Method and apparatus for the addition of low-bulk-density fibers to a fluid
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsMat Hoover, William Ray McIntire
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Low density fibrous materials such as carbon fibers are readily added and dispersed into a liquid such as a fracturing fluid liquid by injecting the fibers into the liquid adjacent to the liquid-gas interface at the surface of the liquid. The fibrous materials are preferably compacted to a uniform bulk density in a container in which all the gas in the compacted fibers has been displaced by a liquid. A crimped cartridge having a piston to discharge the compacted fibrous material into the liquid is preferred.
Claims23
A method of addition and dispersion of a fibrous material into a liquid comprising the steps of providing a liquid having a liquid-gas interface and injecting the fibrous material into the liquid adjacent to the liquid-gas interface, wherein the step of injecting comprises providing a container having a diameter which contains the fibrous material and positioning the container for the fibrous material below the liquid-gas interface.
A method of addition and dispersion of a fibrous material into a liquid comprising the steps of providing a liquid having a liquid-gas interface and injecting the fibrous material into the liquid adjacent to the liquid-gas interface wherein the step of injecting comprises providing a container having a diameter which contains the fibrous material and positioning the container for the fibrous material less than five container diameters above the liquid-gas interface.
A method of addition and dispersion of a fibrous material into a liquid comprising the steps of providing a liquid having a liquid-gas interface and injecting the fibrous material into the liquid adjacent to the liquid-gas interface wherein the step of injecting comprises providing a container having a diameter which contains the fibrous material and positioning the container for the fibrous material less than three container diameters above the liquid-gas interface.
A method of addition and dispersion of a fibrous material into a liquid comprising the steps of providing a liquid having a liquid-gas interface and injecting the fibrous material into the liquid adjacent to the liquid-gas interface wherein the step of injecting comprises providing a container having a diameter which contains the fibrous material and positioning the container for the fibrous material less than one container diameter above the liquid-gas interface.
A method of addition and dispersion of a fibrous material into a liquid comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a liquid having a liquid-gas interface,
- (2) compacting a fibrous material to a uniform bulk density within a container,
- (3) positioning the container adjacent to the liquid-gas interface,
- (4) injecting the fibrous material into the liquid adjacent the liquid-gas interface,
- (5) ejecting the fibrous material at a volumetric rate.
A fracturing fluid made by a process of addition and dispersion of a fibrous material into a liquid comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a liquid having a liquid-gas interface,
- (2) injecting a fibrous material into the liquid adjacent the liquid-gas interface, and
- (3) agitating the liquid during the step of injecting.
Apparatus for adding a fibrous material to a liquid comprising:
- (1) a mixing tank for the liquid which provides a liquid-gas interface, the mixing tank having a liquid agitator, further wherein a liquid jet is located below the liquid-gas interface;
- (2) a container for the fibrous material positionable within the mixing tank, the container having a discharge opening located adjacent to the liquid-gas interface when in position in the mixing tank, and
- (3) means for discharging the fibrous material from the container through the discharge opening into the mixing tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.