Co2 fracturing system and method of use

An apparatus for delivering a fluid mixture comprising:

• a pressurized proppant feed assembly, the assembly including a proppant storage vessel configured to contain therein the proppant material at ambient pressure and a pump assembly coupled to the proppant storage vessel, the pump assembly configured to receive a continual supply of proppant material and output a continuous proppant output flow at or above a fracturing fluid blending pressure, wherein the fracturing fluid blending pressure is greater than the ambient pressure;
• a CO2 fracturing fluid storage vessel configured to contain therein a CO2 fracturing fluid and output a CO2 fracturing fluid output flow at or above the fracturing fluid blending pressure;
• a thickener agent storage vessel configured to contain therein a thickener agent, the thickener agent storage vessel in fluid communication with the CO2 fracturing fluid output flow;
• a mixing apparatus coupled to the pressurized proppant feed assembly and the CO2 fracturing fluid storage vessel, the mixing apparatus in fluid communication with the proppant output flow and the CO2 fracturing fluid output flow, the mixing apparatus configured to receive and mix a continual supply of the proppant output flow and a continual supply of the fracturing fluid output flow and output a thickened fluid mixture of proppant and thickened CO2 fracturing fluid at or above the fracturing fluid blending pressure;
• a high pressure pump assembly coupled to the mixing chamber and configured to deliver the thickened fluid mixture therein to a downstream component at an injection pressure, wherein the injection pressure is greater than the fracturing fluid blending pressure;
• a CO2 recapture system, configured to receive a CO2 output flow from one or more of an exhaust stream from the downstream component, a well flow-back stream, a vented CO2 stream or an external source;
• and
• a CO2 separation and liquefaction system in fluid communication with the CO2 recapture system and the CO2 fracturing fluid storage vessel.

A method of delivering a fluid mixture, comprising:

• providing an input of a proppant material at ambient pressure to a proppant storage vessel, the proppant storage vessel configured to output a proppant output flow at ambient pressure;
• providing an input of a fracturing fluid at or above a fracturing fluid blending pressure to a fracturing fluid storage vessel, the fracturing fluid storage vessel configured to output a fracturing fluid output flow at or above the fracturing fluid blending pressure;
• inputting the proppant output flow at ambient pressure from the proppant storage vessel into a pump assembly wherein the pressure of the proppant output flow is increased to a fracture blending pressure;
• mixing the proppant output flow, the fracturing fluid output flow and a thickener agent, in a mixing apparatus and outputting a fluid mixture of a thickened fluid mixture at or above the fracturing fluid blending pressure;
• increasing the pressure of the output thickened fluid mixture in a high pressure pump to output a high pressure thickened fluid mixture;
• delivering the high pressure thickened fluid mixture to one or more downstream components;
• recapturing CO2 from one or more of an exhaust stream of the one or more downstream components, a well flow-back stream, a vented CO2 stream of the one or more downstream components, or an external CO2 source;
• separating and liquefying the recaptured CO2 to output a purified and liquefied CO2 stream;
• and
• delivery of the purified and liquefied CO2 stream to the a fracturing fluid storage vessel.