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US 12,576,556 B2Granted
Hydration systems and methods
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsRajesh Luharuka, Hau Nguyen-Phuc Pham, Jonathan Wun Shiung Chong, Miguel Angel Lopez, Rod William Shampine, Gocha G. Chochua, Mark Maher Hakim Ayyad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A substantially continuous stream of aqueous fluid and a substantially continuous stream of gel having a first concentration are combined to form a substantially continuous stream of gel having a second concentration. The second concentration is substantially lower than the first concentration. The gel having the second concentration may thereafter be utilized in conjunction with a well fracturing operation.
Claims16
A method, comprising:
- substantially continuously feeding a hydratable material and a hydrating fluid into a mixer;
- in an additive-receiving structure of the mixer, pre-wetting the hydratable material with a pre-wetting portion of the hydrating fluid to form a partial slurry of the hydratable material before feeding the hydratable material and the hydrating fluid into a mixing chamber of the mixer;
- substantially continuously operating the mixer to mix the partial slurry of the hydratable material and the hydrating fluid to form a first substantially continuous stream and to pressurize the first substantially continuous stream to pump the first substantially continuous stream through a discharge of the mixer, wherein the first substantially continuous stream comprises a first gel, the first gel including:
- a first concentration of the hydratable material;
- and
- a first viscosity;
- substantially continuously pumping the first substantially continuous stream with the mixer through an enclosed hydrator to form a second substantially continuous stream, wherein the second substantially continuous stream comprises a second gel, the second gel including:
- the first concentration of the hydratable material;
- and
- a second viscosity that is greater than the first viscosity;
- forming concentration slugs in the first substantially continuous stream and pulsing the first substantially continuous stream in the enclosed hydrator with the concentration slugs;
- substantially continuously combining the second substantially continuous stream and a third substantially continuous stream to form a fourth substantially continuous stream, wherein the third substantially continuous stream substantially comprises aqueous fluid, and wherein the fourth substantially continuous stream comprises a fourth gel, the fourth gel including a second concentration of the hydratable material that is less than the first concentration;
- and
- utilizing the fourth gel from the fourth substantially continuous stream in a well fracturing operation.
11 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a system operable to form a first substantially continuous supply of a first gel having a first hydratable material concentration of a hydratable material for use in a well fracturing operation, wherein the system comprises:
- a mixer operable to receive and mix the hydratable material and aqueous fluid to form a second substantially continuous supply of a second gel having a second hydratable material concentration, wherein the second hydratable material concentration is higher than the first hydratable material concentration, wherein the mixer includes:
- an additive-receiving structure for receiving the hydratable material and for pre-wetting the hydratable material with the aqueous fluid to form a partial slurry;
- and
- a mixing chamber including a stator and a rotor for mixing the partial slurry of the hydratable material with the aqueous fluid to form the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel and for pumping the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel based on pressurizing the substantially continuous supply of the second gel in the mixing chamber;
- an enclosed tank having an internal flow path traversed by the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel having the second hydratable material concentration during a period of time sufficient to permit a viscosity of the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel having the second hydratable material concentration to increase to a predetermined level, resulting in a third substantially continuous supply of increased viscosity gel, wherein pumping of the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel by the mixer supplies a motive force for the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel to traverse the internal flow path of the enclosed tank for the period of time to form the third continuous supply of the increased viscosity gel;
- a diluter operable to dilute the substantially continuous supply of increased viscosity gel having the second hydratable material concentration to generate the first substantially continuously supply of the first gel having the first hydratable material concentration;
- and
- at least one of a first flow control device and a second flow control device,
- wherein the first flow control device is operable to control a first flow rate of the third substantially continuous supply of increased viscosity gel having the second hydratable material concentration to the diluter,
- wherein the second flow control device is operable to control a second flow rate of aqueous fluid to the diluter,
- wherein at least one of the first and second flow control devices is disposed adjacent the diluter and comprises a flow-disrupting member operable to generate turbulence of a passing fluid flow,
- wherein the flow-disrupting member is a substantially circular plate having a central passage, and
- wherein the flow-disrupting member is selectively rotatable relative to a conduit containing the passing fluid flow.
11 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a system operable to form a substantially first continuous supply of a first gel having a first hydratable material concentration of a hydratable material for use in a well fracturing operation, wherein the system comprises:
- a mixer operable to receive and mix the hydratable material and aqueous fluid to form a second substantially continuous supply of a second gel having a second hydratable material concentration, wherein the second hydratable material concentration is higher than the first hydratable material concentration;
- an enclosed tank having an internal flow path traversed by the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel having the second hydratable material concentration during a period of time sufficient to permit a viscosity of the second substantially continuous supply of the second gel having the second hydratable material concentration to increase to a predetermined level to generate a third substantially continuous supply of increased viscosity gel having the second hydratable material concentration;
- a diluter operable to dilute the third substantially continuous supply of increased viscosity gel having the second hydratable material concentration to generate the first substantially continuously supply of the first gel having the first hydratable material concentration;
- a first flow control device operable to control a first flow rate of the third substantially continuous supply of increased viscosity gel having the second hydratable material concentration to the diluter;
- and
- a second flow control device operable to control a second flow rate of aqueous fluid to the diluter;
- wherein at least one of the first flow control device or the second flow control device is disposed adjacent the diluter and comprises a flow-disrupting member operable to generate turbulence of a passing fluid flow, the flow-disrupting member being a substantially circular plate having a central passage and being selectively rotatable relative to a conduit containing the passing fluid flow.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.