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US 12,584,468 B2Granted
Fluid system with a proppant mixing pump
AssigneeSPM Oil & Gas Inc.
InventorAndrew Hanson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid system may include a first fluid path including a blender configured to mix fluid with proppant. The fluid system may include a second fluid path, fluidly isolated from the blender, including a pump. The fluid system may include a mixing pump configured to receive first fluid containing proppant from the first fluid path and second fluid free of proppant from the second fluid path. The mixing pump may include a cylinder defining a bore. The mixing pump may include a first intake valve configured to control flow of the first fluid, a second intake valve configured to control flow of the second fluid, and an outlet valve configured to control flow of a mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid.
Claims19
A fluid system, comprising:
- a first fluid path including a first pump and a blender configured to mix fluid with proppant;
- a second fluid path including a second pump, the second fluid path fluidly isolated from the blender;
- and
- a mixing pump configured to receive first fluid containing proppant from the first fluid path, receive second fluid free of proppant from the second fluid path, and mix the first fluid and the second fluid downstream of the second pump, the mixing pump comprising:
- a cylinder defining a bore in fluid communication with a first fluid intake, a second fluid intake, and a fluid outlet;
- a first intake valve configured to control flow of the first fluid containing proppant through the first fluid intake, wherein the first intake valve is configured to open and to close during a downstroke of a piston configured to reciprocate within the bore of the cylinder;
- a second intake valve configured to control flow of the second fluid free of proppant through the second fluid intake, wherein the second intake valve is configured to open during the downstroke of the piston after, or concurrently with, closing of the first intake valve, and to close during an upstroke of the piston;
- and
- an outlet valve configured to control flow of a mixture of the first fluid containing proppant and the second fluid free of proppant through the fluid outlet, wherein the outlet valve is configured to open at least for a duration in which the second intake valve is open.
6 more elements
A pump, comprising:
- a cylinder defining a bore in fluid communication with a first fluid intake, a second fluid intake, and a fluid outlet;
- a piston configured to reciprocate within the bore of the cylinder;
- a first intake valve configured to control flow of a first fluid containing proppant through the first fluid intake,
- the first intake valve configured to open during a downstroke of the piston to cause the first fluid containing proppant to enter the cylinder;
- a second intake valve configured to control flow of a second fluid free of proppant through the second fluid intake,
- the second intake valve configured to open after, or concurrently with, closing of the first intake valve to cause the second fluid free of proppant to enter the cylinder and to expel the first fluid containing proppant and the second fluid free of proppant from the cylinder via the fluid outlet;
- and
- an outlet valve configured to control flow of a mixture of the first fluid containing proppant and the second fluid free of proppant through the fluid outlet.
5 more elements
A pump system, comprising:
- a prime mover;
- a camshaft system mechanically coupled to the prime mover;
- and
- a pump driven by the prime mover, the pump comprising:
- a cylinder defining a bore in fluid communication with a first fluid intake, a second fluid intake, and a fluid outlet;
- a piston configured to reciprocate within the bore of the cylinder;
- a first intake valve configured to control flow of a first fluid containing proppant through the first fluid intake,
- the camshaft system configured to cause the first intake valve to open and to close during a downstroke of the piston;
- a second intake valve configured to control flow of a second fluid free of proppant through the second fluid intake,
- the camshaft system configured to cause the second intake valve to open during the downstroke of the piston after, or concurrently with, closing of the first intake valve, and to close during an upstroke of the piston;
- and
- an outlet valve configured to control flow of a mixture of the first fluid containing proppant and the second fluid free of proppant through the fluid outlet,
- the camshaft system configured to cause the outlet valve to open at least for a duration in which the second intake valve is open.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.