry one or more bulk storage tanks 130, 140. Although in the example shown, the supporting structure 760 may carry up to four containers 130, 140 for bulk storage, it is understood that the supporting structure 760 may be configured to carry more or fewer containers 130, 140 for bulk storage.

[0194] The carrier base 761 may include a first end 765, a second end 766, and an upper surface 767. The frame structure 762 may extend over the carrier base 761, forming a passage 768, generally located between the upper surface 767 of the carrier base 761 and the frame structure 762 Frame construction 762 includes one or more bunker-receiving zones 769, each of which is configured to receive bulk containers 130, 140. For example, the frame structure 762 is shown forming four zones of a bunker-receiving zone 769, each of which is configured to carry a respective one of the bulk storage tanks 130, 140.

[0195] The tongue portion 763 may extend from the first end 765 of the support base 761. The axles 770, the carrying wheels 764 may be located near the second end 766 of the support base 761, near the first end 765 of the support base 761 and / or elsewhere in the support base 761 Although FIG. 14 shows a supporting structure 760 comprising two groups of wheels 764 and axles 770 (the second group is not visible), it is clear that more than two groups of wheels 764 and axes 770 located in different places of the supporting base 761 can be used.

[0196] The support structure 760 may further comprise a first pull-out base 771 on one side of the support base 761, and a second pull-out base 772 on the opposite side of the support base 761. In such embodiments, the first and second pull-out bases 771, 772 may contribute to lateral support or stabilization frame construction 762 and, consequently, containers 130, 140 for bulk storage, preventing tilting containers 130, 140 for bulk storage and frame construction 762. The first and second pull-out bases 771, 772 can also serve as a loading base for a truck during the installation of bulk containers 130, 140 for bulk storage on the supporting structure 760, as described below.

[0197] The first and second pull-out bases 771, 772 can be movably connected to the frame structure 762 and the carrying base 761 using one or more lever mechanisms 773 so that the first and second pull-out bases 771, 772 can be selectively arranged in a transport configuration, where the bases 771, 772 occupy the raised position, and the working configuration, where the bases 771, 772 occupy the lowered position shown in FIG. 14. In the working configuration, the first and second sliding bases 771, 772 can extend almost horizontally from the frame structure 762, so that they can facilitate lateral support for bulk storage tanks 130, 140 and / or provide a loading base for conveyors (not shown) made with the possibility of mounting containers 130, 140 for bulk storage on the supporting structure 760.

[0198] The frame structure 762 may comprise a plurality of frames 774, 775, 776, 777 connected to each other by a plurality of braces 778. The frames 774, 775, 776, 777 may be substantially parallel to each other and may essentially have similar structures and functions . Each frame 774, 775, 776, 777 may contain a plurality of frame elements that can be connected to form a closed type structure surrounding at least a portion of the passage 768. Each frame 774, 775, 776, 777 may form an arch, so that it can increase the structural strength of each frame 774, 775, 776, 777. Each frame 774, 775, 776, 777 may include an upper part 779, located above the center of each frame 774, 775, 776, 777, with each upper part 779 be connected to the other top of the 779 first and second connecting elements Tammy 780, 781. Each frame 774, 775, 776, 777 may be made of a suitable material adapted to carry the load from containers 130, 140 for bulk storage. For example, frames 774, 775, 776, 777 can be constructed from steel pipes, I-beams, channels and / or other suitable materials and can be interconnected using various techniques using mechanical fasteners, for example, one or more threaded fasteners can be used , plates, welding seams and / or other connecting means.

[0199] The first set of connecting devices 782 may be located on the upper part 779 of each frame 774, 775, 776, 777 in the respective bunker-receiving areas 769, each of the first set of connecting devices 782 may be connected or hooked to a corresponding connecting device on the containers 130, 140 for bulk storage or corresponding parts of containers 130, 140 for bulk storage during and after installation. The second set of connecting devices 783 may be placed in the respective bunker receiving zones 769 on the first pull-out base 771 and / or the second pull-out base 772 at a mark below the first set of connecting devices 782. Each of the second sets of connecting devices 783 may be connected or interlocked with a corresponding connecting the device on the container 130, 140 for bulk storage or the corresponding section of the containers 130, 140 for bulk storage during and after installation.

[0200] The first and second sets of connecting devices 782, 783 in each of the hopper-receiving zones 769 can be configured to bond or otherwise engage with bulk containers 130, 140 for bulk storage. When bulk storage tanks 130, 140 are connected to connecting devices 782, 783 on top of the frame structure 762, the carrier base 761 and the first and second pull-out bases 771, 772 can be deployed in a working configuration and the primary drive can be detached from the carrier structure 763 760. Then, the tongue section 763 can be manipulated for laying on the ground, possibly essentially coplanar with the base 761, for example, to create a ramp to facilitate the positioning of the mixing unit 200 at least partially in the passage e 768, as shown in FIG. 13. The mixing unit 200 may be located in the passage 768 formed by the frame structure 762 so that the solid receiving part 266 is centered relative to the transport mechanism 132, 142, which makes gravity feed to the discharge tray 130, 140 for bulk storage possible. Then other transport mechanisms 112, 122 can be connected to the mixing unit 200.

[0201] FIG. 15 and 16 show a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of at least a portion of the transport mechanisms 182, 192 shown in FIG. 1, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The figures show transporting mechanisms 182, 192 performed as a mobile transporting unit 720, comprising chassis 722, carrying one or more horizontal conveyor systems 724, and a tower 726 carrying one or more vertical conveyor systems 728. The following description refers to FIG. 15 and 16, considered jointly.

[0202] Chassis 722 may be executed as a plurality of interconnected rolled steel beams in the form of channels, I-beams, wide-flange I-beams, or any other suitable structures. The first end of the chassis 722 may include a section of the tongue 730, made with the possibility of connection with the primary drive, which can transport the mobile transport unit 720 to the surface 101 of the drilling site. The second end of the chassis 722, opposite the first end, may comprise a plurality of wheels 732 rotatably connected to the chassis 722 and serving as the landing gear 722 on the surface 101 of the drilling site. Horizontal conveyor systems 724 may extend between the first and second ends of chassis 722. Horizontal conveyor systems 724 may include screw feeders, screw conveyors, conveyors, conveyor belts and / or other conveying means designed to move solid additives and / or granular material . A portion of horizontal conveyor systems 724 may overlap or close with screen 740, and another portion of horizontal conveyor systems 724 may extend through a material unloading platform 734.

[0203] The material unloading platform 734 may be connected to and / or placed on the chassis 722 adjacent the first end of the chassis 722. The material unloading platform 734 may cover or enclose a portion of the horizontal conveyor systems 724 and contains a plurality of vertical openings 736 on its upper surface, which can provide solid additives, granular material and / or other large volume or bulk material discharge, feed or other introduction to horizontal conveyor systems 724, extending through the platform 734 unloading and material or under it. The material unloading platform 734 may additionally include one or more ramps 738 that can assist the movement of the delivery means 180, 190 from above or onto the material unloading platform 734 and center the trays 191 of the delivery means 180, 190 over the holes 736. The ramps 738 can be hinged or otherwise movably connected to the platform 734 unloading of material. During feeding, trays may be placed above the openings 736 and then opened to allow for the discharge, feeding or other introduction of solid additives and / or granular material onto horizontal conveyor systems 724.

[0204] As further shown in FIG. 15 and 16, tower 726 may be pivotally connected to chassis 722 using one or more lever mechanisms and, along with vertical conveyor systems 728, may be moved between raised and lowered positions using one or more actuators 742 extending between tower 726 and chassis 722. Lever mechanisms can be of various versions, such as with guides, hydraulic or pneumatic levers, gears, worm jacks, cables, or their combinations. In some embodiments, actuators 742 may be hydraulic or pneumatic actuators. The tower 726 may be designed as a plurality of interconnected rolled steel beams in the form of channels, I-beams, wide-I-beams or any other suitable structures. Vertical conveyor systems 728 may include screw feeders, screw conveyors, belt conveyors, bucket lifters, pneumatic lines and / or other conveying means designed to vertically move solid additives and / or granular material. Vertical conveyor systems 728 may also be closed or fenced with one or more protective covers 744.

[0205] Tower 726 and vertical conveyor systems 728 can be configured to be laid almost parallel to chassis 722 and supported at least partially by section 763 of tongue 730 when mobile transport unit 720 is transported. The range of motion of the tower 726 and vertical conveyor systems 728 can range from a practically horizontal position to a position of a slight deviation from the vertical (for example, in the range of motion greater than 90 degrees) when deployed taking into account the angular mismatch due to ground height differences.

[0206] Horizontal conveyor systems 724 may be configured to move solid additives and / or granular material during operation, inserted through openings 736 to vertical conveyor systems 728. When solid additives and / or granular material reach the end of horizontal conveyor systems 724, solid additives and / or granular material can be moved to vertical conveyor systems 728 and move upwards. For example, horizontal conveyor systems 724 may end with one or more releases 746, which may provide the transport vehicle with a discharge, feed or other input of solid additives and / or granular material into one or more inlets 748 of vertical conveyor systems 728. Inlets 748 may in turn solid additives and / or granular material to the transporting means of vertical conveyor systems 728 for movement vertically to the releases 750 vertical conveyor systems 726.

[207] Upper conveyor systems 752 may be configured to move solid additives and / or granular material from vertical conveyor systems 728 to bulk material containers 130, 140 as soon as solid additives and / or granular material reach the top of vertical conveyor systems 728. For example, the upper conveyor systems 752 may include screw conveyors 754 driven by 756 engines to move solid additives and / or granular material horizontally away from the vertical conveyor system 728. Top conveyor belt system 752 may contain inlets (not visible) that can be configured to accept solid additives and / or granular material from outlets 750 of vertical conveyor systems 728 and direct solid additives and / or granular material to screw conveyors 754. The upper conveyor system 752 can additionally contain issues 758, which can be placed above or otherwise combined with inlets into bulk storage tanks 130, 180, which are designed to direct solid additives and / or granular material from the upper to conveyor system 752 in bulk 130, 180 for bulk storage.

[0208] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the mixing unit 200 shown in FIG. 1-4 and 13, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The mixing unit 200 is shown in FIG. 17 executed as a mobile mixing unit, detachably connected to the primary drive 701. The mixing unit 200 comprises a mobile conveyor 702 having a frame 704 and a plurality of wheels 706 rotatably connected to the frame 704 and serving as a frame support 704 onto the surface 101 of the drilling site. The mobile mixing unit 200 may additionally comprise a control cabin 708, which in a level of engineering may be referred to as an "electrical panel" connected to frame 704. The control cabin 708 may comprise one or more controllers, for example, controller 510 shown in FIG. 4 and 8, configured to monitor and control the mixing unit 200 as described above.

[0209] The container 204 for the hydratable material is shown in FIG. 17 performed in the form of a feed funnel or box, configured to receive hydrated material. The container 204 for the hydratable material is connected to the frame 704 by a plurality of supporting elements 710.

[210] The mixing unit 200 further comprises a first mixer 214 and a material 206 transporting hydrating material, such as a screw feeder and / or another device configured to dose the hydrated material to the first mixer 214. The first mixer 214 is connected to frame 704 and contains an engine 712, configured to drive the first mixer 214. The first mixer 214 may be or comprise the first mixer 214 of the solid fraction and fluid, shown in FIG. 5, or another mixer capable of mixing or mixing the hydrating fluid with the material being hydrated. The hydrating fluid may be supplied to the first mixer 214 from the hydrating fluid source 218, which is shown in FIG. 13 executed as a collector configured to receive hydrating fluid through channels 249. Each channel 249 may include a valve 239, which may be configured to control the flow of hydrating fluid to the source 218 of hydrating fluid.

[0211] After mixing the hydratable material and the hydrating fluid in the first mixer 214 to form a concentrated first fluid mixture, the concentrated first fluid mixture can be moved to and through one or more instances of the first tank 220. The first tank 220 is shown in FIG. 13, embodied in the form of four closed-type hydrating vessels, each of which contains a nearly continuous flow path passing through it, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. Thus, each first container 220 may include first and second channels 412, 422, configured to receive or discharge a concentrated first fluid mixture into or out of each first container 220. Each first container 220 may be connected to a frame 704, for example, by a plurality of supporting elements 714.

[0212] After passing the concentrated first fluid mixture through the first tanks 220, the concentrated first fluid mixture can be transferred to the second tank 260, which is shown in FIG. 17, made in the form of a water supply tank by gravity. The second container 260 may be connected to the frame 704, for example, by a plurality of supporting elements 716.

[0213] Before adding additional hydrating fluid to the second tank 260, it may be combined with the concentrated first fluid mixture or added to it with a diluent 230 (not visible in FIG. 13). The hydrating fluid can be transferred from the hydrating fluid source 218 to the diluent 230 by a pump (not visible in FIG. 13). The hydrating fluid and the concentrated first fluid mixture can be combined in diluent 230 to form a first diluted fluid mixture, as described above, and transferred to the second tank 260.

[0214] The diluted first flowable mixture can be discharged from the second tank 260 and introduced into the second mixers 265 through the supply pipe 270. The granular material may be introduced into the second mixers 265 through the solid-receiving part 266, and the solid additives may be introduced into the second mixers 265 through additional solid-receiving parts 280.

[0215] FIG. 17 also illustrates a fluid injection system 208 that can be used to inject liquid additives into a diluted first fluid mixture or second fluid mixture. Since the diluted first fluid mixture, solid additives, liquid additives and granular material are almost continuously mixed in the second mixers 265, the second fluid mixture moves almost continuously to the pressure manifold 275. When the valves 277 are open, the second fluid mixture can be unloaded from the pressure headers 275 through the channels 276. The system 100 for a drilling site may also contain at least one storage tank for bulk liquid chemicals that can be configured to allow gravity feed similar chemicals to the fluid injection system 208 for a set of hoses.

[0216] FIG. 17 also shows the power supply 195 described above, which can be configured to provide centralized distribution of power to the mixing unit 200 and / or other components of the system 100 for the drilling site. Using the centralized power supply source 195 at the well site to drive one or more backside parts of the process equipment system 100 for the well site may make the components of the mixing unit agnostic for the power supply adapted to receive power from both the on-site diesel generator and local power networks. We note that the working fluid of the hydraulic power system can also be centrally supplied. The use of centralized power supply can help increase the overall reliability of the system, while the use of individual primary drives (for example, diesel engines) on each equipment unit can adversely affect the reliability system, increase the occupied area, increase maintenance costs and / or limit the functionality of the equipment.

[0217] The mixing unit 200 may be a programmable part of processing equipment with dosing, mixing and mixing functions, in which precision control, calibration and specialized fluid supply equipment may be used to fracture a subterranean formation. Peripheral equipment, such as bulk storage tanks (i.e., bulk storage tanks 102), can be kept standard for storage and gravity feed with minimal checks and control equipment. The mixing unit 200 may also comprise an electric motor control station in or adjacent to the control cabin 708, which may control the electric motors driving the mixers (i.e., the first and second mixers 214, 265) and the metering equipment (i.e. transporting devices 206, 267, 281) on the mixing unit 200.

[0218] In the example of the mobile version of the mixing node 200 shown in FIG. 17, the mixing of the gel and the mixing of the solid fraction on one frame or chassis (i.e., frame 704) are combined. Such integration can help standardize process piping, reduce the footprint, increase reliability, eliminate occupational health and safety issues, protect the environment, and / or improve manageability. The mixing unit 200 can serve as a standardized back side collector, and can be a single unit of equipment with wet processes at the site where the gel is mixed, the solid fraction is mixed, and the dosing of liquid and dry additives.

[0219] The mixing unit 200 may also reduce duplication of pumps (i.e., hydrating fluid pump 260, metering pump 261) transferring fluids from one equipment unit to another. For example, the first mixer 214 can be used to move the hydrating fluid from bulk containers 150 to the mixing unit 200, the metering pump 241 can move the first mixture of first tanks 220 to the second tank 260, and hydrating fluid pump 240 fluid from bulk containers 150 to second tank 260. The duplication of suction and pressure manifolds can thus be reduced.

[0220] The mixing node 200 may further comprise an integrated system redundancy. For example, the first mixer 214 may serve as a reserve for a failed external conveying pump for hydrating fluid.

[0221] The mixing unit 200 may also combine multiple instances of fluid injection systems 208 in a single installation. The mixing unit 200 may implement processes with chemicals for heterogeneous proppant and / or fiber techniques with pulsation, in addition to the proppant concentration pulsations, you can apply a gel concentration pulsation or pump a water-based reagent to reduce surface tension with some additives on one side of the second mixer 265, possibly in conjunction with the cross-linked gel supplied by the pump on the other side of the second mixer 265 to generate a heterogeneous fluid at discharge.

[0222] The mixing unit 200 may include at least one system for mixing a small volume of the solid fraction and a liquid that can use some hydration time, and at least one system for mixing a large volume of the solid fraction and a liquid that can be used one after another or independently and apply to the discharge pipe system either separately or together. The mixing system of a small volume of the solid fraction and the liquid can be designed to apply several types of the solid fraction simultaneously. Similarly, a mixing system of a small volume of solids and liquids can mix several types of solids simultaneously. The mixing unit 200 may include a storage volume for a small volume of solids and / or liquids used in the preparation of a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation.

[0223] Node 200 may be configured to perform numerous different types of work, such as dewatering with a water-based reagent to reduce surface tension, dividing the flow with a water-based reagent to reduce surface tension, stitching, and hybrid works. For example, the mixing unit 200 can be used in works with a water-based reagent to reduce surface tension, where instead of a gel, water with numerous additives with high flow rate is used. In the dedusting operations, water can be moved to the second tank 260, and the flow control device 250 can be a proportional flow control valve used to control the flow of water supplied to the second tank 260 to match the flow rate in one or both of the second mixers 265. the fluid level in the second tank 260, and you can use a control loop to fine tune the proportional control valve to get the calculated and actual difference Skogen level. You can use the appropriate feedback or control loop, for example, the PID control loop.

[0224] Such control can also be used for work with flow sharing (SSO). However, less than 100% of the flow can be transmitted through the second mixers 265. For example, a predetermined separation between clean and dirty can be used, such as 60:40. A hydrating fluid pump 260 may also direct water to a pressure manifold 275. Shut-off valves can ensure no mixing during dirty and clean work, if this is not required. The gel-forming components may be completely cut off and not used. However, in the event of a failure of the conveying pump, the first mixer 214 can be used as a backup.

[0225] During crosslinking, the gel-forming components can be activated. The concentrated first fluid mixture dispensed by the metering pump 261 may be forced out to a downstream location. The resulting hydrodynamics can provide homogeneous mixing of the two fluids, and the diluted first fluid mixture can be transferred to the second tank 260. Downstream the process can remain unchanged. For control devices, the suction flow rate of the first mixer 214 can be used to dispense guar or other hydrated material into the first mixer 214 to obtain the selected concentration. The ratio of the corresponding costs can be kept fixed to obtain the selected concentration of the diluted first fluid mixture transferred to the second tank 260. The flow downstream from the second tank 260 can be used as a target for the total flow rate to the second tank 260. This can help maintain an almost constant level inside the second tank 260 in steady state operation. However, due to transients, the level inside the second tank 260 may fall or rise from the optimum level. In this case, the control loop can be used to obtain the proper inlet flow rate of the second tank 260.

[0226] In the event of a failure of a main component, for example, pump 240, pipes connected to the first mixer 214 can be configured to displace a fluid (eg, water or other hydrating fluid) directly into the second tank 260, such bypassing the first tanks 220 and pump 241 in order to ensure flushing of the well. Another system redundancy may account for pump 241 failure, in which case pump 241 can be bypassed, and flow control device 245 can be used to dispense the first fluid mixture. If the operation of the first mixer 214 is stopped, the pump 241 may be recycled with the first tanks 220 so as to maintain the movement of the entire volume. If the suction of the first mixer 214 is insufficient under the terms of suction from the bulk storage tanks 150, the discharge of the pump 240 can also be used to activate the suction side of the first mixer 214, while creating a virtually positive suction head.

[0227] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a method (810) according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Method (810) may be performed using at least a portion of one or more embodiments of the device shown in one or more of FIG. 1-17 and / or other device within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0228] Method (810) comprises establishing (812) a centralized power supply at a well site. For example, establishing (812) a centralized power supply may comprise installing and / or activating a centralized power supply 195 described above, such as connecting to a local electrical network, starting a generator unit, and / or others. A centralized power supply may be installed (812) to actuate one or more components of the mixing unit 200 shown in one or more of FIG. 1-4, 8, 13, and 17, one or more components of the mobile transporting node 720 shown in FIG. 15 and 16, and / or other equipment shown in FIG. 1 and / or 13.

[229] Method (810) also includes activating (814) the centralized controller. For example, the centralized controller may be the controller 510 described above. A centralized controller can be part of a centralized engine management station integrated into one or more equipment units for distributing power and controlling material handling, fluid management, mixing, metering, mixing, conditioning and / or transfer functions used to prepare the fluid. for hydraulic fracturing of the underground reservoir at the drilling site. For example, the centralized engine control station may be the control cabin 708 described above. The centralized controller can be or contain a local control system, for example, the controller 510 and / or other involved controllers, at the well site, or more components that can interface with the primary drive, power supply components, valves, actuators, process control systems process, sensors and / or other components, and which can provide setpoints and system level operation parameters.

[0230] Method (810) also includes filling (816) bulk containers at the well site. For example, bulk storage tanks may include one or more containers 110, 120, 130, 140, and filling (816) containers may include engaging one or more transport mechanisms 162, 172, 182, 192 described above.

[231] Method (810) also comprises transferring (818) materials from one or more bulk containers to the mixing unit. For example, the blending unit may be the blending unit 200 described above, and transferring (818) materials to the mixing unit 200 may involve engaging one or more transport mechanisms 112, 122, 132, described above. The transfer (818) may include splitting the incoming fluid, for example, from one or more inlets 218, into at least two subsystems of the mixing unit, for example, the rheological control section 202 and the mixing section 210 of the coarse solid fraction of the mixing unit 200.

[232] Method (810) also includes enabling (819) the first mixing node subsystem. For example, the first subsystem may be a system 214 for dispersing and / or mixing the solid fraction and / or another component of the section 202 of the rheological control of the mixing unit 200. Such an operation (819) can create an almost continuous stream or other amount of gel, such as, for example, the concentrated first fluid mixture described above. Involving (819) of the first subsystem may include performing a rheology modifying process, resulting in a fluid mixture with a higher concentration of some components of the composition (for example , guar or other hydrated material) than the final concentration used in the well.

[0233] Method (810) also includes enabling (824) a second mixing node subsystem. Loading into the second subsystem may include unloading from the first subsystem. For example, the second subsystem may be one or more solid mixing systems 265 and / or another component of the large solid fraction mixing section 210 of the mixing unit 200. Such an activation (824) may, for example, create an almost continuous flow or other amount of fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation, for example, the second fluid mixture described above. The activation (824) of the second subsystem may include the unloading of the work (819) of the first subsystem into the second subsystem, where the second set of rheology modifying solid fraction can be dosed using conventional methods and / or a large solid fraction (for example, proppant and / or other granular materials) can be introduced using gravity feed from bunkers or other containers, such as containers 130 and / or 140 for bulk storage.

[0234] Method (810) also comprises discharging (826) fluid from the second subsystem of the mixing unit. For example, such an unloading (826) may contain one or more near-continuous flows or other quantities of fracturing fluid from the subterranean formation and / or other fluid mixtures through one or more outlets 275 of the mixing unit 200.

[0235] Method (810) may also involve using (820) a diluent to dilute the concentration of fluid discharged from the first subsystem. However, the activation (820) of the diluent may form part of the work (819) of the first subsystem. The diluent may be the diluent 230 described above. The activation (820) of the diluent may include the process of promptly diluting the fluid with the modified rheology obtained by operating the first subsystem (819) in order to obtain a fluid with a concentration close to the final one.

[0236] Method (810) may also include introducing (822) one or more chemical-enhancing properties into the input materials or discharge fluids as a result of operation (819) of the first subsystem and / or operation (824) of the second subsystem. For example, such an introduction (822) can be performed using the liquid dispensing systems 208 described above.

[0237] FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a method (1000) according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Method (1000) may be performed using at least a portion of one or more embodiments of the device shown in one or more of FIG. 1-17 and / or other device within the scope of the present disclosure. One or more aspects of the embodiments of the method (1000) shown in FIG. 19 may be substantially similar to one or more aspects of the embodiments of the method (810) shown in FIG. 18. One or more aspects of the method (810) shown in FIG. 18 may be substantially similar to the corresponding aspects of the method (1000) shown in FIG. 19. One or more aspects of the method (810) shown in FIG. 18 can be combined with one or more aspects of the method (1000) shown in FIG. 19 in various additional ways within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0238] Method (1000) comprises transporting (1005) the mobile system over the ground to a drilling site. The mobile system may be or comprise the mobile mixing node 200 shown in FIG. 17, and / or other systems within the scope of the present disclosure. The method (1000) may further comprise a connection (1002) of the mobile system with a primary drive 701 for moving (1005) the mobile system to the drilling site.

[0239] After transportation (1005) of the mobile system to the drilling site, the first mixer 214 works (1010), mixing the hydrated material and the hydrating fluid to form the first fluid transmitted through one or more instances of the first tank 220 and / or buffer tank 260. The first fluid may be a concentrated first fluid mixture or a diluted first fluid mixture described above. The second mixer 265 also operates (1015), mixing the granular material and the first fluid discharged from the tanks 220 and / or the buffer tank 260 to form a second fluid that at least partially forms the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation. The second fluid may be the second fluid mixture described above.

[0240] As described above, the activation (1010) of the first mixer 214 may be the activation of the first mixer 214, which mixes the hydrated material and the hydrating fluid in a substantially continuous supply to make a substantially continuous supply of the first fluid. The almost continuous supply of the first fluid can be transferred almost continuously from the first mixer 214 to the second mixer 265 through the tanks 220 and / or the buffer tank 260. The activation (1015) of the second mixer 265 may comprise activating the second mixer 265 mixing the granular material with an almost continuous flow the first fluid discharged from the tanks 220 and / or the buffer tank 260 to perform a substantially continuous supply of the second fluid.

[0241] The method (1000) may further comprise controlling (1020) the flow rate of the first fluid from the tanks 220 and / or the buffer tank 260 to the second mixer 265. Regulating (1020) the flow rate of the first fluid may comprise controlling the pump 241 and / another pump in a flow connection between the second mixer 265 and one or more of the tanks 220 and / or the buffer tank 260.

[0242] The method (1000) may further comprise a decrease (1025) of the concentration of hydratable material in the first fluid received by the second mixer 265. This decrease (1025) may comprise the activation of a pump 240 adding water-based fluid to the first fluid discharged from the first tank (s) 220, activating a pump 240 regulating the flow rate of a water-based fluid added to the first fluid, activating a valve 250 regulating the flow rate of a fluid-based fluid to delivered to the first fluid, activating the pump 241, regulating the flow rate of the first fluid from the tanks 220 and / or the buffer tank 260 to the second mixer 265, activating the valve 245 regulating the flow rate of the first fluid from the tanks 220 and / or the buffer tank 260 second mixer 265, or a combination thereof.

[0243] FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a method (830) according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Method (830) may be performed using at least a portion of one or more embodiments of the device shown in one or more of FIG. 1-17 and / or other device within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0244] Method (830) comprises transporting (832) equipment to a drilling site. For example, the equipment transported (832) may include a support structure 760 shown in FIG. 14, the mobile transport unit 720 shown in FIG. 15 and 16, bulk storage tanks 130, 140 shown in FIG. 16, the mobile mixing unit 200 shown in FIG. 17, and other equipment shown in FIG. 1 and / or 13.

[0245] Method (830) also comprises deploying (834) a mobile base structure at the well site. For example, the mobile base structure may be the support structure 760 shown in FIG. 14.

[0246] Method (830) also comprises mounting (836) bunkers and / or other vertical containers for bulk storage on the unfolded (834) mobile base structure. For example, mounted (836) containers may be bulk containers 130, 140 shown in FIG. 16. The container assembly (836) may also include the alignment of the tanks with the mobile base structure, for example, using the mounting elements described above for the frame structure 760 shown in FIG. 14.

[0247] Method (830) also comprises deploying (838) a transport / loading system with respect to the deployed (834) mobile base construction and mounted (836) containers for bulk storage. For example, the transport / loading system may be a mobile transport node 720 shown in FIG. 15 and 16. Deploying (838) the transport / loading system may also include combining the transport / loading system with the mobile base structure, for example, using the mounting elements described above for the base structure 760 shown in FIG. 14.

[248] The method (830) also comprises the establishment (840) of the mixing unit under the unfolded (834) mobile base structure so that the receiving / storage parts of the mobile mixing unit are combined with the unloading sites of the mounted (836) bulk storage tanks. The mobile blending unit may be the mobile blending unit 200 shown in FIG. 17, so that for the institution (840) of the mixing unit it is possible to use the primary drive 701. The establishment (840) of the mixing unit under the unfolded (834) mobile base construction can be performed before, during or after installation (836) of bulk storage tanks and deployment (838) of the transport / boot system.

[0249] The method (830) also comprises connecting (842) other material supply systems to the mixing unit using various transport mechanisms described above. Such a connection (842) may include connecting the transport mechanism 112 between the bulk storage container 110 and the mixing unit 200, connecting the transport mechanism 122 between the bulk storage container 120 and the mixing unit 200, connecting the transport mechanism 132 between bulk storage 130 and the mixing unit 200 and / or connecting the transport mechanism 142 between the bulk storage container 140 and the mixing unit 200, if the bulk storage tanks were not mounted among (836) before.

[0250] The method (830) also comprises connecting (844) a power source to the mixing unit. For example, the power supply may be the source 195 of the centralized power supply described above.

[0251] Method (830) also comprises loading (846) buffer storage volumes at the mixing site using coupled transport mechanisms. For example, such a loading (846) may include loading the means 204 for receiving and / or storing the solid fraction, means 280 for receiving and / or storing the solid fraction and / or means 266 for receiving and / or storing the coarse solid fraction described above.

[0252] FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of method (900) according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Method (900) may be performed using at least a portion of one or more embodiments of the device shown in one or more of FIG. 1-17 and / or other device within the scope of the present disclosure. One or more aspects of the embodiments of the method (900) shown in FIG. 21 may be substantially similar to one or more aspects of the embodiments of the method (830) shown in FIG. 20. One or more aspects of the method (830) shown in FIG. 20 may essentially be similar to the corresponding aspects of the method (900) shown in FIG. 21. One or more aspects of the method (830) shown in FIG. 20 may be combined with one or more aspects of the method (900) shown in FIG. 21 in various additional ways within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0253] Method (900) comprises employing (905) one or more of the transport mechanisms 162, 172, 182, 192 for transferring materials received from the respective delivery means 160, 170, 180, 190 to the respective containers 110, 120, 130 , 140 for bulk storage. One or more of the transport mechanisms 112, 122, 132, 142 are also involved (910) for transferring relevant materials from the respective containers 110, 120, 130, 140 for bulk storage to the mixing unit 200. The mixing unit 200 is operated (915) to at least partially form a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation using each of the materials received from the conveying mechanisms 112, 122, 132, 142. Engaging (910) the conveying mechanisms 112, 122, 132, transporting materials from bulk storage tanks 110, 120, 130, 140 to the mixing unit 200 may comprise activating each of the transport mechanisms 112, 122, 132, 142, while at least one of the transporting mechanisms 162, 172 does not work , 182, 192. Sposo (900) may further comprise a physical combination (920) of each means 160, 170, 180, 190 with the corresponding delivery conveyor mechanism 162, 172, 182, 192.

[0254] The activation (915) of the mixing unit 200 for at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation using each of the materials received from each of the conveying mechanisms 112, 122, 132, 142 may contain almost continuous operation of the mixing unit 200 for obtaining a virtually continuous feed at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation, when at least one of the conveying mechanisms 162, 172, 182, 192 is not working.

[255] FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of at least a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a method (930) according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Method (930) may be performed using at least a portion of one or more embodiments of the device shown in one or more of FIG. 1-17 and / or other device within the scope of the present disclosure.

[256] Method (930) comprises enabling (935) the controller 510 of the mixing unit 200 to input a predetermined value of the concentration of the hydratable material of the first fluid. The first fluid may be a concentrated first fluid mixture or a diluted first fluid mixture described above, which may be discharged by the first mixer 214, the first tank (s) 220, the diluent 230, or the second tank 260. The controller 510 also operates (940) to enter a given value of the proppant concentration of the second fluid medium, at least partially forming a fracturing fluid of a subterranean formation. The second fluid may be the second fluid mixture described above, which may be discharged by the second mixer 265 or the mixing unit 200 as a whole. The controller 510 is then activated (945) to start up the mixing unit 200 in order to obtain an almost continuous supply of a second fluid having said proppant concentration.

[0257] The actuation (945) of the controller 510 to start up the mixing unit 200 may cause the controller 510 to regulate the flow rate with which the transporting hydrated material device 206 and / or other metering unit dispenses the hydrated material supplied to the first mixer 214, based on the set concentration value hydrated material. Involving (945) the controller 510 to start up the mixing unit 200 may also, or instead, cause the controller 510 to control the flow rate at which the granular material dispenser 267 and / or other metering device doses the proppant to the second mixer 265 based on the set value of the proppant concentration.

[0258] The method (930) may further comprise enabling (950) the controller 510 to input a predetermined concentration value of the diluted hydrated material. In such embodiments, activating (945) controller 510 to start up mixing unit 200 may cause controller 510 to control appropriate flow control devices based on a predetermined concentration of diluted hydrated material to regulate the flow rate of the first fluid to the second mixer 265, to form the first fluid with a dilute concentration of hydratable material, and / or adjust the flow rate of the dilution fluid connected to the first fluid medium prior to receiving the first fluid second mixer 265, for the formation of the first fluid with a diluted concentration of hydratable material.

[0259] The method (930) may further comprise enabling (955) the controller 510 to input a predetermined value of the concentration of the liquid additive for the second fluid. In such embodiments, activating (945) controller 510 to start up the mixing unit 200 may cause controller 510 to control the flow rate at which the liquid additive is added to one of the first and second fluids to form the first or second fluid fluid having said concentration of liquid additive.

[0260] The method (930) may further comprise enabling (955) the controller 510 to input a predetermined concentration value of the solid additive of the second fluid. In such versions, activating (945) controller 510 to start up the mixing unit 200 may cause controller 510 to adjust the flow rate with which the dosing unit doses solid additive to the second mixer 262 to form a second fluid, having the concentration mentioned solid additive.

[261] Acting (945) the controller 510 to start up the mixing unit 200 may also cause the controller 510 to control various flow control devices to regulate the flow of the hydrating fluid, the first fluid, and the second fluid based on at least one of the predetermined values the concentration of hydrating material and the set value of the concentration of proppant. Involving (945) the controller 510 to start the mixing unit 200 may also cause the controller 510 to control various dispensers to dispense the hydrated material and proppant based on at least one of the predetermined concentration of hydrating material and the predetermined concentration of proppant. As also described above, the mixing unit 200 may comprise various sensors that communicate with the controller 510 and are designed to generate information relating to the flow rates of the hydrating fluid, the hydrated material, the first fluid, the proppant, and the second fluid. In such versions, the controller 510 may be configured to control various flow control devices and dispensers based on the generated information.

[0262] Considering in general the present disclosure, including the claims and the figures, a person skilled in the art should clearly understand that the disclosure offers a device comprising: a mobile system comprising: a frame; many wheels, functionally connected with the frame and serving to support the frame on the ground; a first mixer connected to the frame and configured to receive and mix the hydrated material and the hydrating fluid to form the first fluid; a container connected to the frame and containing a flow path that is overcome by the first fluid for a period of time sufficient to provide an increase in the viscosity of the first fluid to a predetermined level; and a second mixer connected to the frame and configured to mix the granular material and the first fluid discharged from the tank to form a second fluid that at least partially forms a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation.

[0263] The first mixer can be configured to almost continuously form the first fluid, the capacity can be configured to almost continuously transfer the first fluid between the first and second mixer, and the second mixer can be made to almost continuously form the second fluid.

[0264] The first mixer can be configured to: receive a substantially continuous supply of hydrated material; almost continuous supply of hydrating fluid; and almost continuous mixing of the almost continuously supplied hydrated material and the almost continuously supplied hydrating fluid to obtain a substantially continuous supply of the first fluid. In such versions, the almost continuous supply of the first fluid can be carried out almost continuously through the flow path in the tank; and the second mixer can be configured to: receive almost continuous supply of granular material; receiving almost continuous supply of first fluid from the tank; and almost continuous mixing of the almost continuously supplied granular material and the almost continuously supplied first fluid discharged from the container to obtain an almost continuous supply of the second fluid.

[0265] The mobile system may further comprise a device for merging a fluid between the container and the second mixer, adapted to add a water-based fluid to the first fluid discharged from the container. The fluid fusion device may comprise: a first pass configured to receive a water-based fluid; the second passage of the fluid, made with the possibility of receiving the first fluid discharged from the tank; and a third passage configured to move both the water based fluid and the first fluid discharged from the container. Hydrating fluid and water-based fluid may be the same and may be received by the first mixer and fluid fusion device from the same source. The mobile system may further comprise at least one of: a first flow control device, configured to control the first flow rate of the first fluid discharged from the container into the fluid fusion device; and a second flow control device configured to control the second water-based fluid flow rate into the fluid fusion device. At least one of the first and second flow control devices may comprise a flow control valve. At least one of the first and second flow control device may comprise a pump.

[0266] The tank may be the first tank, the mobile system may further comprise a second tank, flow connected between the first tank and the second mixer, and the second tank may receive the first fluid discharged from the first tank, and the second mixer may be configured to receive the first fluid from the second tank.

[0267] The hydrated material may mainly contain guar. The hydratable material may mainly comprise a polymer, a synthetic polymer, galactomannan, a polysaccharide, cellulose, clay, or a combination thereof. The hydrating fluid may essentially be water. The granular material may contain proppant. The proppant may contain one or more of: sand, sand-like particles, silica and silica. The granular material may further comprise a fibrous material. The fibrous material may contain one or more of: fiberglass, phenol formaldehyde, polyester, polylactic acid, cedar bark, crushed sugarcane stems, mineral fiber and hair.

[0268] The reservoir may be operating in a first inlet mode — a first in an outlet container with a continuous flow of fluid.

[0269] The mobile system may be configured to connect to the primary drive.

[0270] The present disclosure also provides a method comprising: moving a mobile system over the ground to a drilling site, the mobile system comprising: a frame; a plurality of wheels, functionally connected to the frame and serving as a frame support on the ground; the first mixer connected to the frame; a tank connected to the frame and flow-through with the first mixer; and a second mixer connected to the frame and in fluid communication with the container; activating the first mixer to mix the hydratable material and the hydrating fluid to form the first fluid transferred through the container; and enabling the second mixer to mix the particulate material and the first fluid discharged from the reservoir to form the second fluid, at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation.

[0271] The actuation of the first mixer may be the engagement of the first mixer, mixing the hydrating material almost continuously supplied and the hydrating fluid to form a substantially continuous supply of the first fluid. The substantially continuous first fluid feed can be substantially continuously transferred from the first mixer to the second mixer through the reservoir. The engagement of the second mixer may comprise activating the second mixer mixing the almost continuously supplied granular material with the substantially continuously supplied first fluid discharged from the container to obtain a substantially continuous supply of the second fluid.

[0272] The container may provide an internal passage of the first fluid for a period of time sufficient to allow the viscosity of the first fluid to increase to a predetermined level.

[0273] The activation of the first mixer can ensure that sufficient pressure of the first fluid is injected to cause the first fluid to move through the container.

[0274] The method may further comprise controlling the flow rate of the first fluid from the tank to the second mixer. Controlling the flow rate of the first fluid may comprise controlling the operation of a pump that is flow-through connected between the tank and the second mixer.

[0275] The mobile system may further comprise a pump, and the method may further comprise activating the pump to add water-based fluid to the first fluid discharged from the tank to reduce the concentration of hydrated material in the first fluid received by the second mixer. The pump may be the first pump, and the method may additionally comprise at least one of: activating the first pump regulating the first flow of a water-based fluid added to the first fluid; activating the first valve downstream of the first pump regulating the first flow rate; activating the second pump, connected in fluid between the tank and the second mixer, regulating the second flow rate of the first fluid from the tank to the second mixer, and activating the second valve downstream of the second pump regulating the second flow rate.

[0276] The tank may be the first tank, the mobile system may further comprise a second tank, flow connected between the tank and the second mixer, activating the first mixer to form the first fluid transmitted through the first tank, can transfer the first fluid through the first tank to the second tank and the first fluid mixed with the particulate material by the second mixer can be obtained from the second container. In such embodiments, the mobile system may further comprise a pump, and the method may further comprise activating the pump to add water-based fluid to the first fluid discharged from the first tank and received by the second tank.

[0277] The method may further comprise coupling the mobile system to the primary drive.

[278] The present disclosure also provides a device comprising: a system for a drilling site for use in a hydraulic fracture of a subterranean formation, the system for a drilling site comprising: a plurality of tanks; a plurality of first transporting mechanisms, each of which is configured to move a corresponding one of a plurality of materials from a corresponding one of a plurality of delivery vehicles to a corresponding one of the containers; knot of mixing; and many second transporting mechanisms, each of which is configured to move the corresponding one of the materials from the corresponding one of the tanks to the mixing unit, the mixing unit being adapted to mix materials received from each of the second transporting mechanisms to form a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation.

[0279] The plurality of materials may contain a hydratable material, liquid additives, solid additives, and a proppant, and the plurality of first conveying mechanisms may comprise: a hydrating material conveying mechanism configured to move the hydratable material into the first one of the containers; a liquid additive transporting mechanism configured to transfer the liquid additive to the second one of the containers; a solid additive transporting mechanism, configured to move a solid additive to the third one of the containers; and a proppant transporting mechanism configured to move the proppant to the fourth one of the containers. In such versions, the plurality of second transport mechanisms may include: an additional transporting material to be hydrated, a mechanism configured to move the hydrated material from the first one of the containers to the mixing unit; an additional transporting liquid additive mechanism, configured to move the liquid additive from the second one of the tanks to the mixing unit; additional transporting solid additive mechanism, configured to move the solid additive from the third one of the tanks to the mixing unit; and an additional transporting proppant mechanism, configured to move the proppant from the fourth one of the tanks to the mixing unit.

[0280] The system for a well site may further comprise a material feed zone adjacent to the first conveying mechanisms, and each of the containers may be physically located between the mixing unit and the material feed zone.

[0281] Each of the containers may be configured to receive the entire quantity of the corresponding material transported by the respective means of delivery.

[0282] Each of the containers may have a storage volume approximately equal to or greater than the storage volume of the respective delivery vehicle.

[0283] The first conveying mechanisms can be configured to periodically move the respective materials from the delivery vehicles to the respective containers, the second conveying mechanisms can be arranged to move the respective materials from the respective containers to the mixing unit almost continuously, and the mixing node can be adapted to unloading with almost continuous supply of fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation.

[0284] The mixing unit may be configured to almost continuously form a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation when one or more of the first conveying mechanisms do not move the corresponding one or more materials from the respective one or more delivery vehicles.

[0285] The mixing unit may comprise a mixer and a feed funnel associated with the mixer, and one of the second conveying mechanisms may be configured to move the corresponding one of the materials from the corresponding one of the containers to the feed funnel.

[0286] A plurality of materials may comprise a hydratable material and a proppant, a mixing unit may comprise a first mixer and a second mixer, and a plurality of second conveying mechanisms may comprise: a hydrating material transporting mechanism configured to move the hydrated material into a first feed funnel configured to feed hydratable material in the first mixer, and proppant overloading mechanism, designed to overload the proppant in the second loading This funnel is designed to feed the proppant into the second mixer.

[0287] A variety of materials may contain a hydratable material and a proppant, and the mixing unit may comprise: a frame; a first mixer connected to the frame and adapted to mix the hydrated material with a hydrating fluid to form the mixture; and a second mixer connected to the frame and adapted to mix the proppant with the mixture. The mixing unit may additionally contain multiple wheels, functionally connected to the frame and serving as a support frame on the ground. The mixing unit may additionally contain a hydrating tank connected to the frame and flow-through connected between the first and second mixer.

[288] The present disclosure also provides a method comprising: engaging each of a plurality of first transport mechanisms to move a corresponding one of a plurality of materials received from a corresponding one of a plurality of delivery vehicles to a corresponding one of a plurality of containers, each of said plurality of materials having a different composition ; engaging each of a plurality of second transport mechanisms to move a corresponding one of said plurality of materials from a corresponding one of said plurality of containers to a mixing unit; and activating the mixing unit to at least partially form a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation using each of said plurality of materials received from each of said plurality of second conveying mechanisms.

[0289] The activation of each of said plurality of second transport mechanisms for moving a corresponding one of said plurality of materials from a corresponding one of said plurality of containers to a mixing unit may comprise activating each of said plurality of second transporting mechanisms when at least one of said plurality does not work first transporting mechanisms.

[0290] The method may further comprise physically combining each of said plurality of delivery vehicles with a corresponding one of said plurality of first transport mechanisms, for example, in an adjacent physical zone simultaneously accessible to said plurality of delivery vehicles.

[0291] The method may further comprise storing a quantity of each of said plurality of materials in each corresponding one of said plurality of containers, and the amount of each of said plurality of materials stored in each corresponding one of said plurality of containers may be approximately equal to or greater than the volume storage of the corresponding one of the mentioned set of delivery vehicles.

[0292] Engaging each of said plurality of first transport mechanisms to move a corresponding one of a plurality of materials to a corresponding one of said plurality of containers may comprise periodically activating each of said plurality of first transporting mechanisms to periodically moving a corresponding one of said plurality of materials to a corresponding one of said sets of containers. In such embodiments, engaging each of said plurality of second conveying mechanisms to move a corresponding one of said plurality of materials from a corresponding one of said plurality of containers to the mixing unit may contain substantially continuous operation of each of said plurality of second conveying mechanisms to substantially continuously move the corresponding one of said plurality of materials from the corresponding one of said plurality into the mixing unit, and activating the mixing unit for at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation using each of said plurality of materials received from each of said plurality of second conveying mechanisms may contain almost continuous operation of the mixing unit to obtain an almost continuous supply of at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation.

[0293] Engaging a mixing unit to at least partially form a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation using each of said plurality of materials received from each of said plurality of second conveying mechanisms may comprise a substantially continuous operation of the mixing unit to obtain an almost continuous supply at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation, when at least one of the mentioned set of first transports does not work tiruyuschih mechanisms.

[0294] The plurality of second transporting mechanisms may comprise a transporting hydrated material mechanism and a transporting proppant mechanism, and activating the mixing unit for at least partial formation of a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation may include: activating the first mixer of the mixing unit to form a mixture containing the hydratable material taken from the mechanism transporting the hydrated material, the first mixer being connected to the frame; and activating the second mixer of the mixing unit to connect the mixture with the proppant taken from the proppant conveying mechanism, the second mixer being connected to the frame. The second mixer can receive the mixture discharged by the first mixer through a hydrator, flow-through connected between the first and second mixers, and the hydrator is connected to the frame.

[0295] Engaging each of said plurality of second transport mechanisms for moving a corresponding one of said plurality of materials from a corresponding one of said plurality of containers to a mixing unit may comprise activating at least one of said plurality of second transporting mechanisms for moving a corresponding one of said plurality of materials from the corresponding one of the aforementioned set of tanks to the hopper of the mixing unit.

[0296] A variety of materials may contain a hydratable material and a proppant. A variety of materials may contain a hydratable material, a proppant, a liquid additive, and a solid additive.

[0297] The present disclosure also provides a device comprising: a first mixer, configured to form a mixture by combining a hydratable material and a hydrating fluid; the second mixer, made with the possibility of at least partial formation of a fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation using a mixture of mixture and proppant, and a controller made with the possibility of regulating: the concentration of hydrated material of the mixture; and the concentration of proppant in the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation.

[0298] The controller may be further configured to control the flow rate discharged from the second mixer.

[0299] The device may further comprise a frame to which the first and second mixers are connected. The device may further comprise a control unit comprising a controller and connected to the frame. The device may further comprise a hydrator connected to the frame, and the mixture can be received by the second mixer through the hydrator.

[0300] The device may further comprise: a plurality of flow meters communicating with the controller and configured to generate information relating to the respective flow rates of the hydrating fluid, the mixture and the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation; a plurality of flow control devices supporting communication by the controller, the controller can be further configured to control a plurality of flow control devices to control the flow rates of the hydrating fluid, the mixture and the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation; and a plurality of dispensers supporting communication with the controller, the controller being further configured to control said plurality of dispensers for dispensing a hydratable material and a proppant. The controller may be further configured to automatically control said plurality of flow control devices and said plurality of dispensers based on predetermined values of the concentration of hydrated material and the concentration of proppant. The controller may be further configured to receive user input, the user input containing pre-determined values of the concentration of the hydrated material and the concentration of the proppant.

[0301] The device may further comprise: a flow control device communicating with the controller, the controller may further be configured to control the flow control device to regulate the flow of hydrating fluid to the first mixer; a flow meter that communicates with the controller and is configured to generate information relating to the supply of hydrating fluid to the first mixer; and a dispenser in communication with the controller, wherein the controller can be further configured to control the dispenser to dispense the hydrated material into the first mixer and thereby control the concentration of the hydrated material of the mixture discharged by the first mixer.

[0302] The device may further comprise: a diluent configured to dilute the mixture discharged by the first mixer prior to receiving the mixture by the second mixer; at least one flow meter that communicates with the controller and is configured to generate information relating to the flow of at least one mixture discharged by the first mixer and the dilution fluid added to the mixture by a diluent; and at least one flow control device communicating with a controller and configured to control the flow of at least one of the mixture discharged by the first mixer and the diluting fluid added to the mixture by the diluent, the controller can be further configured to control at least one flow control device for controlling the concentration of the hydrated material of the diluted mixture discharged by the diluent.

[0303] The device may further comprise: a storage tank for the mixture discharged from the first mixer, wherein the second mixer may be configured to receive the mixture from the tank; and a level sensor that communicates with the controller and is configured to generate information regarding the amount of mixture in the tank.

[0304] The device may further comprise: a flow control device communicating with the controller, the controller may further be configured to control the flow control device to control the flow of the mixture to the second mixer; a flow meter that communicates with the controller and is configured to generate information relating to the flow of the mixture to the second mixer; and a dispenser in communication with the controller, the controller can be further configured to control the dispenser for dispensing the proppant to the second mixer and thereby controlling the concentration of the proppant in the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation.

[0305] The device may further comprise a pipe for injecting a liquid additive, flow-through connected to a source of liquid additive for introducing a liquid additive into at least one of: a mixture received by the second mixer from the first mixer, and a fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation discharged from the second mixer . The device may further comprise: at least one flow meter that communicates with the controller and is configured to generate information relating to the flow of the liquid additive through the pipe to inject the liquid additive, and at least one flow control device that communicates with the controller and is made with the ability to control the flow rate of the liquid additive through the injection pipe of the liquid additive, the controller can be additionally configured to control necks least one flow control device for controlling the flow of liquid additive through the pipe for injecting liquid additive.

[0306] The device may further comprise: a solid additive overloading mechanism for introducing the solid additive into at least one of: the mixture received by the second mixer from the first mixer and the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation discharged from the second mixer. The device may further comprise at least one flow control device that communicates with the controller and is adapted to control the flow rate of the injected solid additive, and the controller may be further configured to control at least one flow control device to control the flow rate of the added solid additive.

[0307] The device may further comprise: a plurality of flow control devices communicating with a controller, and the controller may be further configured to control the plurality of flow control devices to control the flow of hydrating fluid, the mixture and the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation; and a plurality of dispensers supporting communication with the controller, wherein the controller can be further configured to control said plurality of dispensers for dispensing a hydratable material and a proppant.

[0308] The device may further comprise: a plurality of flow control devices communicating with the controller and configured to control the flow of hydrating fluid, the mixture, and the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation; and many dispensers that communicate with the controller and made with the possibility of dispensing the supply of hydrated material and proppant; moreover, the controller can be configured to control the concentration of the hydrated material of the mixture and the concentration of proppant in the fracturing fluid of the subterranean formation by controlling the aforementioned plurality of flow control devices, the plurality of metering devices and the first and second mixers.

[0309] The present disclosure also provides a method comprising: operating a system controller to introduce predetermined concentrations of the hydrated material of the first fluid, the system comprising a controller and a first mixer, and wherein the first mixer is adapted to mix the hydrated material and the hydrating fluid to form the first a fluid having a concentration of hydratable material; activating a controller to introduce predetermined proppant concentration of the second fluid at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation, the system further comprising a second mixer adapted to mix the proppant and the first fluid to form the second fluid having said proppant concentration; and activating the controller to start up the system to obtain a substantially continuous supply of second fluid having said proppant concentration.

[0310] The activation of the controller to start up the system may cause the controller to regulate the flow rate at which the dispenser dispenses the hydrated material into the first mixer based on the set value of the concentration of the hydrated material.

[0311] The activation of the controller to start up the system may cause the controller to control the flow rate at which the dispenser doses the proppant to the second mixer based on the set value of the proppant concentration.

[0312] The method may further comprise activating a controller to input a predetermined concentration value of the diluted hydrated material, and activating the controller to start up the system may cause the controller to regulate the flow based on the predetermined concentration concentration of the diluted hydrated material, wherein: the first flow control device adjusts the first the flow rate of the first fluid in the second mixer for forming the first fluid having a diluted centration hydratable material; the second flow control device regulates the second dilution fluid flow rate connected to the first fluid prior to receiving the first fluid by the second mixer to form the first fluid having a dilute concentration of hydratable material or a combination thereof.

[0313] The method may further comprise activating a controller to enter a predetermined value of the concentration of the liquid additive of the second fluid, and activating the controller to start up the system may cause the controller to adjust the flow rate with which the liquid additive is added to one of the first and a second fluid for forming a first or second fluid having said concentration of liquid additive.

[0314] The method may further comprise activating a controller to input a predetermined concentration value of the solid additive of the second fluid, and activating the controller to start up the system may cause the controller, based on the predetermined concentration value of the solid additive, to regulate the flow at which the dispenser doses the solid additive to the second mixer to form a second fluid having said concentration of solid additive.

[0315] The system may further comprise a plurality of flow control devices communicating with the controller and a plurality of dispensers communicating with the controller, wherein using the controller to start up the system may cause the controller to control: the plurality of flow control devices to control the flow of hydrating fluid, the first fluid and the second fluid on the basis of at least one of a given value of the concentration of hydrating material and set the value of proppant concentration; and the aforementioned plurality of dispensers for dispensing a hydratable material and a proppant based on at least one of a predetermined value of the concentration of hydrating material and a predetermined value of the concentration of proppant. The system may further comprise a plurality of sensors communicating with the controller and configured to generate information relating to the flow rates of the hydrating fluid, the hydratable material, the first fluid, the proppant and the second fluid, and the controller can be configured to control said plurality of devices flow control and the mentioned many dispensers based on the generated information.

[0316] The present disclosure also represents a device comprising: a mobile system comprising: a frame; a plurality of wheels functionally connected to the frame and serving as a frame support to the ground; a first mixer connected to the frame and configured to receive and mix the hydrated material and the hydrating fluid to form the first fluid; a container connected to the frame and containing an almost continuous passage, overcome by the second fluid for a period of time sufficient to allow the viscosity of the second fluid to increase to a predetermined level, the second fluid containing the first fluid; and a second mixer connected to the frame and configured to mix the particulate material with the third fluid to form a fourth fluid used in hydraulic fracturing operations of the subterranean formation, the third fluid containing the second fluid being discharged from the reservoir.

[0317] The above describes the features of several embodiments, for a better understanding of aspects of the present disclosure by a person skilled in the art. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be applied without problems as a basis for developing or modifying other methods and constructions having similar functions and / or achieving advantages similar to the embodiments presented in this document. Specialist in the art should also understand that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the essence and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may have various changes, substitutions and substitutions in this document without departing from the essence and scope of the present disclosure.

[318] The abstract at the end of this description is given according to 37 C.F.R. §1.72 (b) to ensure that the reader is quickly familiar with the substance of the technical disclosure. Presented summary should be understood as not being used to interpret or limit the scope, as well as the meaning of the claims.

Claims (52)

1. Device for the formation of mixtures for wells, containing: mixing site containing: frame; Rheological control section containing: means for receiving the first material from the first transport mechanism; dispersion and / or mixing system connected to the frame; and a first dispensing system configured to dispense the first material from the first material receiving material into the dispersing and / or mixing system, the dispersing and / or mixing system being adapted to dispersing and / or mixing the metered first material with the fluid to form the first fluid mixture; and the area of mixing a large solid fraction containing: means for receiving the second material from the second conveying mechanism, the second material being the material of a coarse solid fraction; the system of mixing the solid fraction, connected to the frame; and a second dosing system configured to dispense a second material from the second material receiving material into the solid fraction mixing system, the solid fraction mixing system being configured to mix the metered second material with the first fluid mixture to form a second fluid mixture. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first material is a hydratable material, the fluid is a hydrating fluid, and the dispersing and / or mixing system comprises a first mixer connected to the frame and configured to receive and mix the hydrated material and hydrating fluid for the formation of the first fluid mixture. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the hydratable material mainly contains guar, the hydrating fluid mainly contains water, and the first fluid mixture mainly contains gel. 4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the rheological control section further comprises a hydrating system configured to receive and hydrate the first fluid mixture, and at least part of the hydrating system is connected to the frame. 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the hydrating system contains a tank connected to the frame and containing a flow path that is overcome by the first fluid mixture for a period of time sufficient to increase the viscosity of the first fluid mixture to a predetermined level. 6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the material of the coarse solid fraction is a granular material, and the system for mixing the solid fraction contains a second mixer connected to the frame and configured to receive and mix the granular material and the first fluid mixture to form a second fluid mixture. 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the granular material mainly contains a proppant, and wherein the second fluid mixture mainly contains a fracturing fluid of a subterranean formation. 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mixing unit further comprises a plurality of wheels functionally connected to the frame and serving as a frame support to the ground. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mixing unit further comprises a buffer tank connected to the frame and flow-through connected between the dispersing and / or mixing system and the mixing system of the solid fraction, the buffer tank receiving the first fluid mixture discharged from the rheological monitoring section, and moreover, the system of mixing the solid fraction takes the first fluid mixture from the buffer tank. 10. The method of forming mixtures for wells, containing: activating each of the plurality of first transport mechanisms to transfer a corresponding one of a plurality of materials received from a corresponding one of a plurality of delivery vehicles to a corresponding one of a plurality of containers, each of said plurality of materials having a different composition; engaging each of a plurality of second transport mechanisms to move a corresponding one of said plurality of materials from a corresponding one of said plurality of containers to a mixing unit; and activating the mixing unit to at least partially form a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation using each of said plurality of materials received from each of said plurality of second conveying mechanisms. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of second conveying mechanisms comprise a mechanism transporting hydrated material and a proppant transporting mechanism, and wherein the operation of the mixing unit for at least partially forming a fracturing fluid in the subterranean formation comprises: activating the first mixer of the mixing unit to form a mixture containing the hydrated material taken from the mechanism transporting the hydrating material, the first mixer being connected to the frame; and activating the second mixer of the mixing unit to connect the mixture with the proppant taken from the proppant transporting mechanism, the second mixer being connected to the frame. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second mixer receives the mixture discharged by the first mixer through a hydrating system, flow-through connected between the first and second mixers, the hydrating system being connected to the frame. 13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising, prior to activating the first and second conveying mechanisms and the mixing unit: the establishment of a centralized power supply for actuating the first and second conveying mechanisms and the mixing unit; and activating the centralized controller, configured to distribute power and control the first and second conveying mechanisms and the mixing unit, and activating the first and second conveying mechanisms and the mixing unit comprises activating the centralized controller. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the centralized controller is part of the mixing unit and is connected to the frame. 15. A device for forming mixtures for a well, comprising: a system for a drilling site for use in a hydraulic fracturing operation of a subterranean formation, the system for a drilling site comprising: mobile base frame containing an open zone extending at least partially through it; a plurality of containers placed on a mobile base frame in said open area, the containers being designed to contain solid materials of large volume; and the mixing unit containing the first and second mixers, the mixing unit being movable in an open area so that in the open area the receiving means of the first mixer is combined with the unloading of the gravity feed of solid materials of large volume from at least one of the containers. 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the system for the well site further comprises a mobile conveying system, configured to: Combinations with a mobile frame of the basis and capacities; receiving solid high-volume materials from a delivery vehicle located on an almost horizontal section of a mobile conveying system; and the movement of a large amount of solid materials in the inlets in the upper part of the containers. 17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the containers are the first containers, solid materials of a large volume are the first materials, the delivery vehicle is the first means of delivery, and the system for the drilling site further comprises: a plurality of first transporting mechanisms, each of which is configured to move a corresponding one of a plurality of second materials from a corresponding one of a plurality of second delivery means to a corresponding one of a plurality of second containers; and many second transporting mechanisms, each of which is arranged to move the corresponding one of the second materials from the corresponding one of the second containers to the mixing unit, the mixing node being configured to mix the first materials taken from the first containers and the second materials taken from each of second conveying mechanisms for forming a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation. 18. The method of forming mixtures for wells, containing: the deployment of a mobile base frame on the well site, with the mobile base frame containing an open zone extending at least partially through it; installation of multiple containers on the mobile base frame, and the containers are designed to contain solid materials of large volume; and transporting the mixing unit to the open area so that the material receiving facilities of the mixing unit are combined with the unloading of gravitational supply of solid materials of large volume from at least one of the containers, the mixing unit contains the frame, the first mixer is connected to the frame, and flow-through connected to the first mixer, and moreover, the material receiving means accept and direct the unloading of the gravitational supply of solid materials of large volume to at least one of the first and second mixture the members. 19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising deploying a mobile transport system with a combination relative to the mobile base frame and containers. 20. The method according to p. 19, further comprising: connection of the centralized power supply source with the mixing unit and the mobile transport system; connection of other material transporting devices with a mixing unit; and loading containers for the buffer material of the mixing unit by activating other material transporting devices.

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