Heated Vacuum Slurry Box With Vertical Tailgate for Tight Well Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum tanks for transporting drill cuttings in cold weather environments face issues with freezing slurry, space constraints at well sites, and unnecessary wear on equipment due to heating functions during warm months.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained, portable vacuum slurry box with a vertical tailgate, stacking capabilities, quick disconnect connectors, and jacketed openings, equipped with a power unit for heating and a thermo relief valve to prevent pressure buildup, allowing efficient transportation and unloading in various conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating functions are provided in vacuum tanks to prevent freezing in cold weather, then the slurry can be kept from freezing, but the equipment experiences unnecessary wear during warm months when heating is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is designed with dynamic control capabilities, allowing the heating function to be activated only when cold weather conditions require it. The system can be turned off during warm months, preventing unnecessary equipment wear while maintaining the ability to prevent freezing when needed.
2Ease of operation
If traditional swing doors are used on vacuum tanks, then unloading is possible, but additional lateral room is required which is not available at constrained well sites
Solution Approach 1:
The tailgate is designed to open vertically upward instead of swinging outward horizontally. This dimensional change in the opening motion allows unloading functionality to be achieved without requiring additional lateral space, making the system suitable for constrained well site environments.
3Quantity of substance
If vacuum tanks are made large to increase capacity, then more cuttings can be transported, but they do not fit the requirements to be efficiently emptied at disposal sites
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple smaller vacuum tanks instead of one large tank. Each tank maintains efficient emptying capabilities at disposal sites while the collective capacity of multiple tanks meets the required slurry transport volume. This segmentation allows optimal balance between capacity and operational efficiency.
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
Enables efficient transportation and unloading of drill cuttings in cold climates without freezing, conserves space at well sites, and reduces equipment wear by adapting heating functions as needed.
Implementation Method 1
provide for heat energy to keep the drill cuttings from freezing
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum can cause material such as drilling cuttings to be pulled into the portable tank
Implementation Method 3
the tank does not become positively pressurized, due to warm material in the interior of the tank heating air, to cause expansion
Data Source
AI summary
A heated portable vacuum slurry box for efficiently storing and transporting material including drill cuttings from gas and oil well sites. The slurry box generally includes a vacuum tank, a structure attached to the tank, a mechanical bay, a vertical tailgate, and a hook for pulling the slurry box onto a vehicle. The features allow for the slurry box to be meet space restriction requirements at a well site while as well as function within the environmental conditions of winter and summer seasons. Jacketed openings, stack mount systems, and a removable power unit allow for efficient use of the slurry box.