Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for using containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where one or more conveyors may deliver the containers to a location proximate the blender receptacle. A chute may extend from the bottom of each container to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for using containers of bulk material along with a bucket conveyor system, instead of a pneumatic transfer process, to move the bulk material from a transportation unit to a storage/delivery system are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers full of bulk material toward a fill hopper of the bucket conveyor system. The containers may be positioned proximate the fill hopper to release the bulk material directly into the fill hopper. The bucket conveyor may deliver the bulk material from the fill hopper into the storage/delivery system. Since the containers are maneuverable into a position to output bulk material directly into the fill hopper and without pneumatic transfer, the bucket conveyor system may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for using containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle (e.g., hopper or mixer of a blender) are provided. A transportation unit may deliver multiple containers of bulk material to the well site, where multiple conveyors may deliver the containers to a location proximate the blender receptacle. Openings at the bottom of the containers are arranged adjacent one another so that the load of two containers may be delivered to the tight space occupied by the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for managing bulk material efficiently at a well site are provided. The disclosure is directed to a container support frame that is integrated into a blender unit. The support frame is used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material, and the blender unit may include a gravity feed outlet for outputting bulk material from the containers directly into a mixer of the blender unit. The blender unit with integrated support frame may eliminate the need for any subsequent mechanical conveyance of the bulk material (e.g., via a separate mechanical conveying system or on-blender sand screws) from the containers to the mixer. As such, the integrated blender unit may be lighter weight, take up less space, and have a lower cost and complexity than existing blenders.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, 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: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for using one or more pre-filled, portable containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where the containers may be disposed in an elevated position around the blender receptacle. A gravity feed outlet may extend from one or more containers to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the portable containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the stackable containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.

Abstract: A material storage unit including a bin having a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween and defining an interior configured to hold particulates, where a portion of the sidewall defines an angular air flow vent having a top air inlet and a bottom air inlet. The material storage unit further includes a fill line inlet extending through one or both of the bottom end of the bin or the sidewall of the bin and in fluid communication with the interior, a venting outlet extending through one or both of the top end of the bin or the sidewall of the bin and in fluid communication with the interior, and a discharge outlet extending through the bottom end of the bin and in fluid communication with the interior.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for passively reducing or preventing dust formation in a particulate handling system are provided. In some embodiments, the handling system includes a silo for holding bulk material used to form a well fracturing treatment fluid. The silo may include a chute to deposit a portion of the bulk material from the silo into a blender and a cyclone mounted to the silo to separate dust from a pneumatic air flow and to release a substantially clean air into the atmosphere. In other embodiments, the handling system may include a horizontally oriented cyclone assembly mounted to a blender storage tank, cyclone assembly including a horizontally oriented cyclone separator to separate dust from a pneumatic airflow and a dust collection container to receive the dust and output the dust into the storage tank.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, an inventory management system and method are provided. The inventory management system and method utilize an inverted database architecture that stores all the individual information related to each inventory item with the item itself, rather than just an identification number. Successive local, regional, and enterprise databases may be constructed from the item level up. That way, each inventory item effectively becomes a database, storing all its own data, and the higher level databases may be updated to reflect the information from the lower level databases when communication is available. This inventory management system of nested databases may be of particular use in the management of bulk material (e.g., powder, granular, or liquid) inventory for remote supply, transportation, and use applications.

Abstract: A system for mixing fracturing gel includes a dry gel mixing chamber having a bladed impeller carried to rotate in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has a dry gel inlet and hydrating fluid inlet. A valve is fluidically coupled to the hydrating fluid inlet to automatically maintain a specified flow condition of hydrating fluid into the mixing chamber over multiple different values of the flow condition to the hydrating fluid inlet.

Abstract: A system for mixing fracturing gel includes a dry gel mixing chamber having a bladed impeller carried to rotate in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has a dry gel inlet and hydrating fluid inlet. A valve is fluidically coupled to the hydrating fluid inlet to automatically maintain a specified flow condition of hydrating fluid into the mixing chamber over multiple different values of the flow condition to the hydrating fluid inlet.

Abstract: A system for mixing fracturing gel includes a dry gel mixing chamber having a bladed impeller carried to rotate in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has a dry gel inlet and hydrating fluid inlet. A valve is fluidically coupled to the hydrating fluid inlet to automatically maintain a specified flow condition of hydrating fluid into the mixing chamber over multiple different values of the flow condition to the hydrating fluid inlet.

Abstract: A manipulatable filtering system for use in a wellbore servicing system is disclosed. The system includes a first wellbore servicing system component configured to communicate a fluid via a first fluid conduit and a second wellbore servicing system component comprising a second fluid conduit. A filter system having an input conduit is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit. The filtering system includes a plurality of input flow paths, each in fluid communication with the input conduit. The system further includes a plurality of filter housings, each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of input flow paths. A filter is disposed within each of the filter housings. A plurality of output flow paths are in fluid communication with the filter housings and an output conduit is in fluid communication with each of the output flow paths and the second fluid conduit.

Abstract: A wellbore servicing system comprising a first wellbore servicing system component configured to communicate a fluid via a first fluid conduit, a second wellbore servicing system component comprising a second fluid conduit, and a filter system comprising an input conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit, a plurality of input flow paths, wherein each input flow path is in fluid communication with the input conduit, a plurality of filter housings, wherein each filter housing is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of input flow paths, a filter disposed within each of the filter housings, a plurality of output flow paths, wherein each output flow path is in fluid communication with one of the filter housings, an output conduit in fluid communication with each of the output flow paths and the second fluid conduit.

Abstract: A system for mixing fracturing gel includes a dry gel mixing chamber having a bladed impeller carried to rotate in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has a dry gel inlet and hydrating fluid inlet. A valve is fluidically coupled to the hydrating fluid inlet to automatically maintain a specified flow condition of hydrating fluid into the mixing chamber over multiple different values of the flow condition to the hydrating fluid inlet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method to make an article comprising the steps of combining a semi-amorphous polymer having a heat of fusion of less than 70 J/g with a plasticizer and optionally one or more additives, to produce a polymer concentrate, combining the polymer concentrate with one or more final materials to produce an article precursor; and forming the article at least partially from the article precursor, wherein the polymer concentrate preferably shows no visible phase separation as demonstrated by the polymer concentrate having no visually detectable loss of the plasticizer after a portion of the polymer concentrate is aged on an absorbent surface for 24 hours at 25° C. An article produced by the method is also disclosed.