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US 8,408,289 B2Granted
Liquified petroleum gas fracturing system
AssigneeGasFrac Energy Services Inc.
InventorDwight N. Loree
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.
Claims25
Apparatus for fracturing a formation penetrated by a well, the apparatus comprising:
- a frac pressure pump connected to a well;
- a frac fluid source having one or more tanks connected to supply a stream of frac fluid comprising propane, butane or a mixture of propane and butane to the frac pressure pump;
- an inert gas source connected to supply a blanket of inert gas into the one or more tanks to maintain pressure on the frac fluid in the one or more tanks and to assist in driving the frac fluid towards the frac pressure pump;
- and
- a controller connected to control operation of the frac fluid source, frac pressure pump and inert gas source.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.