Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.

Abstract: A method of determining a dry proppant concentration in a fracturing fluid includes combining a wet proppant with a carrier fluid in a mixer to form the fracturing fluid. The dry proppant concentration of the fracturing fluid leaving the mixer is determined using a moisture content of the wet proppant entering the mixer, wherein use of the moisture content prevents overestimation of the dry proppant concentration. The method can be preformed using a system for injecting fracturing fluid into a borehole, the fracturing fluid including a carrier fluid mixed with a wet proppant including a dry proppant dampened with a dampening liquid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a bulk material container including a body and one or more first engagement elements. The body includes a plurality of side walls, a bottom, a cavity, and an opening. The plurality of side walls are coupled to the bottom, and the cavity, which is configured to receive a bulk material, is formed within the plurality of side walls and above the bottom. The opening is formed by the plurality of side walls spatially opposite of the bottom and is configured to discharge the bulk material when the bulk material container is at least partially inverted. The one or more first engagement elements are coupled to the bottom of the body, and the one or more first engagement elements are configured to receive one or more prongs of a transportation device or a bulk material unloading device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a bulk material unloading system and method. The system includes a bulk material container containing a bulk material and an unloading device. The unloading device is configured to engage the bulk material container and at least partially invert the bulk material container. The method includes engaging a bulk material container containing a bulk material with an unloading device and emptying the bulk material container. Emptying the bulk material into the hopper includes lifting the bulk material container using the unloading device and rotating the bulk material container using the unloading device.

Abstract: An in-field powered distributed pumping system and method are provided. The system includes a pump unit disposed at a first location and a slurry pump unit disposed at a second location. The system also includes at least one grid power supply, wherein at least one of the pump unit and the slurry pump unit is powered by the at least one grid power supply. The system further includes a first flow path fluidly connected to the pump unit at the first location and configured to fluidly connect the pump unit to a well bore, and a second flow path fluidly connected to the slurry pump at the second location and configured to fluidly connect the slurry pump unit to the well bore.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for efficiently handling dry additives to be mixed with bulk material in a blender are provided. The systems may include a support structure used to direct bulk material from one or more portable containers on the support structure to a first outlet location, and a combined metering/transferring system for directing dry additives from another portable container to a second outlet location. Specifically, the metering/transferring system may output a metered flow of dry additives to the blender mixer to be combined with bulk material that is released from the portable containers. The metering/transferring system may utilize a gravity feed outlet coupled to a metered screw or other conveying device to move the dry additive from the portable container to the second outlet location.

Abstract: A method of determining a dry proppant concentration in a fracturing fluid includes combining a wet proppant with a carrier fluid in a mixer to form the fracturing fluid. The dry proppant concentration of the fracturing fluid leaving the mixer is determined using a moisture content of the wet proppant entering the mixer, wherein use of the moisture content prevents overestimation of the dry proppant concentration. The method can be preformed using a system for injecting fracturing fluid into a borehole, the fracturing fluid including a carrier fluid mixed with a wet proppant including a dry proppant dampened with a dampening liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting the beginning of a flush volume. A blended fluid is output by a fluid blending apparatus and pumped into a wellbore. The blended fluid transitions from a first composition to a second composition. A blending signal comprising time-varying data relating to characteristics of the blending apparatus or measured from sensors associated with the blending apparatus is received. Based on a first portion of the blending signal corresponding to the first composition, a calibration profile is generated. Based on the calibration profile and a second portion of the blending signal corresponding to the second composition, a transition indicator corresponding to a change in the blended fluid from the first composition to the second composition is determined. Based on the transition indicator, a flush signal indicating the beginning of a flush volume being output by the blending apparatus and pumped into the wellbore is generated.

Abstract: A transportable system has a power distribution system with a power distribution unit and a power module. The power module is configured to provide energy in the form of rotational motion to the power distribution system. The power distribution unit has one or more power converters and an input connection. The power distribution unit is coupled to the power module, and the rotational energy from the power module is transferred to the one or more power converters via the input connection.

Abstract: A method of conducting fracturing operations at multiple wellsites in a field. The method may include manufacturing a first fracturing fluid concentrate at a fluid manufacturing plant located at a sand mine of the field using sand produced from the sand mine. The method may also include pumping the first fracturing fluid concentrate from the fluid manufacturing plant to a first well and a second well of the multiple wellsites. The method may further include injecting the first fracturing fluid concentrate into a first well at the first wellsite.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for determining the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into an inlet of a blender from one or more bulk material containers placed on a support structure are disclosed. The system includes sensors placed on the support structure beneath the one or more containers for determining the amount of bulk material contained within the container at any given time. By monitoring the change in the mass of the material in the containers overtime the amount of material being fed into the blender can be determined. The material is metered into a mixer within the blender using a metering mechanism, such as a sand screw, which supplies a fixed capacity of bulk material into the blender. The ability to precisely measure the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into the blender enables operators to calibrate the sand screw continuously.

Abstract: A method of controlling a pumping sequence of a fracturing fleet at a wellsite with two wellbore comprising determining a first pumping sequence for a first wellbore and determining a second pumping sequence for a second wellbore. The pumping sequences are comprised of a plurality of pump stages that are intervals based on time or volume. The intervals of the first pumping sequence and the second pump sequences are overlapped into a combined pumping sequence. At least one interval is identified wherein the combined pumping sequence exceeds an operating limit of at least one fracturing unit and the intervals from the second pumping sequence is offset from the intervals of the first pumping sequence to create a modified combined pumping sequence, wherein the interval of the modified combined pumping sequence is below the operating limit.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a wetted proppant including a device to estimate fraction of water in a wetted proppant feed of a frac proppant processing plant; a system for determining an environmental temperature at which the wetted proppant will be exposed to in the frac proppant processing plant or in storage holding an output from the frac proppant processing plant; and an additive system to apply a freezing point suppression additive to the wetted proppant in proportion to the fraction of water such that a mixture of the wetted proppant plus the freezing point suppression additive does not solidify at the environmental temperature. A method for treating a wetted proppant is also described.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for efficiently handling dry additives to be mixed with bulk material in a blender are provided. The systems may include a support structure used to direct bulk material from one or more portable containers on the support structure to a first outlet location, and a combined metering/transferring system for directing dry additives from another portable container to a second outlet location. Specifically, the metering/transferring system may output a metered flow of dry additives to the blender mixer to be combined with bulk material that is released from the portable containers. The metering/transferring system may utilize a gravity feed outlet coupled to a metered screw or other conveying device to move the dry additive from the portable container to the second outlet location.

Abstract: A method of conducting fracturing operations at multiple wellsites in a field. The method may include manufacturing a first fracturing fluid concentrate at a fluid manufacturing plant located at a sand mine of the field using sand produced from the sand mine. The method may also include pumping the first fracturing fluid concentrate from the fluid manufacturing plant to a first well and a second well of the multiple wellsites. The method may further include injecting the first fracturing fluid concentrate into a first well at the first wellsite.

Abstract: A load sense pump can be used as a backup for a pressure-compensated pump in a wellbore operation. A pumping system can include a first pump, a second pump, a check valve, and a directional control valve. The first pump, which can be a load sense pump, can be used to provide pressure to a first hydraulic load. The second pump, which can be a pressure-compensated pump, can be used to provide pressure to a second hydraulic load. The directional control valve can be controllable to cause the first pump to change operation to provide pressure to the first hydraulic load and through the check valve to the second hydraulic load.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a transportable system. The transportable system comprises a power distribution system comprising a first power distribution unit. The transportable system further comprises a first power module. The first power module is configured to provide energy in the form of rotational motion to the power distribution system, wherein the first power distribution unit comprises one or more power converters and an input connection, wherein the first power distribution unit is coupled to the first power module, wherein the rotational energy from the first power module is transferred to the one or more power converters via the input connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering dry bulk material from a blender at a job site are provided. The systems include at least one container having in which dry bulk material can be placed and a skid-mounted vacuum unit comprising a tank having an interior space and an outlet for interfacing with the inlet of the container when the vacuum unit is positioned proximate to the container, a vacuum pump in communication with the interior space of the tank, and a conduit coupled to an inlet of the vacuum pump for interfacing with an inlet of a blender.

Abstract: An in-field powered distributed pumping system and method are provided. The system includes a pump unit disposed at a first location and a slurry pump unit disposed at a second location. The system also includes at least one grid power supply, wherein at least one of the pump unit and the slurry pump unit is powered by the at least one grid power supply. The system further includes a first flow path fluidly connected to the pump unit at the first location and configured to fluidly connect the pump unit to a well bore, and a second flow path fluidly connected to the slurry pump at the second location and configured to fluidly connect the slurry pump unit to the well bore.