U.S. patent application number 11/669019 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for apparatus for expandable storage and metering.
This patent application is currently assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ed B. Hagan, James A. McGough.
Application Number | 20080179324 11/669019 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39666777 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080179324 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGough; James A. ; et
al. |
July 31, 2008 |
APPARATUS FOR EXPANDABLE STORAGE AND METERING
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for expandable storage and metering are
disclosed. In some embodiments, the expandable storage and metering
device comprises a body with a storage cavity therein, a chassis
upon which the body is mounted, and at least one port in
communication with the storage cavity, wherein the body is
expandable and collapsible to change the internal volume of the
storage cavity. Some method embodiments for operating the
expandable storage and metering device comprise expanding the
device and collapsing the device, wherein said expanding and said
collapsing comprises utilizing actuators to raise/lower or
extend/retract the walls of the device. In other method embodiments
for operating the device, said expanding comprises removing the
roof of the device and positioning at least one stackable module on
top of the device and said collapsing comprises removing the at
least one stackable module and replacing the roof.
Inventors: |
McGough; James A.; (Duncan,
OK) ; Hagan; Ed B.; (Hastings, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN W. WUSTENBERG
P.O. BOX 1431
DUNCAN
OK
73536
US
|
Assignee: |
Halliburton Energy Services,
Inc.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
39666777 |
Appl. No.: |
11/669019 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 88/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/8 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00 |
Claims
1. An expandable well servicing storage and metering device
comprising: a body having an internal storage volume for receiving
well servicing material; a chassis upon which the body is mounted;
at least one port in communication with the internal storage
volume; and a metering device for metering material stored in the
internal storage volume and exiting the port, wherein the body is
expandable and collapsible to change the internal storage
volume.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises walls
that may be vertically raised and lowered to increase or decrease
the internal storage volume.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises walls
that may be horizontally extended and retracted to increase or
decrease the internal storage volume.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a
floor that may be horizontally extended and retracted to increase
or decrease the internal storage volume.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises walls
that may be both vertically raised and lowered and horizontally
extended and retracted to increase or decrease the internal
storage.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one landing
leg connected to the body and/or the chassis, wherein the landing
leg is extendable to support the device when the body is expanded
and retractable when the body is collapsed.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises at
least one actuator, wherein the actuator expands or collapses a
structural member of the body to change the internal storage
volume.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the actuator is hydraulic,
pneumatic, mechanical, electrical, or a combination thereof.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the internal storage volume is
divided into two or more separate volumes.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein different well servicing
materials are stored in the separate volumes.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a
roof.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the roof is removable.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises one
or more stackable modules.
14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a primary conveyor
connected to the body and/or chassis and suspended below the at
least one port for receiving well servicing material metered
through the port.
15. The device of claim 14, further comprising an elevating
conveyor connected to one end of the primary conveyor.
16. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors
associated with the device to sense the amount of material
contained within the internal storage volume.
17. The device of claim 14, further comprising one or more sensors
associated with the device to sense the amount of material metered
through the port.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device in a retracted
configuration meets standard size restrictions for over-road
transport without need for special permitting or an escort
vehicle.
19. The device of claim 1 wherein the well servicing material
comprises a proppant.
20. The device of claim 1 wherein the chassis is supported on an
off-shore vessel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The subject matter of the present application is related to
U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ [Docket No.
2006-IP-021747U2 (1391-70001)] filed concurrently herewith and
entitled "Methods for Expandable Storage and Metering," which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates generally to apparatus and
methods for expandable storage and metering. More particularly, the
present invention relates to various embodiments of an expandable
storage and metering device that is transported in an empty,
collapsed state to a site where it is expanded to increase its
internal storage volume. Still more particularly, the present
invention relates to apparatus and method of storing and metering
materials for well services such as fracturing, cementing, and
drilling operations.
BACKGROUND
[0005] Hydraulic fracturing is a means of stimulating flow from a
subterranean formation into a drilled wellbore. After a well is
drilled into reservoir rock containing oil, natural gas, or water,
a fracturing fluid is injected at high pressure down the wellbore
and against the formation, causing it to crack and the cracks to
propagate. The fracturing fluid contains a propping agent, usually
sand, which prevents the cracks or fractures from closing when
pumping of the fracturing fluid into the wellbore is discontinued.
The cracks, propped open by the propping agent, provide a path for
recoverable fluid, such as oil, natural gas, or water, from the
formation into the wellbore, thereby increasing the rate of well
production.
[0006] Typically hydraulic fracturing fluids are prepared at the
surface before being pumped into the wellbore and comprise a
thickened or gelled aqueous solution formed by metering and
combining large volumes of fluids in a large mixing apparatus and
then blending them with a proppant. One common method of preparing
a fracturing fluid involves combining a fracture fluid and liquid
additives in a mixing device and then blending into that mixture a
proppant (e.g., dry sand) transferred from a storage device, such
as a truck, by a conveyor belt. The mixing device discharges the
mixture of proppant, fracture fluid, and liquid additives to one or
more pumps that transfer this fracturing fluid down the
wellbore.
[0007] Although effective, this method of producing a fracturing
fluid can be very resource intensive, and therefore costly. At the
well site, the proppant, fracture fluid, and liquid additives
require their own storage and metering devices. Depending on the
size of the fracturing job, multiple storage and metering devices
for each component may be necessary. For example, multiple
truckloads of sand, a typical proppant, may be required.
Additionally, all such devices must be transported to the well
site, which may be at a remote location or even offshore.
Equipment, transportation, and labor costs alone suggest utilizing
the largest storage and metering devices possible. However, legal
road height and width restrictions impose limitations on the size
of those devices and costly permits and/or escort vehicles for
devices exceeding those restrictions may be financially
prohibitive. Moreover, the well site footprint may be too small to
permit maneuverability of large devices.
[0008] Thus, there is a need for an expandable storage and metering
device which is transportable in a collapsed condition, thereby
meeting standard size restrictions, but expandable to increase its
internal storage volume at a well site so that fewer devices are
needed for a given wellbore servicing job and associated equipment,
transportation, and labor costs are reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Apparatus and methods for expandable storage and metering
are disclosed. In some embodiments, the expandable storage and
metering device comprises a body with a storage cavity therein, a
chassis upon which the body is mounted, and a plurality of ports in
communication with the storage cavity, wherein the body is
expandable and collapsible to change the internal volume of the
storage cavity.
[0010] Some method embodiments for operating the expandable storage
and metering device comprise expanding the device, wherein said
expanding comprises actuating one or more hydraulic struts to raise
the roof of the device and raising the walls of the device by means
of their attachment to the roof, and collapsing the device, wherein
said collapsing comprises actuating the one or more hydraulic
struts to retract the roof and lowering the walls by means of their
attachment to the roof.
[0011] Other method embodiments for operating the expandable
storage and metering device comprise expanding the device, wherein
said expanding comprises disconnecting the roof of the device,
removing the roof, positioning at least one stackable module on top
of the device, and securing the at least one stackable module to
the device, and collapsing the device, wherein said collapsing
comprises disconnecting the at least one stackable module from the
device, removing the at least one stackable module from the device,
replacing the roof, and securing the roof to the device.
[0012] Some method embodiments for operating an expandable storage
and metering device in wellbore servicing comprise positioning an
expandable storage and metering device at a well site, expanding
the device, storing one or more materials in the device, and
metering the one or materials from the device, wherein said
metering is performed at a rate that can be changed during wellbore
service.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a more detailed description of the present invention,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective side view of one representative
expandable storage and metering device, referred to herein as the
"pop-up" concept, in an expanded configuration;
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts the "pop-up" concept illustrated by FIG. 1 in
a collapsed configuration;
[0016] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a side view and an end view,
respectively, of another representative expandable storage and
metering device referred to herein as the "stackable modular"
concept;
[0017] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict a side view and an end view,
respectively, of the "slide-out" concept;
[0018] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict a side view and an end view,
respectively, of the "combination" concept; and
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a typical well fracturing operation
wherein one representative expandable storage and metering device
is utilized.
NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE
[0020] Certain terms are used throughout the following description
and claims to refer to particular assembly components. This
document does not intend to distinguish between components that
differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in
the claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an
open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean
"including, but not limited to . . . ".
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Various embodiments of an expandable storage and metering
device transportable in a collapsed state, but operable to expand
at a job site, thereby increasing its internal storage volume, will
now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals are used for like features
throughout the several views. There are shown in the drawings, and
herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments of the
expandable storage and metering device with the understanding that
this disclosure is representative only and is not intended to limit
the invention to those embodiments illustrated and described
herein. The embodiments of the expandable storage and metering
device and methods disclosed herein may be used in any type of
application, operation, or process, on land or on water, including
well fracturing, cementing, and drilling operations, for which it
is desired to provide material at a specific rate. Such material
may include solid bulk material such as sand, cement, proppant,
clay, etc.; liquid material such as water or other liquid
additives; pumpable slurries such as cement, drilling fluids, or
fracturing fluids; or any other material for use in servicing a
wellbore that requires large volumes typically stored in a
non-pressurized or near atmospheric container. It is to be fully
recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments
disclosed herein may be employed separately or in any suitable
combination to produce desired results.
[0022] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective side view of one representative
expandable storage and metering device 100, referred to herein as
the "pop-up" concept, comprising a rectangular-shaped body 105
attached to a conventional chassis 110, landing legs 115 connected
to and extending downward from the base 120 of the rectangular body
105, a primary conveyor 125 suspended beneath the body base 120 by
vertical supports 130, an elevating conveyor 135 connected to one
end of the primary conveyor 125, and a hydraulic power pack 140
supported by a frame 145 attached to the body base 120. The chassis
110 includes support structure 153 and two pairs of wheels 150. The
rectangular-shaped body 105 further comprises a front end wall 155,
a back end wall 160, two side walls 165, 170, and a roof 175, which
is extendable and retractable by one or more actuators 180 located
along the side walls 165, 170. The actuators 180 may be hydraulic,
pneumatic, mechanical, electrical, or a combination thereof. The
rectangular body 105 may be compartmentalized by dividers 195
positioned along the length of the body 105 to create multiple bins
200, as illustrated by FIG. 1. In the absence of dividers 195, a
single bin 200 is created by the front end wall 155, back end wall
160, two side walls 165, 170, base 120, and roof 175.
[0023] The side walls 165, 170, front end wall 155, and back end
wall 160 each comprise a lower wall portion 185 attached to the
body base 120 and an upper wall portion 190 attached to the roof
175. The upper wall portion 190 retracts and extends with the roof
175 by virtue of its attachment to the roof 175. The lower wall
portion 185 and the upper wall portion 190 are connected such that
when the roof 175 is retracted, the upper wall portion 190 slides
downward relative to the lower wall portion 185, which does not
move. In some embodiments, the upper wall portion 190 slides
downward along the outer surface of the lower wall portion 185 to
be stored externally adjacent to the lower wall portion 185 during
transport of the storage and metering device 100 in a collapsed
state. In other embodiments, the upper wall portion 190 slides
downward along the inner surface of the lower wall portion 185 to
be stored internally adjacent to the lower wall portion 185 during
transport.
[0024] The dividers 195, if present, each share the same
construction as the side walls 165, 170, front end wall 155, and
back end wall 160. The dividers 195 comprise a lower divider
portion 205 attached to the body base 120 and an upper divider
portion 210 attached to the roof 175. The upper divider portion 210
retracts and extends with the roof 175 by virtue of its attachment
to the roof 175. The lower divider portion 205 and the upper
divider portion 210 are connected such that when the roof 175 is
retracted, the upper divider portion 210 slides downward relative
to the lower divider portion 205, which does not move. In some
embodiments, the upper divider portion 210 slides downward along
surface 212 of the lower divider portion 205 to be stored adjacent
to surface 212 during transport of the storage and metering device
100. In other embodiments, the upper divider portion 210 slides
downward along surface 214 of the lower divider portion 205 to be
stored adjacent to surface 214 during transport, wherein surfaces
212 and 214 are opposite sides of the lower divider portion
205.
[0025] The bins 200 are one or more sealed storage compartments for
materials, both solid and liquid, including but not limited to
proppants, such as sand and sintered bauxite, and water for well
fracturing, cementing, and drilling operations. These bins 200 are
be designed to have internal storage volumes which increase from
their minimum capacities when the roof 175 and upper wall portion
190 and the upper divider portion 210 are fully retracted to their
maximum capacities when the roof 175 and upper wall portion 190 and
the upper divider portion 210 are fully extended, where the maximum
capacity of each bin 200 may be as much as double its minimum
capacity. Dividers 195, if present, provide multiple independent
bins 200 which allow for the storage and use of multiple grades or
types of materials within the same storage and metering device 100
while preventing any cross-contamination of one grade or type of
material to another.
[0026] The lower wall portion 185, lower divider portion 205, upper
wall portion 190, and upper divider portion 210 may be constructed
or formed out of any suitable material that may be flexible,
elastic, inflexible, inelastic, or a combination thereof. To
withstand the forces resulting from the weight of materials stored
in the bins 200, the lower wall portion 185 and lower divider
portion 205 are constructed of any suitable strength material known
in the art, such as but not limited to, carbon steel, plastics,
composites, aluminum, and thermosets. In some embodiments, these
components 185, 205 may be constructed of 3/16'' thick carbon
steel. Due to the distribution of materials contained within the
bins 200, the upper wall portion 190 and upper divider portion 210
experience lower loads than the lower wall portion 185 and lower
divider portion 205 and therefore need not be constructed of
similar strength material. At the same time, it is desirable that
these components 190, 210 be as light as possible to minimize the
burden on the actuators 180 and transportation costs. Given these
considerations, the upper wall portion 190 and upper divider
portion 210 are constructed of any suitable material known in the
art, such as but not limited to plastics, composites, material
weaves such as metal weaves, fiberglass weaves, teflon-coated
fiberglass weaves, thermoset weaves, polyester weaves, and
PVC-coated polyester weaves.
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates the expandable storage and metering
device 100 with the roof 175 extended by virtue of the actuators
180, while FIG. 2 illustrates the same device 100 but with the roof
175 retracted. When the roof 175 is extended, the upper wall
portion 190 and upper divider portion 210 also extend by virtue of
their attachment to the roof 175, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this
configuration, the internal storage volume of the bins 200 is
maximized. To provide stability for the expandable storage and
metering device 100 in this condition, the landing legs 115 are
extended downward from the body base 120 to contact the ground or
other rigid surface. When the roof 175 is retracted, the upper wall
portion 190 and upper divider portion 210 typically also retract
and may be stored within the body 105 of the device 100, as
illustrated by FIG. 2. In this configuration, the internal storage
volume of the bins 200 is minimized. This is the configuration
assumed by the expandable storage and metering device 100 during
transportation. As such, additional support provided by the landing
legs 115 is not needed and the legs 115 are retracted.
[0028] The ability to transport the storage and metering device 100
in a collapsed condition, as illustrated by FIG. 2, to a job site
where the device 100 is expanded to increase its internal storage
volume, as illustrated by FIG. 1, allows the device 100 to be
maneuvered into and out of job sites it may not have been able to
ingress and egress if the device 100 were a non-collapsible
structure. Moreover, by expanding the storage capacity of the
devices 100 after positioning them at a job site, fewer devices 100
are required for a job. The ability to increase the internal
storage volume of the device 100 may also permit the device 100 to
store all materials required for the job prior to initiation of,
for example, a fracturing process or cementing operation. In the
event that more materials are required, the devices 100 have the
ability to be refilled during the course of a fracturing or
cementing job, again for example only. For instance, the expandable
well servicing storage and metering device may be configured with
one or more openings to accept the insertion or delivery of well
servicing materials for storage and metering. This opening may be
located or positioned on any portion of the structure whereby
loading or delivery of well servicing materials into the expandable
storage and metering device may be performed. Preferably, this
opening will be located on an upper portion of the expandable
storage and metering device, i.e., the roof, or upper wall portion.
The opening may be configured with a structure or component to
facilitate the separation of the external space surrounding the
storage and metering device from the internal space configured to
house the well servicing materials. This structure or component can
be fashioned in the form of a door, lid, plate, or other
configuration and fixably connected to the storage and metering
device by any commonly recognized securing mechanism or component
such as a bolt, screw, locking pin, or combinations thereof.
[0029] Materials stored within the bins 200 are released through
dispersal ports 108 located in the body base 105 and dumped onto
the primary conveyor 125 positioned directly beneath the ports 108.
The volumetric rate at which the material stored within the bins
200 is released is a function of the speed of the primary conveyor
125. Sensors 109 may be associated with the expandable storage and
metering device, such as proximate to the load path between the
support structure 153 and the landing legs 115, to monitor real
time material inventory. These sensors 109 may be configured to
provide various types of information relating to the mass of
materials stored in the bins 200. Using the sensors 109, the amount
of materials metered out as well as the rate at which the materials
are supplied to a job process can be determined and monitored. The
ability to monitor and vary the rate at which materials are
supplied to a fracturing process, for example, is advantageous
because the volumetric requirements for materials often change
during the course of a fracturing job.
[0030] The hydraulic power pack 140 provides power to operate the
primary conveyor 125 and the elevating conveyor 135. When both are
operational, the materials are transported by the primary conveyor
125 to the elevating conveyor 135 and from the elevating conveyor
135 to equipment attached or proximately located to the expandable
storage and metering device 100, for example, a gathering conveyor
in a well fracturing operation. The hydraulic power pack 140 may
also provide power to extend and retract the landing legs 115 and
the roof 175 if the actuators 180 employed are hydraulic in
nature.
[0031] In the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the
actuators 180 extend and retract the roof 175. Hence, these
embodiments of the expandable storage and metering device 100 are
referred to herein as the "pop-up" concept. Another embodiment of
the "pop-up" concept, drawing on the previous description, includes
the expandable storage and metering device's walls having the
ability to concentrically collapse so that the profile of the
unexpanded state of the device would be significantly less than
that of the expanded profile due to the walls ability to expand
from a concentrically stored position, in a manner similar to the
extension of a Chinese paper yo-yo. In other embodiments of the
expandable storage and metering device 100, the roof 175 is not
extended or retracted but rather it is removed on site using a
crane or other similar means and replaced with one or more
stackable modules 220. Although similar in many respects to the
previously described embodiments, the "stackable modular" concept
differs in the way the expandable storage and metering device 100
expands to maximize its internal storage volume and collapses to a
transportable configuration.
[0032] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate embodiments of the "stackable
modular" concept wherein the roof 175 is removed and replaced by a
single stackable module 220, comprising a roof 225 and four walls
230, using a crane or other similar means. The module 220, which
extends the full length of the expandable storage and metering
device 100, is stacked directly on top of the lower rigid walls 185
to create a single bin 200. The module 220 may be subdivided by one
or more dividers 235 secured to its roof 225 and walls 230. If
present, the dividers 235 are aligned with dividers 195, which
subdivide the volume created by the rigid lower walls 185 and base
120, to create two or more bins 200. By way of example only, five
bins 200 are depicted in FIG. 3A. Once positioned, the stackable
module 220 is secured to the lower wall portion 185 using any
suitable fasteners known in the art, such as but not limited to
screws, bolts and locking pins. Dividers 235, if present, are
similarly secured to dividers 195.
[0033] Due to the distribution of materials contained within the
bins 200, the walls 230 and dividers 235 may experience lower loads
than the lower wall portion 185 and dividers 195. Therefore, the
walls 230 and dividers 235 need not be constructed of the same or
similar strength material used in the lower wall portion 185 and
dividers 185. At the same time, it is desirable that the walls 230
and dividers 235 be as light as possible to minimize transportation
costs. Given these considerations, the walls 230, dividers 235, and
roof 220 are constructed of any suitable material known in the art,
such as but not limited to, fiberglass.
[0034] In other embodiments of the "stackable modular" concept, the
roof 175 may be removed and replaced by multiple modules 220, each
comprising a roof 225 and four walls 230, using a crane or other
similar means. The stackable modules 220 are stacked directly on
top of the lower wall portion 185 and positioned such that the
walls 230 of each module 220 are aligned with the lower wall
portion 185 and dividers 195 to create one or more bins 200. In
these embodiments, multiple bins 200 may be created to span the
full length of the expandable storage and metering device 100.
Alternatively, one or more bins 200 may be created which span less
than the full length of the device 100. For example, a single bin
200 may be created which is similar in length to the bin 237 shown
in FIG. 3A. Once positioned, the walls 230 of the one or more
stackable modules 220 are secured to the lower wall portion 185 and
dividers 195 using any suitable fasteners known in the art, such as
but not limited to screws, bolts, and locking pins.
[0035] To collapse embodiments of the "stackable modular" concept,
the walls 230 and dividers 235, if present, of the one or more
stackable modules 220 are disconnected from the lower wall portion
185 and dividers 195 of the body 105. The modules 220 are then
removed and the roof 175 replaced, again using a crane or similar
means. After the roof 175 is secured, the expandable storage and
metering device 100 is in a collapsed condition ready for
transport.
[0036] The "pop-up" and "stackable modular" concepts are
embodiments of the expandable storage and metering device 100 that
expand vertically to increase the internal storage volume of the
device 100. In other embodiments, the storage and metering device
100 may expand in a horizontal direction. FIGS. 4A and 4B
illustrate embodiments of the expandable storage and metering
device 100, referred to herein as the "slide-out" concept, wherein
in the side walls 240, front end wall 245, and back end wall 250
slide out in a horizontal direction to increase the internal
storage volume of the device 100. Actuators slide the walls 240,
245, 250 outward to expand the device 100 and retract the walls
240, 245, 250 to collapse the device 100. Due to the weight
distribution of material when the device 100 assumes its expanded
configuration, the support substructure 153 of the device 100 is
designed to provide additional stability for the device 100 in this
configuration beyond that provided the landing legs 115. Another
embodiment of the "slide-out" concept, drawing on the previous
description, includes the expandable storage and metering device's
walls having the ability to concentrically collapse so that the
profile of the unexpanded state of the device would be
significantly less than that of the expanded profile due to the
walls ability to expand from a concentrically stored position, in a
manner similar to the extension of a Chinese paper yo-yo.
[0037] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate embodiments of the expandable
storage and metering device 100 wherein the device 100 expands both
horizontally and vertically. Hence, they are referred to herein as
the "combination" concept. In some embodiments, the side walls 240,
the front end wall 245, and the back end wall 245 first slide
outward in a horizontal direction and then upward in a vertical
direction to increase the internal storage volume of the device
100. Alternatively, the walls 240, front end wall 245, and back end
wall 250 may first slide upward in a vertical direction and then
outward in a horizontal direction to increase the internal storage
volume of the device 100. Actuators slide the walls 240, 245, 250
outward and upward, or vice versa, to expand the device 100 and
retract the walls 240, 245, 250 to collapse the device 100. Due to
the weight distribution of material when the device 100 assumes its
expanded configuration, the support substructure 153 of the device
100 is designed to provide additional stability for the device 100
in this configuration beyond that provided the landing legs
115.
[0038] The embodiments of the expandable storage and metering
device 100 disclosed herein may be used in any type of application,
operation, or process, including well fracturing, cementing, and
drilling operations, for which it is desired to provide material at
a specific rate. As one illustrative example, FIG. 6 schematically
depicts a well fracturing operation 600 wherein one representative
expandable storage and metering device 100 is used to provide sand
605 at a desired rate to produce a fracture fluid 630. The device
100, which may be any one of the previously described embodiments,
is positioned at a well fracturing job site, expanded to maximize
its internal volume, and then loaded with enough sand 605 to
complete the fracturing job or to capacity if the amount of sand
605 required for the job exceeds the storage capacity of the device
100. In the latter scenario, the device 100 may be refilled one or
more times during the fracturing process until the process is
completed.
[0039] At the well site, the expandable storage and metering device
100 is attached to or positioned proximately to a gathering
conveyor 610. Sand 605, stored in bins 200 of the device 100, is
metered out at a desired rate onto the primary conveyor 125. The
sand 605 is then transported first by the primary conveyor 125 and
then by the elevating conveyor 135 to the gathering conveyor 610.
The gathering conveyor 610 transports the sand 605 to the blending
system 615. Sand 605 is dumped from the gathering conveyor 610 into
the blending system 615 where it is combined with frac fluid 620
and liquid additives 625 provided to the blending system 615 by
pumps 635 and 640, respectively. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the
frac fluid 620 and liquid additives 625, like the sand 605, may
also be stored and metered out by one or more expandable storage
and metering devices 100. The blending system 615 combines the sand
605, frac fluid 620, and liquid additives 625 to produce a fracture
fluid 630 which is then injected into a wellbore 650 by pump 645
for use in the well fracturing process.
[0040] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of
expandable storage and metering devices and their methods of use
have been presented for purposes of illustration and description
and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to
the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many other modifications and
variations of these embodiments are possible. In some embodiments,
the expandable storage and metering device may be an E-Mover
manufactured and sold by Halliburton. Also, methods of operation
may vary. For example, an expandable storage and metering device
may be used to store a single type or grade of material or multiple
such materials, each within its own independent bin. Although a
method of using an expandable storage and metering device to
provide sand to a well fracturing process was disclosed and
described herein, multiple such devices may be used to provide sand
to the process. Alternatively or additionally, multiple such
devices may store and meter out other materials or fluids needed
for the well fracturing process. Moreover, similar expandable
storage and metering devices may be used in other types of
applications, processes, and operations, including cementing and
drilling operations. These applications, processes, and operations
may be land-based or offshore.
[0041] While various embodiments of an expandable storage and
metering device and methods of utilizing those devices have been
shown and described herein, modifications may be made by one
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the
teachings of the invention. The embodiments described are
representative only, and are not intended to be limiting. Many
variations, combinations, and modifications of the applications
disclosed herein are possible and are within the scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by
the description set out above, but is defined by the claims which
follow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter
of the claims.
* * * * *