# US 2014/0151051 A1 · Co2 fracturing system and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151051 A1 - Document ID: US20140151051A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,074 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Vitali Victor Lissianski; Stephen Duane Sanborn; Andrew Jacob Gorton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151051A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping - E21B 21/062: {by mixing components} - E21B 43/164: {Injecting CO2 or carbonated water (in combination with organic material C09K8/594)} - E21B 43/2605: {using gas or liquefied gas} - E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An apparatus and method for delivering a thickened fluid mixture, including a CO2 recapture system. The apparatus including a proppant storage vessel and a fracturing fluid storage vessel providing a continous supply of a proppant material and a fracturing fluid to a mixing apparatus. The mixing apparatus configured to output and deliver a thickened fluid mixture of the proppant, the fracturing fluid and a thickener agent at or above the fracturing fluid blending pressure to a high pressure pump assembly. The high pressure pump assembly configured to deliver a high pressure thickened fluid mixture to one or more downstream components at an injection pressure. The apparatus including a CO2 recapture system configured to recapture an exhaust stream from the one or more downstream components and/or other CO2 output sources, and provide a purified and liquefied CO2 fluid stream to the fracturing fluid storage vessel. The apparatus configured for continual operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for delivering a fluid mixture comprising: a pressurized proppant feed assembly, the assembly including a proppant storage vessel configured to contain therein a proppant material at ambient pressure and a pump assembly coupled to the proppant storage vessel, the pump assembly configured to output a proppant output flow at or above a fracturing fluid blending pressure, wherein the fracturing fluid blending pressure is greater than the ambient pressure; a fracturing fluid storage vessel configured to contain therein a fracturing fluid and output a 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 fracturing fluid output flow; a mixing apparatus coupled to the pressurized proppant feed assembly and the fracturing fluid storage vessel, the mixing apparatus in fluid communication with the proppant output flow and the fracturing fluid output flow, the mixing apparatus configured to mix the proppant output flow, the fracturing fluid output flow, and the thickener agent therein and output a thickened fluid mixture of proppant and thickened 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 recapture system, configured to receive an output flow from one or more of an exhaust stream from the downstream component, a well flow-back stream, a vented output stream or an external source; and a separation and liquefaction system in fluid communication with the recapture system and the fracturing fluid storage vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump assembly is configured to receive a continual supply of proppant material and output a continuous proppant output flow. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixing apparatus is configured to receive a continual supply of the proppant output flow and a continual supply of the fracturing fluid output flow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mixing apparatus is configured to receive a continual supply of the proppant output flow and a continual supply of a thickened fracturing fluid output flow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the thickener agent storage vessel is configured to provide direct delivery of the thickener agent to the mixing apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thickener agent storage vessel is configured to provide direct delivery of the thickener agent into the fracturing fluid output flow prior to delivery of the fracturing fluid output flow to the mixing apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid blending pressure is in a range of 150-400 psi. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fracturing fluid blending pressure is approximately 300 psi. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the injection pressure is in a range of 5000-12,000 psi or higher. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proppant material is sand. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid is liquid CO2. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recapture system includes a well flow-back stream recapture system. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13,wherein the thickener agent storage vessel is configured to provide direct delivery of the thickener agent to the mixing apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the thickener agent storage vessel is configured to provide direct delivery of the thickener agent into the CO2 fracturing fluid output flow prior to delivery of the CO2 fracturing fluid output flow to the mixing apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fracturing fluid blending pressure is in a range of 150-400 psi and the injection pressure is in a range of 5000-12,000 psi or higher. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the proppant material is sand. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further including a well flow-back stream CO2 recapture system. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the proppant storage vessel is configured to output a continuous proppant output flow and the the fracturing fluid storage vessel is configured to output a continuous fracturing fluid output flow, thereby providing for continuous operation.