Methods of performing oilfield operations using electricity

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:
 having an amount of electricity that is produced using conditioned field gas derived from natural gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed, wherein the amount of electricity is sufficient to power one or more pumps that are capable of pumping a fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation;   preparing a fracturing fluid; and   pumping the fracturing fluid down hole using the amount of electricity to perform the fracturing operation.    
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the conditioned field gas is compressed.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, further comprising transferring a solid material from a storage unit to a blender used to prepare the fracturing fluid.  
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein the storage unit is a silo.  
     
     
       31. The method of claim 29, wherein the solid material is transferred from the storage unit to the blender without a powered conveyor system.  
     
     
       32. The method of claim 29, further comprising monitoring consumption of the solid material in real-time.  
     
     
       33. The method of claim 29, further comprising monitoring a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid material in the storage unit.  
     
     
       34. The method of claim 29, further comprising using load sensors to monitor a change in weight, mass and/or volume of the solid material in the storage unit.  
     
     
       35. The method of claim 34, wherein the load sensors are wirelessly coupled to an information handling system.  
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, wherein the information handling system is a network storage device.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 35, wherein the information handling system is a personal computer.  
     
     
       38. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing a real-time visual depiction of an amount of the solid material in the storage unit.  
     
     
       39. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing an alert when the solid material in the storage unit reaches a threshold level.  
     
     
       40. The method of claim 27, further comprising using a pre-gel blender and a pre-gel storage unit for hydrating materials used in the fracturing fluid.  
     
     
       41. The method of claim 40, further comprising using the amount of electricity to power the pre-gel storage unit.  
     
     
       42. The method of claim 27, further comprising using an on-site generator to produce the amount of electricity.  
     
     
       43. The method of claim 27, further comprising pumping the fracturing fluid through a ground manifold to a well head.  
     
     
       44. The method of claim 27, further comprising monitoring and/or controlling an aspect of the fracturing operation, wherein the monitoring and/or controlling is powered using the amount of electricity.  
     
     
       45. The method of claim 27, further comprising using a blender to prepare the fracturing fluid, wherein the blender is powered using the amount of electricity.  
     
     
       46. The method of claim 27, wherein the fracturing fluid is pumped to different well sites from a central location.  
     
     
       47. The method of claim 27, wherein the pumping the fracturing fluid down hole comprises using a plurality of pumps.  
     
     
       48. The method of claim 27, further comprising using a transfer pump to transfer the fracturing fluid from a blender to at least one pump, wherein the transfer pump is powered by electricity.  
     
     
       49. The method of claim 29, wherein the solid material is sand or proppant.  
     
     
       50. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 using only electricity produced using conditioned field gas derived from natural gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed to power the fracturing operation, wherein the fracturing operation consists of preparing a fracturing fluid and pumping the fracturing fluid down hole.    
     
     
       51. The method of claim 50, wherein the fracturing fluid is prepared using a blender, and wherein the fracturing fluid is pumped down hole using at least one pump.  
     
     
       52. The method of claim 50, wherein the electricity is produced using an on-site generator.  
     
     
       53. A method of performing a fracturing operation comprising:
 pumping a fracturing fluid down hole to perform the fracturing operation using at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump is powered using at least an amount of electricity produced using conditioned field gas derived from natural gas obtained from a field on which the fracturing operation is being performed, wherein the amount of electricity is sufficient to power the at least one pump during the fracturing operation; and   using an information handling system to monitor an amount of material in a storage unit, wherein the material is used in the fracturing fluid.    
     
     
       54. The method of claim 53, further comprising preparing a gel used in the fracturing fluid.  
     
     
       55. The method of claim 53, wherein the material comprises sand or proppant.  
     
     
       56. The method of claim 53, further comprising providing a real-time visual depiction of the amount of material in the storage unit.  
     
     
       57. The method of claim 53, wherein the conditioned field gas is compressed.  
     
     
       58. The method of claim 53, wherein equipment at the fracturing operation other than the at least one pump is powered by electricity from an electric power supply or a power grid.