Method of handling proppant at a well site using a plurality of modular proppant containers
AssigneeOren Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn Oren, Joshua Oren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method of handling proppant at a well site using a plurality of modular proppant containers in which first and second modular proppant container in a filled state are removed from delivery transport vehicles and transferred to first and second cradle positions on a support structure using one or more heavy-duty handlers. Proppant is discharged by gravity feed from the outlet of the first and second modular proppant containers and directed to a hopper until the modular proppant containers are in an empty state.
Claims20
A method of handling proppant at a well site using a plurality of modular proppant containers, each of the plurality of modular proppant containers having a first wall portion, a second funnel portion extending beneath the first wall portion and terminating at an outlet, and a frame including a leg post at each corner of the first wall portion and a plurality of structural support members extending between the leg posts along the first wall portion to structurally-enhance the modular proppant container for receiving, storing and dispensing proppant, the method comprising:
- removing a first modular proppant container in a filled state from a first delivery transport vehicle using one or more heavy-duty handlers;
- transferring the first modular proppant container in the filled state to a first cradle position on a support structure located at the well site using the one or more heavy-duty handlers after removal from the delivery transport vehicle, wherein the first modular proppant container is positioned to discharge proppant through the outlet;
- removing a second modular proppant container in a filled state from a second delivery transport vehicle using the one or more heavy-duty handlers;
- transferring the second modular proppant container in the filled state to a second cradle position adjacent to the first cradle position on the support structure using the one or more heavy-duty handlers after removal from the second delivery transport vehicle, wherein the second modular proppant container is positioned to discharge proppant therefrom by gravity feed;
- discharging proppant by gravity feed from the outlet of the first modular proppant container when positioned in the first cradle position on the support structure and directing proppant to a hopper until the first modular proppant container is in an empty state;
- and
- discharging proppant by gravity feed from the outlet of the second modular proppant container when positioned in the second cradle position on the support structure and directing proppant to the hopper until the second modular proppant container is in an empty state.
A method of handling proppant at a well site comprising:
- providing a plurality of modular proppant containers, each of the plurality of modular proppant containers having a wall portion, a funnel portion extending beneath the wall portion and terminating at an outlet, and a frame including a leg post at each corner of the wall portion and a plurality of structural support members extending between the leg posts along the wall portion to structurally-enhance modular proppant container, where each of the plurality of modular proppant containers are in a filled state with proppant stored therein;
- removing a first modular proppant container in the filled state from a first delivery transport vehicle using one or more heavy-duty handlers;
- transferring the first modular proppant container in the filled state to a first cradle position on a support structure located at the well site using the one or more heavy-duty handlers after removal from the delivery transport vehicle, wherein the first modular proppant container is positioned to discharge proppant therefrom;
- removing a second modular proppant container in a filled state from a second delivery transport vehicle using the one or more heavy-duty handlers;
- transferring the second modular proppant container in the filled state to a second cradle position adjacent to the first cradle position on the support structure using the one or more heavy-duty handlers after removal from the second delivery transport vehicle, wherein the second modular proppant container is positioned to discharge proppant therefrom by gravity feed;
- discharging proppant by gravity feed from the outlet of the first modular proppant container when positioned in the first cradle position on the support structure and directing proppant to a hopper until the first modular proppant container is in an empty state;
- and
- discharging proppant by gravity feed from the outlet of the second modular proppant container when positioned in the second cradle position on the support structure and directing proppant to the hopper until the second modular proppant container is in an empty state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.