U.S. patent application number 13/606913 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-25 for method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated sand, and apparatus therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is David S. BALTHASER, Robert Sean REININGER, Scott S. STUTZMAN. Invention is credited to David S. BALTHASER, Robert Sean REININGER, Scott S. STUTZMAN.
Application Number | 20130186510 13/606913 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48796256 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130186510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STUTZMAN; Scott S. ; et
al. |
July 25, 2013 |
METHOD OF REDUCING SILICOSIS CAUSED BY INHALATION OF
SILICA-CONTAINING PROPPANT, SUCH AS SILICA SAND AND RESIN-COATED
SAND, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Abstract
A method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of
silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated
silica sand, and apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure
is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As
stated in 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b): A brief abstract of the
technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a
separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading
"Abstract of the Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to
enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of
the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for
interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements
made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims
in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims
in any manner.
Inventors: |
STUTZMAN; Scott S.;
(Indiana, PA) ; REININGER; Robert Sean;
(Nolensville, TN) ; BALTHASER; David S.; (Indiana,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STUTZMAN; Scott S.
REININGER; Robert Sean
BALTHASER; David S. |
Indiana
Nolensville
Indiana |
PA
TN
PA |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48796256 |
Appl. No.: |
13/606913 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13416256 |
Mar 9, 2012 |
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13606913 |
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61590233 |
Jan 24, 2012 |
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61601875 |
Feb 22, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/1 ;
141/67 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 15/00 20130101;
B08B 15/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/1 ;
141/67 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/16 20060101
B65B001/16 |
Claims
1. A method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of
silica-containing granular material comprising a proppant, said
method comprising the steps of: moving said silica-containing
granular material comprising particles of different sizes from a
first location to a second location; during said moving, separating
said particles of smaller sizes of said particles of different
sizes into air and forming a crystalline silica dust cloud at at
least one position between said first location and said second
location; at each said at least one position between said first
location and said second location, removing a substantial portion
of said dust from said crystalline silica dust cloud, with an
arrangement for sucking away a substantial portion of said
crystalline silica dust cloud and filtering the dust sucked away;
continuing moving said silica-containing granular material to said
second location; utilizing said silica-containing granular material
as a proppant; and said step of moving said silica-containing
granular material comprises loading said silica-containing granular
material into a storage container.
2. The method of reducing silicosis according to claim 1, wherein:
said method further comprises venting air from said storage
container during loading of said silica-containing granular
material and thereby venting smaller-sized particles of said
silica-containing granular material into air and forming
crystalline silica dust clouds; and said step of removing a
substantial portion of said dust from said crystalline silica dust
cloud comprises sucking away a substantial portion of said vented
smaller-sized particles.
3. The method of reducing silicosis according to claim 2, wherein:
said step of moving said silica-containing granular material
comprises loading said silica-containing granular material into a
blender and thereby separating smaller-sized particles of said
silica-containing granular material into air and forming
crystalline silica dust clouds; and said step of removing a
substantial portion of said dust from said crystalline silica dust
cloud comprises sucking away a substantial portion of said
smaller-sized particles in crystalline silica dust clouds adjacent
said blender.
4. The method of reducing silicosis according to claim 3, wherein:
said step of moving said silica-containing granular material
comprises: moving said silica-containing granular material from
said storage container to a first conveyor belt; moving said
silica-containing granular material from said first conveyor belt
to a second conveyor belt and thereby separating smaller-sized
particles of said silica-containing granular material into air and
forming crystalline silica dust clouds; moving said
silica-containing granular material from said second conveyor belt
to a T-belt conveyor and thereby separating smaller-sized particles
of said silica-containing granular material into air and forming
crystalline silica dust clouds; and moving said silica-containing
granular material from said T-belt conveyor to said blender; and
said step of removing a substantial portion of said dust from said
crystalline silica dust cloud comprises sucking away a substantial
portion of said smaller-sized particles in crystalline silica dust
clouds adjacent said conveyor belts.
5. The method of reducing silicosis according to claim 4, wherein
said steps of sucking away a substantial portion of said
smaller-sized particles in crystalline silica dust clouds comprise:
activating a vacuum system; drawing air through intake openings of
said vacuum system disposed adjacent the positions at which
crystalline silica dust clouds are formed; sucking air and
crystalline silica dust through air ducts; and collecting said
crystalline silica dust in a collecting device.
6. The method of reducing silicosis according to claim 5, wherein
said step of sucking air and crystalline silica dust through air
ducts comprises one of: sucking air and dust through air ducts
connected to said storage container; and sucking air and dust
through air ducts disposed within and/or formed integrally with the
body of said storage container.
7. An arrangement for reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of
silica-containing granular material comprising a proppant, said
apparatus being configured to remove a substantial portion of
crystalline silica dust from crystalline silica dust clouds formed
from the moving of silica-containing granular material comprising
particles of different sizes from a first location to a second
location, said arrangement comprising: at least one intake disposed
adjacent at least one position at which smaller-sized particles of
silica-containing granular material are separated from particles of
different sizes into air and form a crystalline silica dust cloud;
said at least one intake being configured to remove a substantial
portion of said dust from an adjacent crystalline silica dust
cloud; an apparatus being configured to generate a vacuum force to
suck in, through said at least one intake, a substantial portion of
dust from an adjacent crystalline silica dust cloud; an air duct
arrangement being configured to conduct air and crystalline silica
dust therethrough; and a collection device being configured to
collect crystalline silica dust received from said air duct
arrangement.
8. The arrangement according to claim 7, in combination with a
storage container configured to store silica-containing granular
material, wherein air ducts are disposed within and/or are formed
integrally with the body of said storage container.
9. The combination according to claim 8, wherein: said storage
container comprises outlets covered by doors; said doors being
openable to permit air to vent through said outlets and to allow
workers to monitor the fill level of silica-containing granular
material in said storage container upon filling of said storage
container with silica-containing granular material; said at least
one intake comprises a plurality of intakes, wherein one of said
intakes is formed into a side wall of each of said outlets; said
storage container comprises a plurality of intake air ducts
disposed beneath the roof of said storage container, wherein each
of said intake air ducts is connected to a corresponding intake;
and said storage container comprises a main air duct arrangement
connected to said intake air ducts, which main air duct arrangement
comprises one of: a longitudinal air duct disposed adjacent a
central portion of said storage container and to run along the
length of said storage container; and two longitudinal air ducts
disposed along the sides of said storage container and to run along
the length of said storage container.
10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein: each of said
storage container intakes comprises a valve configured to open and
close said storage container intakes; said intake air ducts are
disposed transverse to the length of said storage container; said
storage container comprises an exhaust duct disposed at an end of
said storage container and configured to conduct dust and air
received from said main air duct arrangement of said storage
container; and said exhaust duct comprises a small air intake and a
large air intake configured to be connected to a vacuum arrangement
configured to collect dust produced by the transport of
silica-containing granular material on a T-belt conveyor disposed
transverse to the length of the storage container.
11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein: said storage
container comprises a conveyor belt intake and a lower connecting
duct configured to connect said conveyor belt intake to said
exhaust duct; said conveyor belt intake is disposed adjacent a
transition between a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt
configured to convey silica-containing granular material from said
storage container to a T-belt conveyor; said conveyor belt intake
is configured to collect dust produced by the transport of
silica-containing granular material from a first conveyor belt to a
second conveyor belt; and said exhaust duct is configured to be
connected to an exhaust duct of at least one other storage
container to form a single exhaust.
12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein: said plurality
of storage container intakes are disposed in two groups; said main
air duct arrangement comprises said longitudinal air duct, which is
disposed between said two groups of intakes; and said storage
container comprises an upper connecting duct configured to connect
said longitudinal air duct to said exhaust duct.
13. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein: said collection
device comprises a manifold having at least one air intake opening;
said air duct arrangement comprises: a plurality of tubes
configured to operatively connect said collection device to said at
least one intake; at least one manifold arrangement configured to
be connected by said tubes to a storage container to receive dust
collected from a storage container; connector arrangements
connected to said manifold arrangements; table arrangements
configured to support said connector arrangements adjacent a
storage container; a ninety-degree step manifold arrangement
configured to permit the making of turns with said tubes and a
right or left hand orientation; a dual-riser manifold arrangement
and dual riser arrangements; said dual-riser manifold comprises
round tubing and rectangular mating flanges attached to said round
tubing to permit the mating of said round tubing to said dual riser
arrangements; and said dual riser arrangements are configured to
take the vacuum from the vacuum source and elevate the air or
vacuum to a desired height; and said air duct arrangement is
configured to conduct air and dust into said manifold arrangements,
then into said connector arrangements then into said ninety-degree
step manifold arrangement, then into said dual-riser manifold
arrangement, then into said dual riser arrangements, and then into
said collection device.
14. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein: said air duct
arrangement comprises a T-belt manifold arrangement configured to
be disposed adjacent a blender at the end of a T-belt conveyor;
said T-belt manifold arrangement is configured to remove a
substantial portion of dust from a crystalline silica dust cloud
formed at at least one blender; said air duct arrangement comprises
a blender feed belt riser arrangement configured to take vacuum
from said vacuum apparatus and elevate the air to a desired
elevation; said air duct arrangement is configured to conduct air
and dust into said T-belt manifold arrangement, then into said
blender feed belt riser arrangement, and then into said collection
device; said air duct arrangement comprises at least one tube
connector configured to connect large diameter pipe with a steel,
plastic, or aluminum alignment insert, an elastic water tight sock,
and an elastic strap; said collection device comprises air filter
units; said manifold further comprises a tube and an articulated
duct; and said articulated duct is articulated at a hinge and is
movable by a hydraulic piston or arm to permit the upper portion of
said articulated duct to be retracted downwardly for storage during
the movement of said collection device, and to be extended upwardly
to be connected to said air duct arrangement.
15. The arrangement according to claim 14, in combination with a
storage container configured to store silica-containing granular
material, wherein air ducts are disposed within and/or are formed
integrally with the body of said storage container.
16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein: said storage
container comprises outlets covered by doors; said doors being
openable to permit air to vent through said outlets and to allow
workers to monitor the fill level of silica-containing granular
material in said storage container upon filling of said storage
container with silica-containing granular material; said at least
one intake comprises a plurality of intakes, wherein one of said
intakes is formed into a side wall of each of said outlets; said
storage container comprises a plurality of intake air ducts
disposed beneath the roof of said storage container, wherein each
of said intake air ducts is connected to a corresponding intake;
and said storage container comprises a main air duct arrangement
connected to said intake air ducts, which main air duct arrangement
comprises one of: a longitudinal air duct disposed adjacent a
central portion of said storage container and to run along the
length of said storage container; and two longitudinal air ducts
disposed along the sides of said storage container and to run along
the length of said storage container. each of said storage
container intakes comprises a valve configured to open and close
said storage container intakes; said intake air ducts are disposed
transverse to the length of said storage container; said storage
container comprises an exhaust duct disposed at an end of said
storage container and configured to conduct dust and air received
from said main air duct arrangement of said storage container; said
exhaust duct comprises a small air intake and a large air intake
configured to be connected to a vacuum arrangement configured to
collect dust produced by the transport of silica-containing
granular material on a T-belt conveyor disposed transverse to the
length of the storage container; said storage container comprises a
conveyor belt intake and a lower connecting duct configured to
connect said conveyor belt intake to said exhaust duct; said
conveyor belt intake is disposed adjacent a transition between a
first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt configured to convey
silica-containing granular material from said storage container to
a T-belt conveyor; said conveyor belt intake is configured to
collect dust produced by the transport of silica-containing
granular material from a first conveyor belt to a second conveyor
belt; and said exhaust duct is configured to be connected to an
exhaust duct of at least one other storage container to form a
single exhaust.
17. The combination according to claim 16, wherein: said plurality
of storage container intakes are disposed in two groups; said main
air duct arrangement comprises said longitudinal air duct, which is
disposed between said two groups of intakes; and said storage
container comprises an upper connecting duct configured to connect
said longitudinal air duct to said exhaust duct.
18. A method of handling pneumoconiosis-causing proppant, which
proppant comprises sand, ceramic, or other particulates, said
method comprising the steps of: selecting a proppant material
having a grain size of between 12 to 140 mesh and having a
sphericity, crush resistance, and solubility sufficient for use as
a proppant; blowing said proppant into a storage container; during
blowing, disturbing said proppant and forcing proppant dust into
the air, and thereby generating at least one proppant dust cloud;
removing a substantial portion of said proppant dust from said at
least one proppant dust cloud, with an arrangement for sucking away
a substantial portion of said at least one proppant dust cloud, and
filtering the proppant dust sucked away; moving said proppant from
said storage container to a blender; during moving, disturbing said
proppant and forcing proppant dust into the air, and thereby
generating a proppant dust cloud at at least one position between
said storage container and said blender; at each said at least one
position between said storage container and said blender, removing
a substantial portion of said proppant dust from said proppant dust
cloud, with said arrangement for sucking away a substantial portion
of said proppant dust cloud, and filtering the proppant dust sucked
away; continuing moving said proppant to said blender; and blending
said proppant with fluid materials to form a mixture comprising
about 95-99% water and about 1-5% proppant and other chemicals,
which chemicals comprise at least one of: hydrochloric acid,
methanol propargyl, polyacrylamide, glutaraldehyde, ethanol,
ethylene glycol, alcohol, and sodium hydroxide.
19. The method of handling pneumoconiosis-causing proppant
according to claim 18, wherein: said step of disturbing said
proppant and forcing proppant dust into the air comprises venting
air and proppant dust through outlets in said storage container;
and said step of removing a substantial portion of said proppant
dust from said at least one proppant dust cloud comprises sucking
air and proppant dust through a plurality of intakes, wherein one
of said intakes is formed into a side wall of each of said
outlets.
20. The method of handling pneumoconiosis-causing proppant
according to claim 19, wherein said step of removing a substantial
portion of said proppant dust from said at least one proppant dust
cloud comprises conducting air and proppant dust from said
plurality of intakes through a plurality of intake air ducts
disposed beneath a roof of said storage container, wherein each of
said intake air ducts is connected to a corresponding intake, and
then out through an exhaust arrangement.
Description
CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/416,256, filed on Mar. 9, 2012,
which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
61/451,435, filed Mar. 10, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application 61/590,233, filed Jan. 24, 2012, and U.S. Provisional
Patent Application 61/601,875, filed Feb. 22, 2012.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present application relates to a method of reducing
silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such
as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus
therefor.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Hydraulic fracturing is the propagation of fractures in a
rock layer, which process is used by oil and gas companies in order
to release petroleum, natural gas, coal seam gas, or other
substances for extraction. The hydraulic fracturing technique is
known in the oil and gas industry as "fracking" or "hydrofracking."
In hydraulic fracturing, a proppant is used to keep the fractures
open, which proppant is often a silica-containing material, such as
silica sand and resin-coated silica sand. Many tons of proppant are
used at a fracking site, thereby exposing workers to inhalation of
silica dust, which can lead to a lung disease known as silicosis,
or Potter's rot. Silicosis is a form of occupational lung disease
caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by
inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper
lobes of the lungs. It is a type of pneumoconiosis, or lung disease
caused by the inhalation of dust, usually from working in a mining
operation.
[0006] When preparing proppant for use in hydraulic fracturing,
large amounts of dust, such as silica dust and other proppant dust,
are created by the movement of proppants. This dust can produce
potential detrimental effects, such as contaminating atmospheric
air, creating a nuisance to adjacent landowners, and damaging
equipment on the hydraulic fracturing site. A significant concern,
as discussed above, is the inhalation of silica dust or other
proppant dust, which can lead to lung conditions such as silicosis
and other specific forms of pneumoconiosis.
[0007] Hydraulic fracturing jobs use a large amount of proppant,
often as much as 15,000 tons. This large quantity of proppant is
brought in by pneumatic tankers and then blown into proppant
storage trailers known as "mountain movers," "sand hogs" or "sand
kings." Some well-known storage devices of this type have been
developed by Halliburton (headquartered in Houston, Tex. and Dubai,
UAE), such as the Model FSR-2500 Mountain Mover.RTM.. This
particular model is capable of storing 2,500 cubic feet of proppant
in five individual compartments consisting of two 560 cubic feet
compartments and three 460 cubic feet compartments. The FSR-2500
has a length of 48 feet, width of 8.5 feet, height of 13.5 feet,
and a total weight of 51,400 pounds. Other storage devices of this
type are the Sand King 3000 and the Sand King 4000 developed by
Convey-All Industries, 130 Canada Street, Winkler, Manitoba, Canada
R6W 4B7. The Model FSR-2500 Mountain Mover.RTM., Sand King 3000,
and the Sand King 4000, and the technical data relating thereto,
are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their
entirety herein, except for the exceptions indicated herein. The
dimensions and weight of such storage trailers may require a permit
for transport, depending on the states, territories, or countries
in which the storage trailers are to be transported. For example,
U.S. federal rules require that gross vehicle weight be no more
than 80,000 pounds, and that the overall vehicle length be no
longer than 65 feet, or 75 feet, depending on the type of
connection between the tractor and the trailer. Such storage
trailers are generally designed such that the gross vehicle weight
and overall vehicle length during transport is less than the
federal limit. The motor vehicle codes relating to trucks and/or
trailers of the various states, provinces, and/or territories in
which such motor vehicle codes are utilized, are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein,
except for the exceptions indicated herein.
[0008] Such storage trailers generally have access doors on top
which vent the incoming air to the atmosphere. The flow of air
creates large dust clouds, such as silica dust clouds, which blow
out of the access doors, which can be especially problematic for
workers who are looking into the interior of the storage trailers
to monitor the proppant fill level. The proppant is then gravity
fed onto a conveyor belt that carries the proppant to another
conveyor, usually a T-belt which runs transverse to and collects
the proppant from multiple storage trailers. The gravity feed of
the proppant once again disturbs the proppant resulting in
additional dust clouds. The T-belt then carries the proppant to be
discharged into the hopper of one or more blenders, at which point
the proppant is again disturbed and additional dust clouds are
created.
[0009] During this entire process, workers are often standing near
or directly in the path of a cloud or airborne flow of silica dust
or proppant dust. When small silica dust particles are inhaled,
they can embed themselves deeply into the tiny alveolar sacs and
ducts in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide gases are
exchanged. The lungs cannot clear out the embedded dust by mucous
or coughing. Substantial and/or concentrated exposure to silica
dust can therefore lead to silicosis.
[0010] Some of the signs and/or symptoms of silicosis include:
dyspnea (shortness of breath), persistent and sometimes severe
cough, fatigue, tachypnea (rapid breathing), loss of appetite and
weight loss, chest pain, fever, and gradual dark shallow rifts in
nails which can eventually lead to cracks as protein fibers within
nail beds are destroyed. Some symptoms of more advanced cases of
silicosis could include cyanosis (blue skin), cor pulmonale (right
ventricle heart disease), and respiratory insufficiency.
[0011] Aside from these troublesome conditions, persons with
silicosis are particularly susceptible to a tuberculosis infection
known as silicotuberculosis. Pulmonary complications of silicosis
also include chronic bronchitis and airflow limitation (similar to
that caused by smoking), non-tuberculous Mycobacterium infection,
fungal lung infection, compensatory emphysema, and pneumothorax.
There is even some data revealing a possible association between
silicosis and certain autoimmune diseases, including nephritis,
scleroderma, and systemic lupus erythematosus. In 1996, the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed the
medical data and classified crystalline silica as "carcinogenic to
humans."
[0012] In all hydraulic fracturing jobs, a wellbore is first
drilled into rock formations. A hydraulic fracture is then formed
by pumping a fracturing fluid into the wellbore at a rate
sufficient to increase pressure downhole to exceed that of the
fracture gradient of the rock to be fractured. The rock cracks and
the fracture fluid continues farther into the rock, thereby
extending the crack or fracture. To keep this fracture open after
the fluid injection stops, the solid proppant is added to the
fluid. The fracturing fluid is about 95-99% water, with the
remaining portion made up of the proppant and chemicals, such as
hydrochloric acid, methanol propargyl, polyacrylamide,
glutaraldehyde, ethanol, ethylene glycol, alcohol and sodium
hydroxide. The propped fracture is permeable enough to allow the
flow of formation fluids to the well, which fluids may include gas,
oil, salt water, fresh water and fluids introduced during
completion of the well during fracturing. The proppant is often a
silica-containing material, such as sand, but can be made of
different materials, such as ceramic or other particulates. These
materials are selected based on the particle size and strength most
suitable to handle the pressures and stresses which may occur in
the fracture. Some types of commercial proppants are available from
Saint-Gobain Proppants, 5300 Gerber Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 72904,
USA, as well as from Santrol Proppants, 50 Sugar Creek Center
Boulevard, Sugar Land, Tex. 77478, USA.
[0013] The most commonly used proppant is silica sand or silicon
dioxide (SiO.sub.2) sand, known colloquially in the industry as
"frac sand." The frac sand is not just ordinary sand, but rather is
chosen based on certain characteristics according to standards
developed by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) or by the American Petroleum Institute (API). The current ISO
standard is ISO 13503-2:2006, entitled "Petroleum and natural gas
industries--Completion fluids and materials--Part 2: Measurement of
properties of proppants used in hydraulic fracturing and
gravel-packing operations," while the API standards are API RP-56
and API RP-19C. In general, these standards require that the
natural sands must be from high silica (quartz) sandstones or
unconsolidated deposits. Other essential requirements are that
particles are well rounded, relatively clean of other minerals and
impurities and will facilitate the production of fine, medium and
coarse grain sands. Frac sand is preferably >99% quartz or
silica, and high purity quartz sand deposits are relatively common
in the U.S. However, the tight specifications for frac
sands--especially in relation to roundness and sphericity--make
many natural sand deposits unsuitable for frac sand production. One
primary source of such high quality sand is the St. Peter sandstone
formation, which spans north-south from Minnesota to Missouri and
east-west from Illinois into Nebraska and South Dakota. Sand from
this formation is commercially known as Ottawa sand. This sand
generally is made of a very high percentage of silica, and some
samples, such as found in Missouri, consist of quartz sand that is
99.44% silica.
[0014] One characteristic used to determine suitability of a
proppant material, such as silica sand, is grain size, which can be
measured using standard length measurements or by mesh size. Mesh
size is determined by the percentage of particles that are retained
by a series of mesh sieves having certain-sized openings. In a mesh
size number, the small number is the smallest particle size while
the larger number is the largest particle size in that category.
The smaller the number, the coarser the grain. The vast majority of
grains range from 12 to 140 mesh and include standard sizes such as
12/20, 16/30, 20/40, 30/50, and 40/70, whereby 90% of the product
falls between the designated sieve sizes. Some specific examples
are 8/12, 10/20, 20/40, and 70/140. Grain size can also be measured
in millimeters or micrometers, with some examples being grain size
ranges of 2.38-1.68 mm, 2.00-0.84 mm, 0.84-0.42 mm, and 210-105
micrometers.
[0015] Another important characteristic of a proppant material,
such as silica sand, for hydraulic fracturing is the sphericity and
roundness of the grains, that is, how closely the grains conform to
a spherical shape and its relative roundness. The grains are
assessed by measuring the average radius of the corners over the
radius of a maximum inscribed circle. Krumbein and Sloss devised a
chart for the visual estimation of sphericity and roundness in
1955, as shown in FIG. 4. The API, for example, recommends
sphericity and roundness of 0.6 or larger based on this scale.
[0016] An additional characteristic of a proppant material, such as
silica sand, is crush resistance, which, as the phrase implies, is
the ability of the proppant to resist being crushed by the
substantial forces exerted on the proppant after insertion into a
fracture. The API requires that silica sand withstand compressive
stresses of 4,000 to 6,000 psi before it breaks apart or ruptures.
The tested size range is subjected to 4,000 psi for two minutes in
a uniaxial compression cylinder. In addition, API specifies that
the fines generated by the test should be limited to a maximum of
14% by weight for 20-40 mesh and 16-30 mesh sizes. Maximum fines
for the 30-50 mesh size is 10%. Other size fractions have a range
of losses from 6% for the 70-40 mesh to 20% for the 6-12 mesh size.
According to the anti-crushing strength measured in megapascals
(MPa), types of frac sand can possibly be divided, for example,
into 52 Mpa, 69 Mpa, 86 Mpa and 103 Mpa three series.
[0017] Yet another characteristic of a proppant material, such as
silica sand, is solubility. The solubility test measures the loss
in weight of a 5 g sample that has been added to a 100 ml solution
that is 12 parts hydrochloric acid (HCl) and three parts
hydrofluoric acid (HF), and heated at 150.degree. F. (approx.
65.5.degree. C.) in a water bath for 30 minutes. The test is
designed to determine the amount of non-quartz minerals present.
However, a high silica sandstone or sand deposit and its subsequent
processing generally removes most soluble materials (e.g.
carbonates, iron coatings, feldspar and mineral cements). The API
requires (in weight percent) losses of <2% for the 6-12 mesh
size through to the 30-50 mesh size and 3% for the 40-70 mesh
through to 70-140 mesh sizes.
OBJECT OR OBJECTS
[0018] An object of the present application is to prepare proppant,
such as silica sand, resin-coated silica sand, and ceramic proppant
materials, for use in hydraulic fracturing while minimizing dust
production in order to reduce exposure of workers to silica dust
and proppant dust, and thereby minimize the chances of the workers
developing silicosis or other types of pneumoconiosis.
SUMMARY
[0019] As discussed above, in a hydraulic fracturing operation,
large quantities (as much as 15,000 tons or more) of proppant, such
as silica sand, resin-coated silica sand, and ceramic proppant
materials, are used. One of the drawbacks of using proppant
materials, especially silica sand, is that dust clouds, such as
silica dust clouds, are formed during the handling of the proppant
material. The dust clouds can be controlled by using a control
arrangement. According to one possible embodiment of the
application, the control arrangement is separate from but
connectable to the proppant storage device. According to another
possible embodiment of the application, at least a portion of the
control arrangement is integrated into the body of the proppant
storage device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a microscopic view of silica dust
particles;
[0021] FIG. 2 shows proppant grains;
[0022] FIG. 3 shows proppant grains;
[0023] FIG. 4 shows the Krumbein and Sloss chart;
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a human lung affected by silicosis;
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional end view of a portion of the
body of a proppant storage device according to at least one
embodiment of the application;
[0026] FIG. 7 shows a top view of a portion of the body of the
proppant storage device according to FIG. 6;
[0027] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the body
of a proppant storage device according to at least one embodiment
of the application;
[0028] FIG. 9 shows a top view of a portion of the body of the
proppant storage device according to FIG. 8;
[0029] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional end view of a portion of the
body of the proppant storage device according to FIG. 6 with
additional features;
[0030] FIG. 11 shows a top view of a portion of the body of the
proppant storage device according to FIG. 10;
[0031] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the
proppant storage device according to FIG. 10;
[0032] FIG. 13 shows another cross-sectional view of the portion of
the proppant storage device according to FIG. 12;
[0033] FIG. 14 shows a side view of the body of a proppant storage
device according to at least one embodiment of the application;
[0034] FIG. 15 shows a side view of a portion of the body of the
proppant storage device according to FIG. 14 with additional
features;
[0035] FIG. 16 shows a side view of the body of the proppant
storage device according to FIG. 14 connected to additional
proppant storage devices;
[0036] FIG. 17 shows a side view of a portion of a collection
device according to at least one embodiment of the application;
[0037] FIG. 18 shows a rear view of the collection device according
to FIG. 17;
[0038] FIG. 19 shows a side view of a portion of a collection
device according to at least one embodiment of the application;
[0039] FIG. 20 shows a rear view of the collection device according
to FIG. 19;
[0040] FIG. 21 shows a top view of an installed collection system
according to at least one embodiment of the application;
[0041] FIG. 22 shows a door arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0042] FIG. 23 shows a manifold arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0043] FIG. 24 shows a connector arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0044] FIG. 25 shows a support arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0045] FIG. 26 shows a tube arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0046] FIG. 27 shows a manifold arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0047] FIG. 28 shows a manifold arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0048] FIG. 29 shows a back view of a riser arrangement of FIG.
21;
[0049] FIG. 30 shows a front view of a riser arrangement of FIG.
21;
[0050] FIG. 31 shows a belt manifold arrangement of FIG. 21;
[0051] FIG. 32 shows a front view of a riser arrangement of FIG.
21;
[0052] FIG. 33 shows a back view of a riser arrangement of FIG.
21;
[0053] FIG. 34 shows a collector unit of FIG. 21; and
[0054] FIG. 35 shows a tube connector according to at least one
embodiment of the application.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS
[0055] FIG. 1 shows a microscopic view of silica dust particles.
These silica dust particles can become lodged in the lungs of a
person who inhales the silica dust. Exposure to silica dust may
lead to silicosis, a form of pneumoconiosis. FIGS. 2 and 3 show
examples of proppant grains. FIG. 5 shows a human lung affected by
silicosis. As can be easily seen, the lung is darkened and damaged
by the presence of the silica dust particles.
[0056] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional end view of a portion of the
body of a proppant storage device 1 according to at least one
embodiment of the application. While the storage device 1 is being
filled with proppant, the doors 3, which are shown in FIG. 6 as
being closed, may be opened to allow air to vent through outlets 4
and to allow workers to monitor the fill level of proppant in the
storage device 1. The exiting air and the feeding of the proppant
disturb the proppant, causing the formation of dust clouds which
exit via the outlets 4, regardless of whether the doors 3 are
closed or opened. To minimize or prevent the spread or exit of
these dust clouds, a vacuum suction system may be employed. In
operation, a vacuum dust collection machine is connected via an air
duct system to collect the dust. In FIG. 6, intake openings 5 are
formed in the sides of the outlets 4. A junction duct 15 is located
around the intake opening 5 and connects to a side air duct 7. The
flow of air through the side air duct 7 can be controlled by a
valve 13. The side air ducts 7 lead to a central air duct 9. The
central air duct 9 ultimately leads to an exhaust duct 11, which is
operatively connected to a dust collector (not shown). The flow of
air therefore proceeds as follows: air is drawn in through the
outlets 4, then through the intake openings 5, then through the
side air ducts 7, then through the central air duct 9, and finally
through the exhaust duct 11. The side air ducts 7, the central air
duct 9, and the exhaust duct 11 may be located within the frame or
body of the storage device 1.
[0057] FIG. 7 shows a top view of a portion of the body of the
storage device 1 according to FIG. 6. As can be seen in this
figure, each of the side air ducts 7 connects to the central air
duct 9, which, in the embodiment shown, extends over the length of
the storage device 1 before joining the exhaust duct 11 located at
the rear of the storage device.
[0058] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the body
of a proppant storage device 2 according to at least one embodiment
of the application. The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 differs from
that shown in FIG. 6 in that side air ducts 27 proceed outwardly,
rather than inwardly, toward outer air ducts 29, which run along
the outer edges of the storage device 2 (as shown in FIG. 9).
Valves 13 control the flow of air through the side air ducts 27.
The outer air ducts 29 connect to an exhaust duct 21, which is
similar to the exhaust duct 11. The exhaust duct 21 also has a
small air intake 17 and a large air intake 19, which can be
connected to a vacuum arrangement used to collect dust produced by
the transport of proppant on a conveyor positioned transverse to
the length of the storage device 2, which conveyor is also known as
a T-belt. FIG. 9 also shows a walkway 23 which is located on the
roof or top surface of the storage device 2.
[0059] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional end view of a portion of the
body of the proppant storage device according to FIG. 6 with
additional features, specifically valves 33, which can be used to
allow or block airflow from the intake openings 5. FIG. 11 shows a
top view of a portion of the body of the proppant storage device
according to FIG. 10, with the valves 33 shown. FIGS. 12 and 13
show cross-sectional views of a portion of the proppant storage
device according to FIG. 10, showing the valve 33.
[0060] FIG. 14 shows a side view of the body of a proppant storage
device according to at least one embodiment of the application.
This embodiment is similar to the one shown in FIG. 6, but in this
embodiment there is an upper connecting duct 39 which connects a
central duct 9 to an exhaust duct 43. The exhaust duct 43 leads to
exhaust ports 35 on the sides thereof. In addition, each of the
storage devices has located on the underside thereof a conveyor 24.
In operation, the proppant is released through openings in the
underside of the storage device and onto the conveyor 24. The
conveyor 24 transports the proppant to a second conveyer 31, which
then deposits the proppant onto another conveyor, specifically a
T-belt. The transport of the proppant on the conveyor 24 can
disturb the proppant, especially at the point of transition from
the conveyor 24 to the conveyor 31. A vacuum intake 25 is therefore
located adjacent this transition point between the two conveyors
24, 31. The intake 25 is connected via a lower rear connecting duct
41 to the exhaust duct 43, as seen in FIG. 16. Also as seen in FIG.
16, the exhaust ducts 43 of multiple storage devices can be
connected together to form a single exhaust which leads to the dust
collecting device. Flexible sleeves 37 are used to connect the
exhaust ducts 43.
[0061] FIG. 15 shows a side view of a portion of the body of the
proppant storage device according to FIG. 14 with additional
features, specifically valves 33.
[0062] FIG. 17 shows a side view of a portion of a collection
device 51 according to at least one embodiment of the application.
The dust drawn into the vacuum system from the storage devices 1, 2
and/or the conveyor belts is ultimately collected in the collection
device 51. An air intake 45 is connectable to tubes which connect
to the storage devices 1, 2, and an air intake 47 is connectable to
tubes which connect to air intakes for the T-belt. The collection
device 51 houses air filter units 49. FIG. 18 shows a rear view of
the collection device 51 according to FIG. 17. The air intake 45 is
located at the end of a manifold 55, which is connected to ports 53
which lead into the interior of the collection device 51.
[0063] FIG. 19 shows a side view of a portion of a collection
device 51 according to at least one embodiment of the application.
The collection device 51 shown in FIG. 19 differs from that shown
in FIG. 17 in that the manifold 55 is formed by a tube 75 and an
articulated duct 61. The duct 61 is articulated at a hinge 69 and
is movable by a hydraulic piston or arm 59. This movability allows
for the upper portion of the duct 61 to be retracted downwardly for
storage during the movement of the dust collector 51, and then
extended upwardly to be connected to the vacuum system upon
installation at a hydraulic fracturing site. As shown in FIG. 20, a
valve 57 can be opened or closed using a valve handle 65. The tube
75 can be connected using a flexible connecting sleeve 37 to a
connector box 71, which is supported by a connector box table 73.
In this manner the dust collector 51 can be connected to other
tubing which leads to the air intakes which draw dust from the
storage devices and the areas around the conveyor belts.
[0064] FIG. 21 shows a top view of an installed collection system
according to at least one embodiment of the application. The
collection system is connected to a series of proppant storage
trailers once they have been positioned at the well site. The
collection system has adaptable or portable doors or door
arrangements 101 (see FIG. 22) that are designed to be placed over
existing door openings in the storage trailers. The door
arrangements 101 are such that an operator can open the door and
look inside the storage trailer to determine the amount of product
in the storage trailer and the amount being taken out of the
storage trailer, while at the same time not interfere with the
operation of the collection system. Each storage trailer requires
different numbers of door arrangements 101 depending on sand
storage manufacturers. The proppant dust is removed via flex tubing
103, which can be connected to one or more door arrangements 101 as
necessary.
[0065] The dust is then carried to manifold arrangements 105 (see
FIG. 23). The manifold arrangements 105 are designed to be placed
between and suspended from the storage trailers once the storage
trailers have been placed on site. The dust is then carried to
connector arrangements 107 (FIG. 24). Each connector arrangement
107 is a flexible connector that allows for the variation in the
placement of the sand storage trailers. The number of connector
arrangements 107 used depends on the number of sand storage
trailers being used at a well site. Table arrangements 111 (FIG.
25) suspend the connector arrangements between the sand storage
trailers so they can be connected to the manifold arrangements 105
via a flexible hose connector.
[0066] The dust is then carried to an adjustable, rigid sand/air
handling tube arrangement 109 (FIG. 26). The purpose of the
adjustable air handling tube arrangement 109 is to allow for the
varying connection distances to the connector arrangements 107. The
dust is then carried to the ninety-degree step manifold arrangement
113 (FIG. 27). The ninety-degree step manifold 113 allows for the
making of turns with the air handling tubes and for the allowance
of a right or left hand orientation.
[0067] The dust is then carried to the dual-riser manifold
arrangement 115 (FIG. 28). The dual-riser manifold 115 is a tubing
that has rectangular mating flanges that are attached to the tubing
for the purpose of mating the round tubing to the two riser
arrangements 117 (FIGS. 29 and 30). The dust is then carried to the
dual riser arrangements 117, which are designed to take the vacuum
from the vacuum source and elevate the air or vacuum to the desired
height. The dual riser arrangements 117 also have open/close doors
built into them with locking devices for control of airflow. The
dust is then finally collected in a dust collector unit 125 (FIG.
34).
[0068] Another part of the collecting arrangement is collecting
dust at the discharge slides of the sand blender T-belt. This is
done by the T-belt manifold arrangement 119 (FIG. 31). The T-belt
manifold arrangement 119 pulls the dust at the discharge openings
of the T-belt and can be used in a right or left hand orientation.
This manifold arrangement 119 is designed to be used on one of two
blending units by the manipulation of built-in open/close door
assemblies 120.1 located in each of tubes 120. The dust is then
taken from the T-belt manifold arrangement 119 by tubing to the
blender feed belt riser arrangement 123 (FIGS. 32 and 33), which
takes vacuum from the source and elevates the air to the desired
elevation. This arrangement is designed to be used in either a left
or right hand configuration. The blender feed belt riser
arrangement 123 has an open/close door built into it. The dust from
the blender area is also finally collected in the collector unit
125.
[0069] FIG. 35 shows a tube connector 127 according to at least one
embodiment of the application. The tube connector 127 is used for
connecting large diameter pipe in vacuum applications. The pipes
are connected with a steel, plastic, or aluminum alignment insert
110. The connection is then sealed with an elastic water tight sock
108, and finally pulled together with an elastic strap 128.
[0070] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/416,256, filed on Mar.
9, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/451,435, filed Mar.
10, 2011, U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/590,233, filed
Jan. 24, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/601,875,
filed Feb. 22, 2012, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set
forth in their entirety herein.
[0071] One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the
time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside
broadly in a method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of
silica-containing granular material comprising a proppant, said
method comprising the steps of: moving said silica-containing
granular material comprising particles of different sizes from a
first location to a second location; during said moving, separating
said particles of smaller sizes of said particles of different
sizes into air and forming a crystalline silica dust cloud at at
least one position between said first location and said second
location; at each said at least one position between said first
location and said second location, removing a substantial portion
of said dust from said crystalline silica dust cloud, with an
arrangement for sucking away a substantial portion of said
crystalline silica dust cloud and filtering the dust sucked away;
continuing moving said silica-containing granular material to said
second location; utilizing said silica-containing granular material
as a proppant; and said step of moving said silica-containing
granular material comprises loading said silica-containing granular
material into a storage container.
[0072] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method of reducing silicosis wherein: said
method further comprises venting air from said storage container
during loading of said silica-containing granular material and
thereby venting smaller-sized particles of said silica-containing
granular material into air and forming crystalline silica dust
clouds; and said step of removing a substantial portion of said
dust from said crystalline silica dust cloud comprises sucking away
a substantial portion of said vented smaller-sized particles.
[0073] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method of reducing silicosis wherein: said
step of moving said silica-containing granular material comprises
loading said silica-containing granular material into a blender and
thereby separating smaller-sized particles of said
silica-containing granular material into air and forming
crystalline silica dust clouds; and said step of removing a
substantial portion of said dust from said crystalline silica dust
cloud comprises sucking away a substantial portion of said
smaller-sized particles in crystalline silica dust clouds adjacent
said blender.
[0074] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method of reducing silicosis wherein: said
step of moving said silica-containing granular material comprises:
moving said silica-containing granular material from said storage
container to a first conveyor belt; moving said silica-containing
granular material from said first conveyor belt to a second
conveyor belt and thereby separating smaller-sized particles of
said silica-containing granular material into air and forming
crystalline silica dust clouds; moving said silica-containing
granular material from said second conveyor belt to a T-belt
conveyor and thereby separating smaller-sized particles of said
silica-containing granular material into air and forming
crystalline silica dust clouds; and moving said silica-containing
granular material from said T-belt conveyor to said blender; and
said step of removing a substantial portion of said dust from said
crystalline silica dust cloud comprises sucking away a substantial
portion of said smaller-sized particles in crystalline silica dust
clouds adjacent said conveyor belts.
[0075] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method of reducing silicosis wherein said
steps of sucking away a substantial portion of said smaller-sized
particles in crystalline silica dust clouds comprise: activating a
vacuum system; drawing air through intake openings of said vacuum
system disposed adjacent the positions at which crystalline silica
dust clouds are formed; sucking air and crystalline silica dust
through air ducts; and collecting said crystalline silica dust in a
collecting device.
[0076] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method of reducing silicosis wherein said
step of sucking air and crystalline silica dust through air ducts
comprises one of: sucking air and dust through air ducts connected
to said storage container; and sucking air and dust through air
ducts disposed within and/or formed integrally with the body of
said storage container.
[0077] One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the
time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside
broadly in an arrangement for reducing silicosis caused by
inhalation of silica-containing granular material comprising a
proppant, said apparatus being configured to remove a substantial
portion of crystalline silica dust from crystalline silica dust
clouds formed from the moving of silica-containing granular
material comprising particles of different sizes from a first
location to a second location, said arrangement comprising: at
least one intake disposed adjacent at least one position at which
smaller-sized particles of silica-containing granular material are
separated from particles of different sizes into air and form a
crystalline silica dust cloud; said at least one intake being
configured to remove a substantial portion of said dust from an
adjacent crystalline silica dust cloud; an apparatus being
configured to generate a vacuum force to suck in, through said at
least one intake, a substantial portion of dust from an adjacent
crystalline silica dust cloud; an air duct arrangement being
configured to conduct air and crystalline silica dust therethrough;
and a collection device being configured to collect crystalline
silica dust received from said air duct arrangement.
[0078] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the arrangement in combination with a storage
container configured to store silica-containing granular material,
wherein air ducts are disposed within and/or are formed integrally
with the body of said storage container.
[0079] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the combination, wherein: said storage container
comprises outlets covered by doors; said doors being openable to
permit air to vent through said outlets and to allow workers to
monitor the fill level of silica-containing granular material in
said storage container upon filling of said storage container with
silica-containing granular material; said at least one intake
comprises a plurality of intakes, wherein one of said intakes is
formed into a side wall of each of said outlets; said storage
container comprises a plurality of intake air ducts disposed
beneath the roof of said storage container, wherein each of said
intake air ducts is connected to a corresponding intake; and said
storage container comprises a main air duct arrangement connected
to said intake air ducts, which main air duct arrangement comprises
one of: a longitudinal air duct disposed adjacent a central portion
of said storage container and to run along the length of said
storage container; and two longitudinal air ducts disposed along
the sides of said storage container and to run along the length of
said storage container.
[0080] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the combination, wherein: each of said storage
container intakes comprises a valve configured to open and close
said storage container intakes; said intake air ducts are disposed
transverse to the length of said storage container; said storage
container comprises an exhaust duct disposed at an end of said
storage container and configured to conduct dust and air received
from said main air duct arrangement of said storage container; and
said exhaust duct comprises a small air intake and a large air
intake configured to be connected to a vacuum arrangement
configured to collect dust produced by the transport of
silica-containing granular material on a T-belt conveyor disposed
transverse to the length of the storage container.
[0081] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the combination, wherein: said storage container
comprises a conveyor belt intake and a lower connecting duct
configured to connect said conveyor belt intake to said exhaust
duct; said conveyor belt intake is disposed adjacent a transition
between a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt configured
to convey silica-containing granular material from said storage
container to a T-belt conveyor; said conveyor belt intake is
configured to collect dust produced by the transport of
silica-containing granular material from a first conveyor belt to a
second conveyor belt; and said exhaust duct is configured to be
connected to an exhaust duct of at least one other storage
container to form a single exhaust.
[0082] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the combination, wherein: said plurality of
storage container intakes are disposed in two groups; said main air
duct arrangement comprises said longitudinal air duct, which is
disposed between said two groups of intakes; and said storage
container comprises an upper connecting duct configured to connect
said longitudinal air duct to said exhaust duct.
[0083] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the arrangement, wherein: said collection device
comprises a manifold having at least one air intake opening; said
air duct arrangement comprises: a plurality of tubes configured to
operatively connect said collection device to said at least one
intake; at least one manifold arrangement configured to be
connected by said tubes to a storage container to receive dust
collected from a storage container; connector arrangements
connected to said manifold arrangements; table arrangements
configured to support said connector arrangements adjacent a
storage container; a ninety-degree step manifold arrangement
configured to permit the making of turns with said tubes and a
right or left hand orientation; a dual-riser manifold arrangement
and dual riser arrangements; said dual-riser manifold comprises
round tubing and rectangular mating flanges attached to said round
tubing to permit the mating of said round tubing to said dual riser
arrangements; and said dual riser arrangements are configured to
take the vacuum from the vacuum source and elevate the air or
vacuum to a desired height; and said air duct arrangement is
configured to conduct air and dust into said manifold arrangements,
then into said connector arrangements then into said ninety-degree
step manifold arrangement, then into said dual-riser manifold
arrangement, then into said dual riser arrangements, and then into
said collection device.
[0084] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the arrangement, wherein: said air duct
arrangement comprises a T-belt manifold arrangement configured to
be disposed adjacent a blender at the end of a T-belt conveyor;
said T-belt manifold arrangement is configured to remove a
substantial portion of dust from a crystalline silica dust cloud
formed at at least one blender; said air duct arrangement comprises
a blender feed belt riser arrangement configured to take vacuum
from said vacuum apparatus and elevate the air to a desired
elevation; said air duct arrangement is configured to conduct air
and dust into said T-belt manifold arrangement, then into said
blender feed belt riser arrangement, and then into said collection
device; said air duct arrangement comprises at least one tube
connector configured to connect large diameter pipe with a steel,
plastic, or aluminum alignment insert, an elastic water tight sock,
and an elastic strap; said collection device comprises air filter
units; said manifold further comprises a tube and an articulated
duct; and said articulated duct is articulated at a hinge and is
movable by a hydraulic piston or arm to permit the upper portion of
said articulated duct to be retracted downwardly for storage during
the movement of said collection device, and to be extended upwardly
to be connected to said air duct arrangement.
[0085] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the arrangement in combination with a storage
container configured to store silica-containing granular material,
wherein air ducts are disposed within and/or are formed integrally
with the body of said storage container.
[0086] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the combination, wherein: said storage container
comprises outlets covered by doors; said doors being openable to
permit air to vent through said outlets and to allow workers to
monitor the fill level of silica-containing granular material in
said storage container upon filling of said storage container with
silica-containing granular material; said at least one intake
comprises a plurality of intakes, wherein one of said intakes is
formed into a side wall of each of said outlets; said storage
container comprises a plurality of intake air ducts disposed
beneath the roof of said storage container, wherein each of said
intake air ducts is connected to a corresponding intake; and said
storage container comprises a main air duct arrangement connected
to said intake air ducts, which main air duct arrangement comprises
one of: a longitudinal air duct disposed adjacent a central portion
of said storage container and to run along the length of said
storage container; and two longitudinal air ducts disposed along
the sides of said storage container and to run along the length of
said storage container. each of said storage container intakes
comprises a valve configured to open and close said storage
container intakes; said intake air ducts are disposed transverse to
the length of said storage container; said storage container
comprises an exhaust duct disposed at an end of said storage
container and configured to conduct dust and air received from said
main air duct arrangement of said storage container; said exhaust
duct comprises a small air intake and a large air intake configured
to be connected to a vacuum arrangement configured to collect dust
produced by the transport of silica-containing granular material on
a T-belt conveyor disposed transverse to the length of the storage
container; said storage container comprises a conveyor belt intake
and a lower connecting duct configured to connect said conveyor
belt intake to said exhaust duct; said conveyor belt intake is
disposed adjacent a transition between a first conveyor belt and a
second conveyor belt configured to convey silica-containing
granular material from said storage container to a T-belt conveyor;
said conveyor belt intake is configured to collect dust produced by
the transport of silica-containing granular material from a first
conveyor belt to a second conveyor belt; and said exhaust duct is
configured to be connected to an exhaust duct of at least one other
storage container to form a single exhaust.
[0087] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the combination, wherein: said plurality of
storage container intakes are disposed in two groups; said main air
duct arrangement comprises said longitudinal air duct, which is
disposed between said two groups of intakes; and said storage
container comprises an upper connecting duct configured to connect
said longitudinal air duct to said exhaust duct.
[0088] One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the
time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside
broadly in a method of handling pneumoconiosis-causing proppant,
which proppant comprises sand, ceramic, or other particulates, said
method comprising the steps of: selecting a proppant material
having a grain size of between 12 to 140 mesh and having a
sphericity, crush resistance, and solubility sufficient for use as
a proppant; blowing said proppant into a storage container; during
blowing, disturbing said proppant and forcing proppant dust into
the air, and thereby generating at least one proppant dust cloud;
removing a substantial portion of said proppant dust from said at
least one proppant dust cloud, with an arrangement for sucking away
a substantial portion of said at least one proppant dust cloud, and
filtering the proppant dust sucked away; moving said proppant from
said storage container to a blender; during moving, disturbing said
proppant and forcing proppant dust into the air, and thereby
generating a proppant dust cloud at at least one position between
said storage container and said blender; at each said at least one
position between said storage container and said blender, removing
a substantial portion of said proppant dust from said proppant dust
cloud, with said arrangement for sucking away a substantial portion
of said proppant dust cloud, and filtering the proppant dust sucked
away; continuing moving said proppant to said blender; and blending
said proppant with fluid materials to form a mixture comprising
about 95-99% water and about 1-5% proppant and other chemicals,
which chemicals comprise at least one of: hydrochloric acid,
methanol propargyl, polyacrylamide, glutaraldehyde, ethanol,
ethylene glycol, alcohol, and sodium hydroxide.
[0089] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a method, wherein: said step of disturbing said
proppant and forcing proppant dust into the air comprises venting
air and proppant dust through outlets in said storage container;
and said step of removing a substantial portion of said proppant
dust from said at least one proppant dust cloud comprises sucking
air and proppant dust through a plurality of intakes, wherein one
of said intakes is formed into a side wall of each of said
outlets.
[0090] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a method, wherein: said step of removing a
substantial portion of said proppant dust from said at least one
proppant dust cloud comprises conducting air and proppant dust from
said plurality of intakes through a plurality of intake air ducts
disposed beneath a roof of said storage container, wherein each of
said intake air ducts is connected to a corresponding intake, and
then out through an exhaust arrangement.
[0091] The components disclosed in the patents, patent
applications, patent publications, and other documents disclosed or
incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possible
embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents
thereof.
[0092] The purpose of the statements about the technical field is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the technical field is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the technical field of this patent application.
However, the description of the technical field may not be
completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this
patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to
the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any
manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any
manner.
[0093] The appended drawings in their entirety, including all
dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of
the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference
into this specification.
[0094] The background information is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background
information for this patent application. However, the background
information may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the background information are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0095] All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of
the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or
all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described
herein.
[0096] The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the object or objects is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the object or objects of this patent
application. However, the description of the object or objects may
not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in
this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this
patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing
from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made
relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the
claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the
claims in any manner.
[0097] All of the patents, patent applications, patent
publications, and other documents cited herein, and in the
Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by reference
as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions
indicated herein.
[0098] The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this
patent application, to adequately summarize this patent
application. However, portions or all of the information contained
in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit
the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting
the claims in any manner.
[0099] It will be understood that the examples of patents, patent
applications, patent publications, and other documents which are
included in this application and which are referred to in
paragraphs which state "Some examples of . . . which may possibly
be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present
application . . . " may possibly not be used or useable in any one
or more embodiments of the application.
[0100] The sentence immediately above relates to patents, patent
applications, patent publications, and other documents either
incorporated by reference or not incorporated by reference.
[0101] All of the references and documents cited in any of the
patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other
documents cited herein, except for the exceptions indicated herein,
are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their
entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein. All of
the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other
documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding
sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications, patent
publications, and other documents cited anywhere in the present
application.
[0102] The purpose of incorporating patents, patent applications,
patent publications, and other documents is solely to provide
additional information relating to technical features of one or
more embodiments, which information may not be completely disclosed
in the wording in the pages of this application.
[0103] Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the author
of all patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other
documents cited herein and not directly relating to the technical
details of the description of the embodiments therein are not
incorporated by reference.
[0104] The words all, always, absolutely, consistently, preferably,
guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure, necessarily,
immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually, expediently,
ideal, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect, require,
requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and unnecessary, or
words substantially equivalent to the above-mentioned words in this
sentence, when not used to describe technical features of one or
more embodiments of the patents, patent applications, patent
publications, and other documents, are not considered to be
incorporated by reference herein for any of the patents, patent
applications, patent publications, and other documents cited
herein.
[0105] The description of the embodiment or embodiments is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent
application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment
or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0106] The details in the patents, patent applications, patent
publications, and other documents cited herein may be considered to
be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claims during
prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably
distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.
[0107] The purpose of the title of this patent application is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the
general nature of this patent application. However, the title may
not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or
objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or
embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent
application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to
limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as
limiting the claims in any manner.
[0108] The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b): [0109] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure
in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the
abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and
should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0110] The embodiments of the invention described herein above in
the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as
limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided
details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments
of the invention.
* * * * *