Method and apparatus for continuously mixing well treatment fluids

Abstract

An apparatus and method for continuously mixing well treatment fluids, such as fracturing gels and the like. Dry polymer is fed into a metering feeder which accurately meters the rate of polymer fed into a water spraying mixer. A vent is provided so that air can enter with the polymer as necessary. Water, with or without a buffering compound therein, is flowed through a water inlet of the mixer. The water is jetted into a spiraling flow pattern through which the polymer falls and is substantially wetted. Auxiliary water inlets may be used to add additional water to the water-polymer slurry to increase mixing energy and increase the amount of slurry produced. The slurry is discharged into a mixing tank with an agitator and then into a holding tank. The slurry may also pass through a shear device to further increase the rate of viscosification of the slurry. In this way, the slurry may be continuously mixed on a real time basis while carrying out the well treatment operation, such as the fracturing of a formation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.