Method and apparatus for handling oil and gas well drilling fluids

Abstract

A fluids management apparatus is disclosed herein that enables management of multiple volumes of different fluids when drilling and/or producing oil and/or gas with an oil and gas well drilling platform. The apparatus includes a structural, transportable frame that has upper and lower reservoir sections, each with a plurality of tanks for holding fluid. The upper reservoir section is easily lifted and transported, such as by crane. A docking station on the lower reservoir section is receptive of the upper reservoir section. A piping system enables a selected fluid volume contained in a tank of the upper reservoir section to be selectively transmitted to a selected tank of the lower reservoir section. The lower reservoir section has its own piping system that enables a user to withdraw fluid from any selected one of its tanks.

1 . A fluids management apparatus for managing multiple, different fluids on an oil and gas well drilling platform, comprising:
 a) a structural, transportable frame that has upper and lower end portions, a plurality of side walls, a plurality of corners, a base, and an upper panel;   b) a reservoir section on the frame having a plurality of storage reservoirs for holding multiple, separate fluids, one separate fluid in each reservoir;   c) a plurality of flow outlets for discharging a selected fluid from a selected reservoir;   d) a docking station on the frame above the reservoir section, each station configured to receive a tank having a fluid holding interior that connects to a reservoir;   e) piping that enables a selected of the storage reservoirs to transfer its contents to a selected of the storage reservoirs;   f) each wall having vertical and horizontal stiffeners, each vertical stiffener having a web, each horizontal stiffener connecting to a said vertical stiffener web;   g) each storage reservoir having a side that is a part of a said side wall, a plurality of transverse sides, and an internal longitudinal wall;   h) a reservoir stiffener panel that extends a partial distance across a said storage reservoir; and   I) a plurality of lifting eyes attached to the frame, at least a pair of said horizontal stiffeners attaching to each said lifting eye.   
     
     
         2 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each reservoir stiffener attaches to a transverse wall. 
     
     
         3 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 1  wherein there are between 4 and 6 storage reservoirs. 
     
     
         4 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the storage reservoirs is smaller than another of the storage reservoirs. 
     
     
         5 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the storage reservoirs extends from one side wall to another side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the frame has multiple lifting eyes that attach to a side wall and said upper panel. 
     
     
         7 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 6  wherein each lifting eye is connected to a horizontal stiffener. 
     
     
         8 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 7  wherein each lifting eye is in the form of a plate that forms an acute angle with a side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each lifting eye is spaced in between a corner and another lifting eye. 
     
     
         10 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each tank support is mounted upon a said vertical stiffener. 
     
     
         11 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a plate on the upper end portion of each vertical stiffener, said plate forming a load transfer location for a said tank. 
     
     
         12 . A fluids management apparatus for managing multiple, different fluids in an oil and gas well drilling platform, comprising:
 a) a structural, transportable frame;   b) a lower tank section on the frame having a plurality of interval storage tanks for holding multiple, separate fluids, said interval storage tanks surrounded by external side walls and end walls;   c) a plurality of flow outlets for discharging a selected fluid from a selected interval storage tank;   d) an upper tank section that comprises one or more transportable, crane liftable tanks;   e) a docking station on the frame above the lower tank section that is configured to receive the upper tank section, the upper tank section having a plurality of supply tanks;   f) piping that enables a selected of the supply tanks to transfer its contents to a selected of the interval storage tanks;   g) a plurality of horizontal and a plurality of vertical stiffeners on said lower tank section, the horizontal and vertical stiffeners intersecting;   h) the docking station including load transfer plates on said vertical stiffeners that define supports for receipt of the docking station;   i) each vertical stiffener having a web attached to a wall and a flange attached to a said web; and   j) each load transfer plate at the top of each vertical stiffener, said load transfer plate attached to both said web and said flange.   
     
     
         13 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 12  wherein there are at least three interval storage tanks. 
     
     
         14 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 12  wherein there are between 4 and 6 interval storage tanks. 
     
     
         15 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the supply tanks is smaller than one of the interval storage tanks. 
     
     
         16 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 12  wherein all of the supply tanks are smaller than each interval storage tank. 
     
     
         17 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 12  wherein all of the flow outlets are positioned on the same side of the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 12  wherein all of the flow outlets are positioned side-by-side and next to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each supply tank has a supply tank outlet and the piping includes a plurality of flow lines, each connectable to a supply tank outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The fluids management apparatus of  claim 19  wherein each interval storage tank has a flow inlet and the piping includes multiple flow lines that enable flow to be directed to a selected interval storage tank from a selected supply tank. 
     
     
         21 . A fluids management apparatus for managing multiple, different fluids in an oil and gas well drilling platform, comprising:
 a) a structural, transportable frame having side walls, end walls, a bottom wall and an upper panel;   b) a lower reservoir section on the frame having a plurality of interval storage reservoirs for holding multiple, separate fluids;   c) a plurality of flow outlets for discharging a selected fluid from a selected interval storage reservoir;   d) a docking station on the frame above the lower reservoir section, said docking station configured to receive one or more fluid holding vessels; and   e) a reinforcement system for multiple of said walls that includes intersecting pluralities of horizontal and vertical stiffeners, each said vertical stiffener having an upper fitting that provides an attachment for and load transfer from a said fluid holding vessel.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein each vertical stiffener has a web and a flange that is connected to the web and wherein each fitting is attached to both a web and a flange. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising an upper frame that holds multiple of said fluid holding vessels. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said upper frame has legs, each leg resting upon a said fitting. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the upper frame has one or more doors that can be opened and closed. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the storage reservoirs is a larger reservoir that extends to opposing sides of the interval longitudinal wall and further comprising an opening in the interval longitudinal wall that is in communication with the larger reservoir. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the upper frame has multiple upper angled plates that each form an obtuse angle with the bottom of a fluid holding vessel.