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US 2022/0065087 A1Published application
Liquid plunger method and apparatus
AssigneeColina
InventorJorge O. Arribau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual chamber assembly for continuously injecting slurry into a wellhead by displacing it from chambers with pressurized clean fluid.
Claims22
Apparatus for pressurizing and intermixing sand and fluid using a blender and frac pumps for discharge into a wellhead, comprising:
- at least one pair of synchronized pressure chambers, each of first and second chambers adapted for vertical or semi-horizontal orientation;
- at least two inlet lines secured at a first end of each of said first chamber and said second chamber and in fluid communication with said blender;
- at least two high pressure outlet lines secured at said first end of each of said first chamber and said second chamber and in fluid communication with said wellhead;
- at least two outlet lines secured to a second end of each said first chamber and said second chamber and to said frac pumps;
- at least two high pressure inlet lines secured to said second end of each of said first and said second chamber and to said frac pumps;
- first valve members operatively connected to said inlet lines and said high pressure outlet lines proximal to said first end of each of said first chamber and said second chamber;
- second valve members operatively connected to said outlet lines and said high pressure inlet lines proximal to said second end of each of said first chamber and said second chamber, and
- flow meters mechanically connected to each of said outlet lines and operatively connected to a logic control unit including at least one valve actuator.
5 more elements
In an apparatus for injecting pressurized slurry into a wellhead, the apparatus having a blender unit and at least one fracturing pump, the apparatus comprising:
- dual elongated chambers having upper and lower cap ends sealing each of said chambers;
- at least one outlet and at least one high-pressure inlet proximal to an upper end of each of said chambers;
- at least one inlet and at least one-high pressure outlet proximal to a lower end of each of said chambers;
- each of said inlets and outlets having corresponding valve members;
- each of said outlet lines having a mechanically connected flow meter;
- each of said valve members having a corresponding actuator with valve actuator arms;
- and
- a logic control unit operatively connected to said actuator, said valve members and said valve actuator arms.
5 more elements
In a method of pressurizing and discharging slurry into a wellhead, the steps comprising:
- filling a first chamber, a second chamber and frac pumps with clean fluid;
- injecting slurry into said first chamber and displacing fluid from said first chamber into one of said frac pumps;
- injecting pressurized fluid from one of said frac pumps into said second chamber and displacing contents of said second chamber into a wellhead;
- and
- reversing directional valves thereby injecting slurry into said second chamber and displacing fluid from said second chamber into one of said frac pumps.
2 more elements
In a method for pressurizing slurry, having a blender and at least one frac pump, the steps comprising:
- intermixing fluid and sand within said blender forming a slurry;
- injecting low-pressure slurry into a first chamber and discharging pressurized slurry from a second chamber into a wellhead;
- displacing fluid from said first chamber and injecting low-pressure slurry into said second chamber;
- measuring fluid flow from said first chamber and said second chamber to said frac pump and recording said fluid flow measurement on a logic control unit;
- actuating valve members based upon said fluid flow measurement;
- injecting pressurized fluid into said first chamber;
- and
- discharging pressurized slurry from said first chamber into a wellhead and injecting pressurized fluid into said second chamber.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.