Proppant Addition Method and System

Abstract

A method of injecting a fracturing fluid may include pressurizing a first fluid with clean high-pressure pumps, joining proppant with the pressurized first fluid to form a fracturing fluid, and moving the fracturing fluid to a wellhead and downhole into a formation for fracturing. A pump may pressurize the proppant without the proppant passing therethrough.

1 . A method of injecting a fracturing fluid, the method comprising:
 pressurizing a first fluid with one or more clean high-pressure pumps;   joining proppant with the pressurized first fluid to form the fracturing fluid; and   moving the fracturing fluid to a wellhead and downhole into a formation for fracturing;   wherein a pump pressurizes the proppant without passing the proppant therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 1 , wherein joining the proppant with the pressurized first fluid comprises allowing a second pressurized fluid to pressurize the proppant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 1 , comprising passing the first fluid through fluid treatment operations prior to pressurizing the first fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 1 , comprising adding one or more additives to the first fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 4 , wherein adding the additives occurs prior to pressurizing the first fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 4 , wherein adding the additives occurs subsequent to pressurizing the first fluid. 
     
     
         7 . A fracturing fluid addition system comprising:
 one or more clean high-pressure pumps;   a proppant supply; and   a fluid supply that provides fluid for the clean high-pressure pumps to pressurize before the fluid joins proppant from the proppant supply;   wherein a pump pressurizes the proppant without the proppant passing therethrough.   
     
     
         8 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid supply is a treated fluid supply. 
     
     
         9 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 7 , comprising a manifold that transfers the fluid from the fluid supply to the clean high-pressure pumps and from the clean high-pressure pumps to a wellhead. 
     
     
         10 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 7 , comprising a chemical supply that provides chemical additives to the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 7 , wherein the proppant supply comprises a holding tank. 
     
     
         12 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 7 , comprising a proppant injection system that pressurizes the proppant before the proppant joins the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         13 . A method of injecting a fracturing fluid, the method comprising:
 beginning a fracturing operation;   pressurizing a first fluid with one or more clean high-pressure pumps;   joining premixed proppant with the pressurized first fluid to form the fracturing fluid; and   moving the fracturing fluid to a wellhead and downhole to a perforated zone for fracturing;   wherein the premixed proppant comprises proppant mixed with a liquid prior to the beginning of the fracturing operation.   
     
     
         14 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the premixed proppant is mixed at a centralized location remote from the fracturing operation; and   wherein the premixed proppant moves from the centralized location to the fracturing operation prior to the beginning of the fracturing operation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 13 , comprising
 passing the premixed proppant through one or more dirty high-pressure pumps prior to joining the premixed proppant with the pressurized first fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 13 , wherein a pump pressurizes the premixed proppant without the premixed proppant passing therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 13 , comprising adding one or more additives to the first fluid before pressurizing the first fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 13 , comprising adding one or more additives to the pressurized first fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of injecting a fracturing fluid of  claim 13 , wherein the premixed proppant comprises a master blend. 
     
     
         20 . A fracturing fluid addition system comprising:
 one or more clean high-pressure pumps;   a proppant supply that stores premixed proppant; and   a treated fluid supply that provides fluid for the clean high-pressure pumps to pressurize before the fluid joins premixed proppant from the proppant supply;   wherein the premixed proppant comprises proppant mixed with a liquid and stored in the proppant supply until the beginning of a fracturing operation.   
     
     
         21 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 20 , comprising a manifold that transfers the fluid from the treated fluid supply to the clean high-pressure pumps and from the clean high-pressure pumps to a wellhead. 
     
     
         22 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 20 , comprising a chemical supply that provides chemical additives to the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         23 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 20 , wherein the proppant supply comprises a holding tank. 
     
     
         24 . The fracturing fluid addition system of  claim 20 , comprising a proppant injection system that pressurizes the proppant before proppant joins the pressurized fluid.