Patents Represented by Attorney Nick Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5190374
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously mixing well treatment fluids, such as fracturing gels and the like. Dry polymer is fed into a metering feeder which accurately meters the rate of polymer fed into a water spraying mixer. A vent is provided so that air can enter with the polymer as necessary. Water, with or without a buffering compound therein, is flowed through a water inlet of the mixer. The water is jetted into a spiraling flow pattern through which the polymer falls and is substantially wetted. Auxiliary water inlets may be used to add additional water to the water-polymer slurry to increase mixing energy and increase the amount of slurry produced. The slurry is discharged into a mixing tank with an agitator and then into a holding tank. The slurry may also pass through a shear device to further increase the rate of viscosification of the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Weldon M. Harms, Thomas E. Allen, Lewis R. Norman, Syed Hamid