Method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated sand, and apparatus therefor

Abstract

A method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Description

CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA[0001]This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 416,256, filed on Mar. 9, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 451,435, filed Mar. 10, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 590,233, filed Jan. 24, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 601,875, filed Feb. 22, 2012.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present application relates to a method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus therefor.[0004]2. Background Information[0005]Hydraulic fracturing is the propagation of fractures in a rock layer, which process is used by oil and gas companies in order to release petroleum, natural gas, coal seam gas, or other substances for extraction. The hydraulic fracturing technique is known in the oil and gas industry as “fracking” or “hydrofracking.” In hydraulic ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]An object of the present application is to prepare proppant, such as silica sand, resin-coated silica sand, and ceramic proppant materials, for use in hydraulic fracturing while minimizing dust production in order to reduce exposure of workers to silica dust and proppant dust, and thereby minimize the chances of the workers developing silicosis or other types of pneumoconiosis.SUMMARY

Problems solved by technology

Many tons of proppant are used at a fracking site, thereby exposing workers to inhalation of silica dust, which can lead to a lung disease known as silicosis, or Potter's rot.

This dust can produce potential detrimental effects, such as contaminating atmospheric air, creating a nuisance to adjacent landowners, and damaging equipment on the hydraulic fracturing site.

The flow of air creates large dust clouds, such as silica dust clouds, which blow out of the access doors, which can be especially problematic for workers who are looking into the interior of the storage trailers to monitor the proppant fill level.

The gravity feed of the proppant once again disturbs the proppant resulting in additional dust clouds.

The lungs cannot clear out the embedded dust by mucous or coughing.

Substantial and / or concentrated exposure to silica dust can therefore lead to silicosis.

Aside from these troublesome conditions, persons with silicosis are particularly susceptible to a tuberculosis infection known as silicotuberculosis.

Frac sand is preferably >99% quartz or silica, and high purity quartz sand deposits are relatively common in the U.S. However, the tight specifications for frac sands—especially in relation to roundness and sphericity—make many natural sand deposits unsuitable for frac sand production.

One of the drawbacks of using proppant materials, especially silica sand, is that dust clouds, such as silica dust clouds, are formed during the handling of the proppant material.

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