Fluid Management System for Well Treatment Using Portable Additive Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for transferring and using dry chemical fluid additives in well treatment operations are inefficient, leading to time-consuming processes, dust generation, and noise due to pneumatic transfer methods.

Innovation Solution

A fluid management system that utilizes pre-filled, portable containers for dry chemical additives, allowing for a metered flow directly into a mixer to produce treatment fluids with predetermined properties, eliminating the need for pneumatic transfer and reducing particulate dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pneumatic transfer is used to convey fluid additives from tank truck to storage system, then the additives can be transferred over distance, but large amounts of dust and noise are generated due to turbulent transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer capabilityVSAvoiddust and noise generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pneumatic transfer system with a mechanical pumping system. A pump draws treatment fluid from the tank truck through a hose and delivers it directly to the storage system, eliminating the turbulent pneumatic conveyance that generates dust and noise while maintaining effective transfer capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If pneumatic transfer is used to move fluid additives, then transfer can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer feasibilityVSAvoidtransfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex pneumatic transfer mechanism with a simple mechanical pump system using hoses, significantly reducing setup complexity and transfer time while maintaining effective material conveyance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate pneumatic transfer step, creating a direct pumping connection from tank truck to storage system, thereby removing the time-consuming and difficult aspects of pneumatic transfer while preserving the essential transfer function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If dry powder and granular materials are mixed with water in stages, then treatment fluid with predetermined properties can be produced, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid property controlVSAvoidmixing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the multi-stage mixing process into a single mixing tank where all components (water, chemical additives, sand/gravel) are combined simultaneously. This maintains the ability to produce treatment fluid with predetermined properties while significantly reducing process complexity and time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pre-filled containers for chemical additives and pre-sieved sand/gravel materials, performing preparation actions before the mixing process. This allows for precise control of fluid properties while simplifying the actual mixing operation to a single-step process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This system enhances efficiency by minimizing dust and noise, allowing for precise control and direct transfer of additives, reducing the time required for fluid production and improving site conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The system may include a pump to provide water or other fluids to the mixing tank from a fluid source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 2

A chemical additive feeder may be positioned below the container to direct chemical additives from the container to the mixing tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity flow: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

A mixer may be positioned to receive the water or other fluids from the pump and the chemical additives from the chemical additive feeder, and mix the chemical additives with the water or other fluids to produce a treatment fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing: Stirring

Data Source

PatentUS11273421B2Fluid management system for producing treatment fluid using containerized fluid additives

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

An example fluid management system for generating a fluid for a treatment operation may include a mixer and a first portable container disposed proximate to and elevated above the mixer. The first portable container may hold dry chemical additives. A feeder may be positioned below the first portable container to direct dry chemical additives from the first portable container to the mixer. The system may also include a first pump to provide fluid to the mixer from a fluid source.