Pneumatic Proppant Transfer Between Pressurized Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transferring proppant materials between land-based facilities and offshore production platforms are inefficient, time-consuming, and pose safety risks due to the need for multiple crane lifts and boat trips, with traditional suction methods damaging the proppant and increasing the risk of dust explosions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transferring proppant materials pneumatically between pressurized containers on supply vessels and stimulation vessels, using dense phase transfer to reduce the number of trips and incorporate dust filters to minimize dust generation and enhance safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple crane lifts and boat trips are used to transfer proppant, then the proppant can be transferred from land-based facilities to offshore platforms, but the process becomes time-consuming and operationally inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic conveying systems to transfer proppant materials through pressurized pipelines between land-based facilities and offshore platforms. This eliminates the need for multiple crane lifts and boat trips by using compressed air to propel proppant through a continuous pipeline network, dramatically reducing transfer time and improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressurized containers as intermediary vessels that can be loaded with proppant onshore and then transported to offshore platforms. These containers serve as mediators between the land-based proppant supply and the offshore injection system, enabling continuous operation without repeated trips to shore.
2Productivity
If traditional suction methods are used to transfer dry proppant, then the number of crane lifts is reduced, but the proppant suffers high attrition rates and resin coating damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses controlled pneumatic conveying through pressurized pipelines instead of traditional suction methods. This approach maintains proppant integrity by using positive pressure to propel materials through smooth-bore pipelines, avoiding the high-velocity suction that causes attrition and resin coating damage in conventional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the transfer parameters by using dense-phase pneumatic conveying at lower velocities and higher densities compared to traditional suction methods. This change in parameters reduces particle-wall impact forces and minimizes resin coating damage while maintaining transfer efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If vacuum methods are used to transfer dry proppant, then crane lifts are reduced, but dust particles increase creating explosion risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces vacuum-based transfer with pressurized pneumatic conveying systems. By using positive pressure instead of negative pressure, the system maintains better control over dust generation and allows for more effective sealing and filtration, thereby reducing explosion risks while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inerting measures within the pressurized container system, including nitrogen blanketing and dust collection systems that maintain hazardous area classifications. These measures create a safer atmosphere by preventing oxygen from supporting combustion, thereby reducing explosion risks associated with dust particle generation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If proppant is wetted to prevent dust explosions, then dust generation is reduced, but the proppant effectiveness decreases when constituted into fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pressurized pneumatic conveying to transfer dry proppant without wetting it. The controlled pressure system prevents dust generation and explosion risks through proper sealing and inerting, while maintaining the proppant in its dry, effective state for subsequent constitution into fracturing fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressurized containers as intermediaries that can be sealed and pressurized onshore, then transported to offshore platforms. This intermediary system allows dry proppant to be transferred safely without wetting, preserving its effectiveness while eliminating dust explosion risks through controlled pressure environments.
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 approach reduces the number of trips required, decreases the risk of explosions, and maintains the effectiveness of the proppant by minimizing dust generation, thereby improving operational efficiency and safety while reducing costs associated with transportation and handling.
Implementation Method 1
transferring pneumatically, proppant materials from the first pressurized container on the first vessel to the second container on the second vessel
Implementation Method 2
embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for transferring proppant materials between pressurized containers as a dense phase
Data Source
AI summary
A method of transferring proppant materials, wherein the method includes providing a first pressurized container (102) containing proppant materials on a first vessel (106). The method also includes connecting the first pressurized container (102) on the first vessel (106) to a second container (102) on a second vessel (114) and transferring pneumatically, proppant materials from the first pressurized container (102) on the first vessel (106) to the second container (102) on the second vessel (114). Also, a method of transferring proppant materials, the method including removing a wellbore fluid comprising excess proppant materials from a well, and screening the excess proppant materials from the wellbore fluid. The method also includes transferring the excess proppant materials to a first pressurized container (102) and transferring pneumatically, the excess proppant materials from the first pressurized container to a second pressurized container.