Systems and methods for silica dust reduction at well sites
AssigneeProfrac Services, LLC
InventorMatthew Wilks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for silica dust reduction at well sites are described herein. The system can include a blower, a transfer hose having a first end connected to the blower, a second end connected to a hopper containing a granular material, and an interior volume. The system can also include a supply of dust suppression solution in fluid communication with the interior volume of the transfer hose.
Claims25
A system for transporting a granular material, comprising:
- a blower,
- a first transfer hose having a first end connected to the blower and a second end connected to a hopper comprising the granular material, the first transfer hose having an interior volume;
- a supply of dust suppression solution in fluid communication with the interior volume of the first transfer hose upstream of the hopper, the dust suppression solution comprising a dust control agent in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 15 wt % and water in an amount of at least 75 wt % based on total weight of the dust suppression solution, the dust suppression solution coating the granular material;
- and
- a second transfer hose having a first end coupled to the hopper and a second end coupled to a storage container, the second transfer hose facilitating pneumatic transport of coated granular material into the storage container.
A system for transferring frac sand from a tractor trailer bed to a silo located at a well site, comprising:
- a first transfer hose having a first end and a second end, the first transfer hose having a first interior volume;
- a misting system in fluid communication with the first interior volume of the first transfer hose upstream of the tractor trailer bed, the misting system comprising a supply of a dust suppression solution and the dust suppression solution comprises a dust control agent in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 15 wt % and water in an amount of at least 75 wt % based on total weight of the dust suppression solution, the dust suppression solution coating the frac sand;
- a blower connected to the first end of the first transfer hose;
- a second transfer hose having a first end and a second end, the second transfer hose having a second interior volume and facilitating pneumatic transport of coated frac sand;
- a tractor trailer connected to the second end of the first transfer hose and the first end of the second transfer hose;
- and
- a silo connected to the second end of the second transfer hose that receives the coated frac sand.
A method for transferring frac sand from a tractor trailer bed to a silo located at a well site, comprising:
- introducing compressed air into an interior volume of a first transfer hose via a blower;
- introducing a dust suppression solution into the interior volume of the first transfer hose upstream of the tractor trailer bed, the dust suppression solution comprises a dust control agent in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 15 wt % and water in an amount of at least 75 wt % of the total weight of the dust suppression solution;
- mixing the compressed air with the dust suppression solution to provide a compressed dust suppression solution mixture;
- contracting the compressed dust suppression solution mixture with frac sand to provide a coated frac sand;
- and
- pneumatically transporting introducing the coated frac sand into a silo via a second transfer hose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.