Mobile Drilling Fluid Plant Using ISO Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The oil and gas industry faces challenges in accessing drilling fluid, particularly in remote locations with limited power and storage capacity, and existing portable drilling fluid installations require significant capital investment and lead time for deployment, often being treated as permanent under regulatory laws.
Innovation Solution
A mobile drilling fluid plant utilizing intermodal containers that are ISO-standardized for global transport, allowing for rapid deployment and scalability, with integrated power generators and flexible piping for mobility and reduced construction requirements, enabling temporary or long-term drilling fluid storage and mixing without the need for permanent installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent drilling fluid installations are used, then storage capacity and reliability are improved, but deployment time and capital expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling fluid storage system is divided into multiple modular tank containers that can be independently transported and assembled. Each container is a self-contained unit with standardized dimensions, allowing rapid deployment by simply connecting pre-fabricated modules without requiring time-consuming permanent installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static permanent installations to dynamic movable container units. The containers are designed to be transportable on roads and rails, enabling the facility to be relocated as needed while maintaining operational reliability through standardized connection interfaces and modular architecture.
2Loss of time
If portable drilling fluid installations are used, then deployment time is reduced, but structural stability and storage capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container system utilizes standardized intermodal containers that serve multiple functions: they provide structural stability, define storage capacity, enable transport, and facilitate rapid assembly. The universal container standard ensures stability while maintaining portability, as the same containers used for shipping can be directly deployed for drilling fluid storage without requiring specialized permanent structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If concrete footings and slabs are installed, then structural stability is improved, but the installation is treated as permanent under regulatory laws
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rigid concrete foundations, the system employs flexible container structures that can be placed on simple ground preparations or modular platforms. This approach provides sufficient structural stability for drilling fluid storage while avoiding the classification as permanent installation, thereby maintaining regulatory flexibility and the ability to relocate or modify the facility as operations evolve.
4Quantity of substance
If major capital investment for site preparation is made, then storage capacity and reliability are improved, but capital expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container units are pre-fabricated with their storage capacity already configured during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for costly on-site construction of storage facilities, as the containers arrive ready-to-deploy with predetermined capacities that can be easily adjusted by adding or removing units rather than undertaking expensive site preparation work.
Data Source
AI summary
An example mobile drilling fluid plant includes a plurality of intermodal containers each exhibiting a length, a width, and a height compliant with universal shipping container dimensions and configurations dictated by the International Organization for Standardization, wherein the plurality of intermodal containers include a plurality of fluid storage containers and one or more fluid mixing containers, one or more pumps in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid storage containers and the one or more fluid mixing containers, and one or more flexible hoses fluidly coupled to the one or more pumps and placing the plurality of fluid storage containers in fluid communication with the one or more fluid mixing containers.