# US 2020/0073353 A1 · Monitoring and control of proppant storage from a datavan > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0073353 A1 - Document ID: US20200073353A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/377,861 - Filed: 2019-04-08 - Published: 2020-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-16 - Assignees: U.S. Well Services, LLC - Applicants: U.S. Well Services, Inc. - Inventors: Jared Oehring; Brandon N. Hinderliter; Arthur Baron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200073353A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)} - E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations} - E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping - G05B 19/46: hydraulic - G05B 2219/37303: Two measurements, speed of motor and speed of load - G05B 2219/45004: Mining - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A system and method that remotely monitors and controls proppant usage in a fracturing operation. The system and method allow operators to wirelessly monitor and control proppant storage units from inside a datavan through sensors and control mechanisms that interface with fracturing software to schedule the flow of the proppant. A sensor monitors the weight, container level, or volume of the proppant being used to keep the induced hydraulic fracture open. A serial to Ethernet converter converts this information and sends it wirelessly to a datavan. A user at the datavan controls the proppant usage through a display in the datavan of the storage units with the appropriate weight. The container monitoring software links with the fracturing software, providing real-time information about proppant usage so that the user can properly schedule proppant flow to the well through valves, conveyor belts, and other control mechanisms. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A system for use with a fracturing operation comprising: a weight monitoring system in selective cooperation with a proppant container that selectively contains proppant used in fracturing; an information handling system in communication with the weight monitoring system; and a proppant dispensing system coupled with the proppant container and that is in communication with and selectively activated by the information handling system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further including a serial to Ethernet converter for sending and receiving Ethernet data to and from the information handling system, and for sending and receiving serial data to and from the proppant container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the information handling system selectively sends commands to actuate a valve coupled with the proppant container to provide a designated amount of proppant for use by a fracturing operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, where the information handling system alerts a user if an amount of proppant in the proppant container is below a threshold level, and where the information handling system estimates the amount of proppant in the proppant container based on a signal received from the weight monitoring system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, where the weight monitoring system comprises a sensor for measuring one or more of a weight of the proppant container, a level of proppant in the proppant container, and a volume of proppant in the proppant container, and wherein the sensor comprises a measuring device selected from the group consisting of gamma ray gauges, radar gauges, laser gauges, weight measuring load cells, pressure sensors, ultrasonic gauges, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, where the control is either wired or wireless. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, where the proppant storage containers include one of silos or trailer mounted containers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, where the equipment is electric powered, diesel powered, gravity fed, or solar powered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of electric-powered pumps fluidly connected to a well and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into the well at high pressure so that the fluid passes from the well into the formation, and fractures the formation; and a variable frequency drive connected to the electric motor to control the speed of the motor, wherein the variable frequency drive frequently performs electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the at least one electric motor. ### Claim 11 A method for conducting a fracturing operation comprising: sensing an amount of proppant contained in at least one proppant storage container; comparing the amount of proppant sensed in the proppant storage container with a designated amount of proppant; and regulating a flow of proppant from the proppant storage container based on the step of comparing the amount of proppant sensed and the designated amount of proppant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising a scheduling step that includes interfacing with a fracturing system that can actuate valves and other control mechanisms to provide proppant to fracturing operations on conveyor belts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising directing an amount of proppant toward a well through the use of conveyor belts that are controlled by a user at a datavan. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an alert if proppant in the proppant storage container goes below a threshold level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, where the sensing the amount of proppant in the proppant storage container comprises using a device that is selected from the group consisting of gamma ray gauges, radar gauges, laser gauges, weight measuring load cells, pressure sensors, ultrasonic gauges. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, where the transmitting step is either wired or wireless. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, where the proppant storage containers include one of silos or trailer mounted containers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, where the equipment is electric powered, diesel powered, gravity fed or solar powered. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of pumping fluid with a plurality of electric-powered pumps into a wellbore at high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the formation, and fractures the formation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of controlling the speed of an electric motor powered the electric-powered pumps with a variable frequency drive, wherein the variable frequency drive frequently performs electric motor diagnostics to prevent damage to the electric motor.