Hydration systems and methods

A method, comprising:

• substantially continuously feeding hydratable material and hydrating fluid into a mixer;
• substantially continuously operating the mixer to mix the hydratable material and the hydrating fluid to form a first substantially continuous stream, wherein the first substantially continuous stream comprises gel having:
• a first concentration of hydratable material;
• and
• a first viscosity;
• substantially continuously communicating the first substantially continuous stream through an enclosed hydrator to form a second substantially continuous stream, wherein the second substantially continuous stream comprises gel having:
• the first concentration of hydratable material;
• and
• a second viscosity that is substantially greater than the first viscosity;
• substantially continuously combining the second substantially continuous stream and a third substantially continuous stream to form a fourth substantially continuous stream, wherein the third substantially continuous stream substantially comprises aqueous fluid, and wherein the fourth substantially continuous stream comprises gel having a second concentration of hydratable material that is substantially less than the first concentration;
• and
• utilizing gel from the fourth substantially continuous stream in a well fracturing operation.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a system operable to form a substantially continuous supply of gel having a first hydratable material concentration for use in a well fracturing operation, wherein the system comprises:
• a mixer operable to receive and mix hydratable material and aqueous fluid to form a substantially continuous supply of gel having a second hydratable material concentration, wherein the second hydratable material concentration is substantially higher than the first hydratable material concentration;
• an enclosed tank having an internal flow path traversed by the substantially continuous supply of gel having the second hydratable material concentration during a period of time sufficient to permit a viscosity of the substantially continuous supply of gel having the second hydratable material concentration to increase to a predetermined level;
• and
• a diluter operable to dilute the substantially continuous supply of increased viscosity gel having the second hydratable material concentration to the substantially continuously supply gel having the first hydratable material concentration.