Patents Assigned to GasFrac Energy Services Inc.
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Patent number: 9103190Abstract: An apparatus for the supply of inert gas at a well site, the apparatus comprising one or more pressure vessels containing liquefied inert gas, a heat exchanger, one or more units of fracturing equipment connected to a manifold, a submersible pump in each of the one or more pressure vessels, each submersible pump being connected to supply liquefied inert gas to a supply line that passes through the heat exchanger and the supply line being connected to supply inert gas vaporized by the heat exchanger to the manifold.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Timothy O'Rourke, Ronald Dant
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Patent number: 9096788Abstract: A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is disclosed, comprising a water-sensitive gel; and a hydrated breaker. A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is also disclosed, the fracturing fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates, and wherein water of the one or more hydrates is releasable so as to act with the water-sensitive carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid. A method of treating a downhole environment with a fracturing fluid is also disclosed, the method comprising: providing to the downhole environment a fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates; and allowing water from the one or more hydrates to release so as to act with the carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Shaun T. Mesher, Gabrielle L. H. Robson
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Publication number: 20150157995Abstract: A vapor hood for a proppant blending system, with a proppant entrance port to receive proppant, the proppant entrance port having a one way valve to allow the flow of proppant but prevent the backflow of vapor when the proppant is not entering the vapor hood.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Victor Fordyce, Colin Peters
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Patent number: 8871693Abstract: A gelling agent for a hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is disclosed, comprising the general formula of: in which X is an OR1, NR1R2, or SR1 group, R1 is an organic group having 2-24 carbon atoms, and R2 is an organic group or a hydrogen. Y is an NR3R4 or SR3 group, R3 is an organic group having 2-24 carbon atoms, and R4 is an organic group or a hydrogen. A method of making a gelling agent for a hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is also disclosed. Phosphorus oxyhalide is reacted with a chemical reagent to produce substantially only diester phosphorus oxyhalide, the chemical reagent comprising at least one of an organic alcohol having 2-24 carbon atoms, an organic amine with an organic group having 2-24 carbon atoms, and an organic sulfide having 2-24 carbon atoms. The diester phosphorus oxyhalide is then hydrolyzed to produce diester phosphoric acid.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Shaun T. Mesher, Chris Collett
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Publication number: 20140124208Abstract: A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2014Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: GASFRAC Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Dwight N. Loree, Shaun T. Mesher
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Patent number: 8689876Abstract: A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: GASFRAC Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Dwight N. Loree, Shaun T. Mesher
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Publication number: 20130299167Abstract: A fracturing method comprises: pumping a first stream of liquefied petroleum gas and gelling agent with a first frac pressure pump; pumping a second stream of lubricated proppant with a second frac pressure pump; combining the first stream and the second stream within a wellhead into a combined stream, pumping the combined stream into a hydrocarbon reservoir; and subjecting the combined stream in the hydrocarbon reservoir to fracturing pressures. A fracturing apparatus comprises: a first frac pressure pump connected to a first port of a wellhead; a second frac pressure pump connected to a second port of the wellhead; a frac fluid source connected to simply a stream of frac fluid comprising liquefied petroleum gas to the first frac pressure pump; a gel source connected to supply a gelling agent into the frac fluid; and a proppant supply source connected to supply lubricated proppant to the second frac pressure pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Victor Fordyce, Eric Tudor
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Publication number: 20130299159Abstract: An apparatus for the supply of inert gas at a well site, the apparatus comprising one or more pressure vessels containing liquefied inert gas, a heat exchanger, one or more units of fracturing equipment connected to a manifold, a submersible pump in each of the one or more pressure vessels, each submersible pump being connected to supply liquefied inert gas to a supply line that passes through the heat exchanger and the supply line being connected to supply inert gas vaporized by the heat exchanger to the manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Timothy O'Rourke, Ronald Dant
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Publication number: 20130168086Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling the flow of proppant into frac fluid during a frac. A first pressure source pressurizes fluid within a proppant addition unit. Process piping receives proppant through a proppant supply passage for supply to a frac pressure pump. A second pressure source pressurizes fluid within the process piping. A first sensor senses pressure on a first side of the proppant supply passage and outputs a first signal. A second sensor senses pressure on the process piping on a second side of the proppant supply passage and outputs a second signal. A processor receives the first signal and the second signal, and outputs a control signal to at least one of the first pressure source and the second pressure source in response to the first signal and the second signal to control proppant flow into the process piping.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.Inventor: Robbie Roberts
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Publication number: 20130161016Abstract: A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.Inventor: GASFRAC Energy Services Inc.
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Patent number: 8408289Abstract: A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2007Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: GASFRAC Energy Services Inc.Inventor: Dwight N. Loree
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Publication number: 20120318514Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation containing hydrocarbons is disclosed, the method comprising: modifying the subterranean formation with a surface energy reducing agent; and injecting into the subterranean formation a fracturing fluid containing a base fluid and a gelling agent; in which the surface energy reducing agent is selected to effectively reduce the surface energy of the subterranean formation to at or below the surface tension of the gelling agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.Inventor: Shaun T. Mesher
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Patent number: 8276659Abstract: An apparatus and related method for fracturing a formation penetrated by a well comprises a frac pressure pump, a frac fluid source, and a proppant supply source. The frac pressure pump is connected to the well. The frac fluid source is connected to supply a stream of frac fluid to the frac pressure pump. The proppant supply source has a proppant receiver, a positive displacement pump, and at least an inlet into the proppant supply source. The at least an inlet is connected to one or more liquid hydrocarbon sources to supply liquid hydrocarbons to proppant in the proppant supply source. The positive displacement pump is connected to pump proppant into the stream of frac fluid before the frac pressure pump. Fluid lines connecting the frac pressure pump, the well, and the frac fluid source have isolation valves spaced so that the volume of fluid containable between any set of neighboring isolation valves is less than or equal to 500 L.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2008Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: GASFRAC Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Victor Fordyce, Dwight Loree
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Publication number: 20110284230Abstract: Methods of tailoring a hydrocarbon fracturing fluid for a subterranean formation are disclosed. Fluid in the subterranean formation has a fluid temperature. A first critical temperature of a hydrocarbon fluid is adjusted to a critical temperature above the fluid temperature by adding a liquefied petroleum gas component to the hydrocarbon fluid to produce the hydrocarbon fracturing fluid. The liquefied petroleum gas component has a second critical temperature, and the hydrocarbon fluid comprises liquefied petroleum gas. A hydrocarbon fracturing fluid made by these methods are also disclosed. Methods of treating a subterranean formation are also disclosed. A hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is introduced into the subterranean formation, the hydrocarbon fracturing fluid having a critical temperature that is above a fluid temperature of the hydrocarbon fracturing fluid when the hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is in the subterranean formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.Inventors: Dwight N. Loree, Grant Nevison
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Patent number: 8025099Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon reservoir that is penetrated by a well is disclosed, the method comprising injecting into the well a water transfer system comprising liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and an alcohol that is at least partially water and liquefied petroleum gas soluble. Further, a method of treating a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed, the method comprising introducing into the hydrocarbon reservoir a combination of LPG and a solvent system that is at least partially liquefied petroleum gas and water soluble.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.Inventor: Shaun T. Mesher
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Publication number: 20110143971Abstract: A gelling agent for a hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is disclosed, comprising the general formula of: in which X is an OR1, NR1R2, or SR1 group, R1 is an organic group having 2-24 carbon atoms, and R2 is an organic group or a hydrogen. Y is an NR3R4 or SR3 group, R3 is an organic group having 2-24 carbon atoms, and R4 is an organic group or a hydrogen. A method of making a gelling agent for a hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is also disclosed. Phosphorus oxyhalide is reacted with a chemical reagent to produce substantially only diester phosphorus oxyhalide, the chemical reagent comprising at least one of an organic alcohol having 2-24 carbon atoms, an organic amine with an organic group having 2-24 carbon atoms, and an organic sulfide having 2-24 carbon atoms. The diester phosphorus oxyhalide is then hydrolyzed to produce diester phosphoric acid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.Inventors: Shaun T. Mesher, Chris Collett
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Publication number: 20110105370Abstract: A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is disclosed, comprising a water-sensitive gel; and a hydrated breaker. A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is also disclosed, the fracturing fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates, and wherein water of the one or more hydrates is releasable so as to act with the water-sensitive carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid. A method of treating a downhole environment with a fracturing fluid is also disclosed, the method comprising: providing to the downhole environment a fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates; and allowing water from the one or more hydrates to release so as to act with the carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.Inventors: Shaun T. Mesher, Gabrielle L.H. Robson