Apparatus and method for servicing a well

Abstract

A blender apparatus is disclosed having a chassis, a mixer positioned on the chassis, and a transfer pump positioned on the chassis. The mixer has a mixer housing defining a first mixer inlet, a second mixer inlet, and a mixer outlet. The first mixer inlet receives a liquid component, and the second mixer inlet receives a dry component. The mixer pressurizes at least the liquid component within the housing and discharges the liquid component through the mixer outlet at a first pressure above hydrostatic pressure. The transfer pump has a pump housing defining a pump inlet, a pump outlet and is devoid of an inlet configured to receive a dry component through a gravity feed. The transfer pump receives the liquid component through the pump inlet, pressurizes the liquid component within the pump housing, and discharges the liquid component through the pump outlet at a second pressure above hydrostatic pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 introducing at least one liquid component to at least one fluid intake port of a blender apparatus having a mixer, and a transfer pump mounted on a chassis such that the liquid component is split into a first flow circulating directly to a first inlet of the mixer and a second flow circulating directly to a pump inlet of the transfer pump, the transfer pump being devoid of an inlet to receive a dry component through a gravity feed; 
 introducing a dry component into a second inlet of the mixer; 
 operating the mixer to create and discharge a slurry of the liquid component and the dry component through a mixer outlet at a first pressure above hydrostatic pressure and to a first discharge port of the blender apparatus; and 
 operating the transfer pump to discharge the liquid component through a pump outlet at a second pressure above hydrostatic pressure and to a second discharge port of the blender apparatus that is separate from the first discharge port. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry is a first slurry, and further comprising:
 combining the first slurry flowing through the first discharge port with the liquid component flowing through the second discharge port downstream of the first and second discharge ports to form a second slurry; and 
 introducing the second slurry into a wellbore at a pressure within a range of between 6,000 PSI and 12,000 PSI. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer pump is a first transfer pump and the blender apparatus includes a second transfer pump in the first flow between the at least one fluid intake port and the mixer, and wherein the method further comprises:
 diverting the liquid component to the first flow through an inlet of the second transfer pump; 
 pressurizing the liquid component to a pressure above hydrostatic pressure; and 
 transferring the liquid component via an outlet of the second transfer pump to the inlet of the mixer. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing the slurry flowing through the first discharge port and the liquid component flowing through the second discharge port to a manifold downstream of the first and second outlets. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing the slurry flowing through the first discharge port to a manifold; and 
 directing the liquid component through the second discharge port to an equipment other than the manifold. 
 
     
     
       6. A method, comprising:
 introducing a first liquid component to at least one fluid intake port of a blender apparatus having a mixer, and a transfer pump mounted on a chassis such that the liquid component is diverted into a first flow directly to a first inlet of the mixer, the transfer pump being devoid of an inlet to receive a dry component through a gravity feed; 
 pressurizing the first liquid component to a first pressure above hydrostatic pressure; 
 introducing a second liquid component as a second flow directly to a pump inlet of the transfer pump; 
 pressurizing the second liquid component to a second pressure above hydrostatic pressure; and 
 combining the first and second liquid components in the first and second flows, respectively, prior to discharging the combined first and second liquid components through a fluid discharge port of the blender apparatus. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first liquid component is water. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second liquid component is an acid. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the transfer pump is a first transfer pump and the blender apparatus includes a second transfer pump in the first flow between the at least one fluid intake port and the mixer, and wherein the method further comprises:
 diverting the first liquid component to the first flow through an inlet of the second transfer pump; 
 pressurizing the first liquid component to a pressure above hydrostatic pressure; and 
 transferring the first liquid component via an outlet of the second transfer pump to the inlet of the mixer. 
 
     
     
       10. A method, comprising:
 introducing a first liquid component to at least one fluid intake port of a blender apparatus having a mixer, and a transfer pump mounted on a chassis such that the liquid component is diverted into a first flow directly to a first inlet of the mixer, the transfer pump being devoid of an inlet to receive a dry component through a gravity feed; 
 pressurizing the first liquid component to a first pressure above hydrostatic pressure; 
 introducing a second liquid component to a second flow directly to a pump inlet of the transfer pump; 
 pressurizing the second liquid component to a second pressure above hydrostatic pressure; 
 discharging the first liquid component through a first fluid discharge port of the blender apparatus; 
 discharging the second liquid components through second fluid discharge port of the blender apparatus; and 
 combining the first and second liquid components in a common manifold downstream from the blender apparatus.