Gel hydration tank and method
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRonnie G. Morgan, Johnny W. Johnson, Rickey L. Morgan, James A. McGough, Michael R. Spaulding
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a gel hydration tank and method for hydrating gels for use in oil well treatment operations according to which a mixture of water and gel is introduced into the interior of the tank and flows through the tank before being discharged from the tank, whereby specific devices are used to deflect and/or re-direct fluid flow so as to increase the distance traveled for a given fluid volume element, which consequently increases the plug flow efficiency of the tank.
Claims36
A hydration tank comprising:
- a set of walls defining an interior portion;
- an inlet in fluid communication with the interior portion for receiving fluid;
- an outlet in fluid communication with the interior portion for discharging fluid;
- and
- a first weir extending partially across the interior portion for deflecting fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet to increase the distance traveled by the fluid between the inlet and outlet.
A method of providing a flow rate of a fluid in a hydration tank, comprising the steps of:
- providing an inlet in fluid communication with an interior portion of the hydration tank for receiving fluid;
- providing an outlet in fluid communication with the interior portion of the hydration tank for discharging fluid;
- and
- deflecting fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet to increase the distance traveled by the fluid between the inlet and outlet.
A method of establishing flow path for fluid through a hydration tank, comprising the steps of:
- installing a first weir extending partially across an interior portion of the hydration tank for deflecting a fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- installing a second weir extending partially across the interior portion of the hydration tank, and in an inverted orientation and on an opposite side of the interior portion relative to the first weir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.