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US 12,319,193 B2Granted
Brine density apparatuses and methods
OwnerDean Groseinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brine separation system based on density. The system senses brine density and directs brine having a low density to a standard brine storage area and brine having a high density to a heavy brine storage area using a sensor and valves coupled to a processor-based controller.
Claims20
A brine density system for an aqueous mixture, comprising:
- a processor-based controller having an input and a plurality of outputs;
- a brine density sensor coupled to a first input of the controller, the brine density sensor sensing an amount of non-aqueous constituent components within the aqueous mixture and providing a signal to the controller commensurate with that amount of non-aqueous constituent components within in the aqueous mixture;
- a standard brine valve in a standard brine line that leads to a standard brine tank, the standard brine valve having an actuator controlled from a first output of the controller such that the standard brine valve is open when the brine density sensor senses brine having a density less than a first predetermined level and the standard brine valve is closed when the brine density sensor senses brine having a density greater than a second predetermined level;
- and
- a heavy brine valve in a heavy brine line that leads to a heavy brine tank, the heavy brine valve having an actuator controlled from one of the first output and a second output of the controller such that the heavy brine valve is open when the brine density sensor senses brine having a density greater than the second predetermined level and the heavy brine valve is closed when the brine density sensor senses brine having a density less than the first predetermined level.
2 more elements
A brine density system, comprising:
- an inlet coupled to a conduit to receive brine flow from a tanker truck tank and adapted to be coupled to a first end of a tanker truck transfer hose;
- a brine density sensor in a brine density system conduit, the brine density sensor sensing a measurable physical characteristic that indicates an amount of non-aqueous constituent components within a volume of process water;
- and
- at least one valve in the brine density system conduit, the at least one valve to direct brine flowing through the brine density system to:
- a standard brine tank if the sensed physical characteristic indicates the brine flowing from the tanker truck tank is below a predetermined level;
- and
- a heavy brine tank if the sensed physical characteristic indicates the brine flowing from the tanker truck tank is above the predetermined level.
4 more elements
A method of separating brines to be used in different hydraulic fracturing tasks, comprising:
- sensing the density of non-aqueous constituent components in an aqueous mixture for use on a hydraulic fracturing site;
- directing low density aqueous mixture for use in hydraulic fracturing to a first storage area;
- and
- directing high density aqueous mixture for use in tasks other than hydraulic fracturing, including well closing and well winterizing, to a second storage area.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.