Water heating apparatus for continuous heated water flow and method for use in hydraulic fracturing

A method of fracturing a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);
• b) transmitting a water stream of cool or cold water to a mixer, the cool or cold water stream being at a temperature of less than a predetermined target temperature;
• c) the mixer having a first inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source of step “b” and a first outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of cool or cold water and heated water;
• d) the mixer having a second outlet and a second inlet downstream of the second outlet;
• e) adding heated water from the heating apparatus of step “a” to the mixer via the second inlet;
• f) continuously transmitting water from the mixer via the second outlet to the heating apparatus of step “a”;
• g) wherein the volume of cool or cold water of step “b” is much greater than the volume of heated water of step “e”;
• h) adding a selected proppant to the mix of cool or cold water and heated water discharged from the first outlet of the mixer after step “f”;
• and
• i) transmitting the mix of cool or cold water and heated water and the proppant into a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the first inlet to the first outlet during the fracturing process.

An oil well hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:

• a) a heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);
• b) a source of cool or cold water at about ambient temperature;
• c) a mixer having a first inlet and a first outlet;
• d) a second inlet that enables heated water to enter the mixer;
• e) a second outlet that enables removal of water from the mixer upstream of the second inlet;
• f) a first flowline that transmits heated water between the heater and the second inlet;
• g) a second flowline that transmits water between the second outlet and the heater, the second flowline being upstream of the second inlet;
• and
• h) a mixing tank that is receptive of a flow of a mix of cool or cold and heated water from the mixer, said tank enabling a proppant to be mixed with the mix of cool or cold and heated water that is discharged from the first outlet.

A hydraulic fracturing apparatus, comprising:

• a) a transportable heating apparatus for heating water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.) to produce heated water;
• b) a source of cool or cold water;
• c) a mixer having a first inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source of cool or cold water and a first outlet that enables discharge of a mix of cool or cold and heated water;
• d) the mixer having a second outlet and a second inlet spaced downstream of the second outlet;
• e) a first flowline that transmits heated water from the transportable heating apparatus to the mixer via the second inlet;
• f) a second flowline that transmits water from the mixer to the transportable heating apparatus via the second outlet;
• g) a tank that enables a selected proppant to be mixed with the mix of cool or cold and heated water that is discharged from the first outlet of the mixer;
• h) a flowline that connects the mixer with the tank;
• i) a flowline that transmits the mix of cool or cold and heated water and proppant from the tank into a formation producing at least one of oil and gas.

A method of fracturing a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a heating apparatus for heating water to a temperature of at least about 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);
• b) transmitting a water stream of cool or cold water to a mixer, the cool or cold water stream being at a temperature of less than a predetermined target temperature;
• c) the mixer having an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the stream of step “b” and an outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of cool or cold and heated water;
• d) the mixer having a lateral inlet fitting that enables heated water to enter a mixer bore at an angle;
• e) adding heated water from the heating apparatus of step “a” to the mixer via the lateral inlet fitting;
• f) wherein the volume of cool or cold water of step “b” is much greater than the volume of heated water of step “e”;
• g) adding a selected proppant to the mix of cool or cold and heated water discharged from the outlet of the mixer after step “f”;
• and
• h) transmitting the mix of cool or cold and heated water and the proppant into a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the inlet to the outlet during the fracturing process.

A method of fracturing a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);
• b) transmitting a water stream of cool or cold water to a mixer, the cool or cold water stream being at a temperature of less than a predetermined target temperature;
• c) the mixer having an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the cool or cold water stream of step “b” and an outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of cool or cold and heated water;
• d) the mixer having a first lateral inlet fitting and a second lateral inlet fitting downstream of the first lateral inlet fitting;
• e) adding heated water from the heating apparatus of step “a” to the mixer via the second lateral inlet fitting;
• f) continuously transmitting water from the mixer via the first lateral inlet fitting to the heating apparatus of step “a”;
• g) wherein the volume of cool or cold water of step “b” is much greater than the volume of heated water of step “e”;
• h) adding a selected proppant to the mix of cool or cold and heated water discharged from the outlet of the mixer after step “f”;
• and
• i) transmitting the mix of cool or cold and heated water and the proppant into a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the inlet to the outlet during the fracturing process.

An oil well hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:

• a) a heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);
• b) a source of cool or cold water at about ambient temperature;
• c) a mixer having an inlet, an outlet and a mixer bore that extends between the inlet and the outlet;
• d) a first lateral fitting on the mixer that enables heated water to enter the mixer bore;
• e) a second lateral fitting on the mixer that enables removal of water from the mixer bore upstream of the first lateral fitting and wherein at least one of the lateral fittings has a wall portion that extends into the mixer bore;
• f) a first flowline that transmits heated water between the heater and the first lateral fitting;
• g) a second flowline that transmits water between the second lateral fitting and the heater, the second flowline being upstream of the first lateral fitting;
• and
• h) a mixing tank that is receptive of a flow of a mix of cool or cold and heated water from the bore of the mixer, said tank enabling a proppant to be mixed with the mix of cool or cold and heated water that is discharged from the mixer outlet.

A hydraulic fracturing apparatus, comprising:

• a) a transportable heating apparatus for heating water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);
• b) a source of cool or cold water;
• c) a mixer having an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source of cool or cold water and an outlet that enables discharge of a mix of cool or cold and heated water;
• d) the mixer having a first lateral inlet fitting and a second lateral inlet fitting spaced downstream of the first lateral inlet fitting;
• e) a first flowline that transmits heated water from the heating apparatus to the mixer via the second lateral inlet fitting;
• f) a second flowline that transmits water from the mixer to the heating apparatus via the first lateral inlet fitting;
• g) a tank that enables a selected proppant to be mixed with the mix of cool or cold and heated water that is discharged from the outlet of the mixer;
• h) a flowline that connects the mixer bore with the tank;
• i) a flowline that transmits the mix of cool or cold and heated water and proppant from the tank into a formation producing at least one of oil and gas.

A method of heating water for use in fracturing a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a heating apparatus for heating water to a temperature of at least about 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);
• b) transmitting a water stream of cool or cold water to a mixer, the cool or cold water stream being at a temperature of less than a predetermined target temperature;
• c) the mixer having a first inlet that receives cool or cold water from the stream of step “b” and a first outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of cool or cold and heated water;
• d) the mixer having a second inlet that enables heated water to enter the mixer;
• e) adding heated water from the heating apparatus of step “a” to the mixer via the second inlet;
• f) wherein the volume of cool or cold water of step “b” is much greater than the volume of heated water of step “e”;
• g) wherein a selected proppant is added to the mix of cool or cold and heated water discharged from the mixer after step “f”;
• and
• h) wherein the mix of cool or cold and heated water and the proppant are transmitted into a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the first inlet to the first outlet during the fracturing process.