Methods of providing or using a support for a storage unit containing a solid component for a fracturing operation

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 for a fracturing operation comprising:
 providing or using a support for at least one storage unit containing a solid component at a job site for the fracturing operation,   wherein the support is configured to direct the solid component from the at least one storage unit to a blender using gravity,   wherein the job site comprises at least one pump to pump a fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation,   wherein the at least one pump is powered using only: one or more generators using only conditioned field gas derived from natural gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed.    
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the support comprises a plurality of legs.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing or using one or more load sensors to determine a weight of the solid component in the at least one storage unit.  
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein the load sensors are coupled to an information handling system.  
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, wherein the information handling system is a network storage device.  
     
     
       32. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing or having the solid component in the at least one storage unit.  
     
     
       33. The method of claim 27, further comprising directing the solid component into the blender using gravity and without a powered conveyor.  
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33, wherein the support comprises one or more chutes for directing the solid component from the at least one storage unit to a hopper.  
     
     
       35. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 preparing the fracturing fluid comprising the solid component using the blender; and   pumping the fracturing fluid down hole using the at least one pump to perform the fracturing operation.    
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, further comprising monitoring an amount of the solid component from the at least one storage unit in real-time.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 35, further comprising determining a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid component in the at least one storage unit.  
     
     
       38. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing a real-time visual depiction of an amount of the solid component contained in the at least one storage unit and/or providing an alert when the amount of the solid component in the at least one storage unit reaches a threshold level.  
     
     
       39. The method of claim 35, further comprising using a pre-gel blender and pre-gel storage unit for hydrating a material used in the fracturing fluid.  
     
     
       40. A method for a fracturing operation comprising:
 providing or using a support for at least one storage unit containing a solid component at a job site for the fracturing operation,
 wherein the support is configured to direct the solid component from the at least one storage unit to a blender using gravity, 
 wherein the support is operable to determine a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid component in the at least one storage unit, and 
   providing or using at least one of:
 (a) a wirelessly coupled information handling system to monitor an amount of the solid component in the at least one storage unit, 
 (b) a real-time visual depiction of the amount of the solid component contained in the at least one storage unit, and 
 (c) an alert when the amount of the solid component in at least one storage unit reaches a threshold level; 
 wherein the job site comprises at least one pump to pump a fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation; and 
 wherein the at least one pump is powered using only: one or more generators using only conditioned field gas derived from natural gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed.  
   
     
     
       41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:
 having the solid component in the at least one storage unit;   directing the solid component from the at least one storage unit to the blender using gravity and without a powered conveyor;   using the blender to prepare the fracturing fluid comprising a liquid and the solid component;   transferring the fracturing fluid to the at least one pump; and   pumping the fracturing fluid down hole using the at least one pump to perform the fracturing operation.    
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, wherein the blender is powered using electricity.  
     
     
       43. A method for a fracturing operation comprising:
 providing or using a support for at least one storage unit containing a solid component at a job site for the fracturing operation,
 wherein the support is operable to determine a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid component in the at least one storage unit, 
 wherein the job site comprises at least one pump to pump a fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, and 
 wherein the at least one pump is powered using only electricity produced using conditioned field gas derived from natural gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed.  
   
     
     
       44. The method of claim 43, wherein the conditioned field gas is compressed.  
     
     
       45. The method of claim 43, wherein the solid component is sand or proppant.  
     
     
       46. The method of claim 43, wherein the power used to pump the fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation is at least two thirds of total horsepower for the fracturing operation.  
     
     
       47. The method of claim 43, further comprising providing or using at least one of:
 (a) a wirelessly coupled information handling system to monitor an amount of the solid component in the at least one storage unit,   (b) a real-time visual depiction of the amount of the solid component contained in the at least one storage unit; and   (c) an alert when the amount of the solid component in at least one storage unit reaches a threshold level.    
     
     
       48. A method for a fracturing operation comprising:
 providing or using a support for at least one storage unit containing a solid component at a job site for the fracturing operation,
 wherein the support directs the solid component from the at least one storage unit to a blender using gravity, 
 wherein the job site comprises at least one pump to pump a fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation, 
 wherein the at least one pump is powered using only: electricity produced using conditioned field gas derived from natural gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed.  
   
     
     
       49. The method of claim 48, further comprising determining a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid component in the at least one storage unit.  
     
     
       50. The method of claim 48, wherein the blender is powered using the electricity.