Mobile Wet Proppant Screening for Clean Wellsite Slurry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional proppant processing and transportation result in contamination, increased carbon footprint, and energy consumption due to drying, necessitating a more efficient and environmentally friendly screening and delivery system at the wellsite.

Innovation Solution

A mobile wet screening system for proppants that allows on-site screening and slurry creation, utilizing a trailer-mounted vibratory screening assembly with fluid spray to separate proppants by size and debris, directly feeding the frac fluid blending system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If proppant is processed and screened at a distant proppant facility, then proppant sizing and cleaning can be performed, but transportation costs increase and contamination may occur during delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproppant sizingVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs proppant screening and sizing operations at the wellsite before the frac job, eliminating the need to transport processed proppant over long distances. The mobile screening system is positioned at the wellsite and processes proppant locally, preventing contamination that would occur during transportation from distant facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mobile wet screening system as an intermediary between the proppant source and the frac job. This intermediary system performs the screening and sizing functions at the wellsite, acting as a buffer that prevents contamination during transportation while maintaining proper proppant sizing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Weight of moving object

If proppant is dried at the proppant facility to reduce shipping weight, then transportation costs decrease, but energy consumption and carbon emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipping weightVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the physical state parameter of proppant from dry to wet form. By maintaining proppant in a wet state, the system eliminates the need for high-energy drying processes while still achieving proper sizing and cleaning. The wet screening process allows water to be used as a medium for separation without requiring subsequent evaporation or drying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If proppant is transported by wheeled vehicle from the proppant facility, then processed proppant can be delivered to the wellsite, but the process is time-consuming and contamination may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproppant deliveryVSAvoidtransportation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the screening and sizing operations from the distant proppant facility and brings them directly to the wellsite. By removing these processing steps from the remote location and implementing them at the wellsite, the system eliminates the time-consuming transportation of processed proppant while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile screening system performs all necessary proppant processing actions at the wellsite before the frac job begins. This preliminary processing eliminates the need for subsequent transportation of processed material, significantly reducing the time loss associated with conventional delivery methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Quantity of substance

If conventional drying processes are used to reduce proppant moisture content, then shipping costs are reduced, but carbon footprint increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipping costVSAvoidcarbon emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the moisture content parameter of proppant from low (dry) to high (wet) state. By maintaining proppant in a wet form, the system eliminates the need for carbon-intensive drying operations while still achieving effective sizing and cleaning. The wet screening process uses water as a separation medium without requiring energy-intensive evaporation or drying steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 contamination-free, energy-efficient proppant screening and slurry production, reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions, and facilitating flexible frac fluid preparation at the wellsite.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a trailer-mounted vibratory screening assembly with fluid spray to separate proppants by size and debris

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS20260001085A1Wellsite Wet Screening System for Proppants and Methods of Using Same

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 ATLAS SAND CO LLC

AI summary

The invention comprises a system for wet screening of oilwell proppant at the wellsite to provide a controlled and controllable amount of properly sized and screened proppant and fluid to a frac fluid blending system.