Methods of performing well treatment operations using field gas

Abstract

Methods and systems for integral storage and blending of the materials used in oilfield operations are disclosed. A modular integrated material blending and storage system includes a first module comprising a storage unit, a second module comprising a liquid additive storage unit and a pump for maintaining pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage unit. The system further includes a third module comprising a pre-gel blender. An output of each of the first module, the second module and the third module is located above a blender and gravity directs the contents of the first module, the second module and the third module to the blender. The system also includes a pump that directs the output of the blender to a desired down hole location. The pump may be powered by natural gas or electricity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An integrated material blending and storage system comprising:
 a storage unit;   a blender located under the storage unit;   wherein the blender is operable to receive a first input from the storage unit through a hopper;   a liquid additive storage module having a first pump to maintain constant pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage module;   wherein the blender is operable to receive a second input from the liquid additive storage module; and   a pre-gel blender, wherein the pre-gel blender comprises at least a pre-gel storage unit resting on a leg, further wherein the pre-gel storage unit comprises a central core and an annular space, wherein the annular space hydrates the contents of the pre-gel blender;   wherein the blender is operable to receive a third input from the pre-gel blender;   wherein gravity directs the contents of the storage unit, the liquid additive storage module and the pre-gel blender to the blender;   a second pump; and   a third pump;   wherein the second pump directs the contents of the blender to the third pump; and   wherein the third pump directs the contents of the blender down hole;   wherein at least one of the second pump and the third pump is powered by one of natural gas and electricity.   
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit comprises a load sensor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-gel blender comprises:
 a feeder coupling the pre-gel storage unit to a first input of a mixer;
 a fourth pump coupled to a second input of the mixer; 
   wherein the pre-gel storage unit contains a solid component of a well treatment fluid;   wherein the feeder supplies the solid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer;   wherein the fourth pump supplies a fluid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer; and
 wherein the mixer outputs a well treatment fluid. 
   
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the well treatment fluid is a gelled fracturing fluid. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the solid component is a gel powder. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid component is water. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the central core contains the solid component of the well treatment fluid. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the well treatment fluid is directed to the annular space. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the annular space comprises a tubular hydration loop. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the well treatment fluid is directed from the mixer to the tubular hydration loop. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the well treatment fluid is selected from the group consisting of a fracturing fluid and a sand control fluid. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a power source to power at least one of the feeder, the mixer and the pump. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a combustion engine, an electric power supply and a hydraulic power supply. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein one of the combustion engine, the electric power supply and the hydraulic power supply is powered by natural gas. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a load sensor coupled to one of the storage unit, the liquid additive storage module or the pre-gel blender. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an information handling system communicatively coupled to the load sensor. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the load sensor is a load cell. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein a reading of the load sensor is used for quality control. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electricity is derived from one of a power grid and a natural gas generator set. 
     
     
       20. A modular integrated material blending and storage system comprising:
 a first module comprising a storage unit;   a second module comprising a liquid additive storage unit and a first pump for maintaining pressure at an outlet of the liquid additive storage unit; and   a third module comprising a pre-gel blender, wherein the pre-gel blender comprises at least a pre-gel storage unit resting on a leg, further wherein the pre-gel storage unit comprises a central core and an annular space, wherein the annular space hydrates the contents of the pre-gel blender;   wherein an output of each of the first module, the second module and the third module is located above a blender; and   wherein gravity directs the contents of the first module through a hopper, the second module and the third module to the blender;   a second pump;   wherein the second pump directs the output of the blender to a desired down hole location; and   wherein the second pump is powered by one of natural gas and electricity.   
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first module, the second module and the third module is a self erecting module. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the third module comprises:
 a feeder coupling the pre-gel storage unit to a first input of a mixer;   a third pump coupled to a second input of the mixer;   wherein the pre-gel storage unit contains a solid component of a well treatment fluid;   wherein the feeder supplies the solid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer;   wherein the third pump supplies a fluid component of the well treatment fluid to the mixer; and   wherein the mixer outputs a well treatment fluid.   
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the well treatment fluid is directed to the blender. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the blender mixes the output of the first module, the second module and the third module. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a fourth pump for pumping an output of the blender down hole. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the fourth pump is selected from the group consisting of a centrifugal pump, a progressive cavity pump, a gear pump and a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
       27. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 using a blender to prepare a fracturing fluid comprising a liquid and a solid material;   transferring the fracturing fluid from the blender to at least one pump;   pumping the fracturing fluid into a down hole location using the at least one pump; and   powering the at least one pump with only one or both of: (a) one or more generators using only conditioned field gas, or (b) one or more engines using conditioned field gas and without using diesel.    
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the solid material is transferred from a storage unit to the blender using at least gravity.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, wherein the solid material is sand or proppant.  
     
     
       30. The method of claim 27, wherein the blender is powered using electricity.  
     
     
       31. The method of claim 28, wherein the storage unit is supported by a plurality of legs.  
     
     
       32. The method of claim 28, further comprising using one or more load sensors to monitor a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid materials in the storage unit.  
     
     
       33. The method of claim 27, wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a liquid additive transferred to the blender using at least gravity.  
     
     
       34. The method of claim 27, further comprising using a transfer pump to transfer the fracturing fluid from the blender to the at least one pump.  
     
     
       35. The method of claim 28, further comprising monitoring a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid material in the storage unit.  
     
     
       36. The method of claim 27, further comprising using a pre-gel blender and pre-gel storage unit for hydrating materials used in the fracturing fluid.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing an alert when the solid material in the storage unit reaches a threshold level.  
     
     
       38. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 using a blender to prepare a fracturing fluid comprising a solid material and a liquid;   transferring the fracturing fluid from the blender to at least one pump;   pumping the fracturing fluid into a down hole location using the at least one pump; and   powering the blender and the at least one pump with only one or both of: (a) one or more generators using only conditioned field gas, or (b) one or more engines using conditioned field gas and without using diesel.    
     
     
       39. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 using a blender to prepare a fracturing fluid comprising a liquid and a solid material;   transferring the fracturing fluid from the blender to at least one pump;   pumping the fracturing fluid into a down hole location using the at least one pump; and   powering the at least one pump with only one or more generators using only conditioned field gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed.    
     
     
       40. The method of claim 28, wherein the solid material is transferred from the storage unit to the blender using at least gravity and without a conveyor.  
     
     
       41. The method of claim 38, wherein only the one or more generators using only conditioned field gas is used to power the blender and the at least one pump.  
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, wherein the conditioned field gas is compressed.  
     
     
       43. The method of claim 38, wherein the solid material is transferred from a storage unit to the blender using at least gravity and without a conveyor.  
     
     
       44. The method of claim 38, further comprising using one or more load sensors to monitor a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid materials in a storage unit.  
     
     
       45. The method of claim 38, wherein the solid material is sand or proppant.  
     
     
       46. The method of claim 39, wherein the solid material is transferred from a storage unit to the blender without a conveyor.  
     
     
       47. The method of claim 39, further comprising powering the blender with only the one or more generators using only conditioned field gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed.  
     
     
       48. The method of claim 39, wherein the solid material is sand or proppant.