Enclosed Proppant Delivery System for Dust Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The oil and gas industry faces challenges in the cost-effectiveness and productivity of fracturing operations due to time, manpower, and mechanical maintenance issues, as well as safety concerns from dust generation and high environmental impact associated with existing conveyor belt systems used for transporting and blending proppants.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system comprising transportable silos, enclosed chutes, and a conveyor belt assembly that feeds particulate matter to a blender, with vacuum operation and adjustable conveyor belt speed control based on load and level sensors to minimize dust release and optimize feed rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional conveyor belt systems are used to transport proppant, then proppant delivery is achieved, but significant dust is generated causing safety concerns and environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the proppant transport function into separate modular components: silos for storage, enclosed chutes for gravity feeding, and conveyor belts for final delivery. Each segment is independently enclosed to contain dust, allowing the system to maintain productivity while eliminating dust generation at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates enclosed environments around all proppant handling areas - silos, chutes, and conveyor belts are all enclosed to contain dust particles. This effectively creates a controlled environment where dust cannot escape into the surrounding atmosphere, resolving the contradiction between maintaining operational efficiency and eliminating dust hazards.
2Ease of operation
If numerous conveyor belt arrays and associated motors are used, then proppant can be delivered to the blender, but mechanical maintenance requirements and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the dust containment function from the conveyor belt system by adding separate enclosed chutes and silos. This allows the conveyor belts to focus solely on their primary transport function with fewer components, reducing mechanical complexity and maintenance requirements while still achieving dust control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses enclosed chute structures with flexible sealing mechanisms to contain dust during gravity feeding. These enclosed pathways require minimal mechanical components compared to traditional conveyor systems, reducing maintenance needs while maintaining ease of operation.
3Loss of time
If proppant is transported using open conveyor systems, then delivery speed is maintained, but time and manpower requirements increase due to dust control measures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary enclosure of proppant at the source (silos and chutes) before it reaches the conveyor belts. This preliminary containment eliminates the need for subsequent dust control interventions during transport, saving time and manpower while maintaining delivery speed through continuous enclosed operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces dust emission, enhances operational efficiency, and improves safety by enclosing the particulate matter during transport and blending, while allowing for precise control of proppant feed rates, thereby reducing costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
configured to receive into the passageway particulate matter gravity fed out of the outlet of the respective one of the silos
Implementation Method 2
the silos, the chutes and the housing are configured to substantially enclose the particulate matter as it passes from the silos through the chutes and conveyor belt assembly to the target location, so as to inhibit the release of dust
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery system for feeding particulate matter to a target location at a well site, including a transportable conveyor belt assembly; one or more silos in fluid communication with a particulate supply line, each of the silo inlets extending through a side wall of the respective silo and disposed at a different location from the others along a longitudinal axis of the respective silo; and for each silo an enclosed chute detachably attachable thereto so as to receive into the chute particulate matter gravity fed out of the respective silo and convey such matter into the housing of the conveyor belt assembly. The silos, the chutes and the housing enclose the particulate matter as it passes from the silos through the chutes and conveyor belt assembly to the target location, to inhibit the release of dust generated from movement of the particulate matter from the silos to the target location.