Method and apparatus for hydrating a gel for use in a subterranean formation
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMax L. Phillippi, Billy Slabaugh
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and system for hydrating a gel for treating a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The method includes directing a base fluid through an inlet into a mixer having an inner chamber housing a plurality of impellers extending radially from and rotating about a hub, causing a centrifugal motion of the base fluid, feeding a quantity of gel into the mixer, mixing the gel with the base fluid and discharging the now-hydrated gel from the inner chamber through an outlet of the mixer. A prewetting device may also be used. Thereafter, a variety of additives may be added to the gel fluid mix to form a fluid treatment to be introduced into a subterranean formation.
Claims11
An apparatus for substantially hydrating a gel particulate for use in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a mixer having a housing defining an inner chamber;
- a base fluid inlet connected to the housing and capable of directing a base fluid into the inner chamber of the housing;
- a gel particulate inlet connected to the housing and capable of directing a gel particulate into the inner chamber;
- an outlet connected to the housing and capable of directing a substantially hydrated gel away from the housing, wherein the base fluid inlet is at least partially inside of the outlet;
- an impeller within the housing, the impeller having a plurality of impeller blades extending radially outward from a hub, the impeller blades for rotating about the hub thereby creating a centrifugal flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.