# US 9,752,389 B2 · System and method for delivery of oilfield materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,389 B2 - Document ID: US9752389B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/838,872 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-02-13 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-13 - Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Inventors: Hau Nguyen-Phuc Pham; Rajesh Luharuka; William Bradford Stone; Nikki Morrison; Jakub Pawel Jodlowski; William Troy Huey; Travis Almer; Laurent Coquilleau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752389B2 ## CPC - E21B 15/00: Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts - B65G 65/32: Filling devices - E04H 7/22: Containers for fluent solids, e.g. silos, bunkers; Supports therefor - E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A system and methodology facilitates the handling of oilfield material. The oilfield material is stored in at least one silo which enables use of gravity to feed the oilfield material to a blender or other suitable equipment. Each modular silo is transportable and may be engaged with a support structure via a pivot connection. Once engaged, the silo is pivoted to a raised, upright position on the support structure. The oilfield material is then moved to an interior of the silo, and gravity may be used to feed the oilfield material to a blender or other equipment in a controlled manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile support structure for supporting at least one modular silo, the mobile support structure comprising: a support base having a first end and a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface, a first side and a second side; a frame structure rigidly connected to the support base, the frame structure extending above the support base to define a passage between the top surface and the frame structure, the frame structure having a plurality of silo receiving regions each sized and configured to receive a modular silo adjacent an upper surface thereof; a first expandable base on the first side of the support base and movable between a travel position and a support position, the first expandable base substantially coplanar with the support base when in the support position; and a second expandable base on the second side of the support base and movable between a travel position and a support position, the second expandable base substantially coplanar with the support base and the first expandable base when in the support position, wherein the support base, the first expandable base and the second expandable base provide vertical and lateral support to the at least one modular silo when the expandable bases are in the support position, and wherein a first portion of the frame structure is positioned above the support base, and a second portion of the frame structure is positioned on either the first or second expandable base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, further comprising a first set of moveable joints connecting the first expandable base to at least one of the frame structure and the support base, and a second set of moveable joints connecting the second expandable base to at least one of the frame structure and the support base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, further comprising a first set of actuators connected to the frame structure and the first expandable base, and configured to move the first expandable base between a support position and a travel position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mobile support structure of claim 3, wherein when the first expandable base is positioned in the support position, the first expandable base extends substantially horizontally from the frame structure, and when the first expandable base is positioned in the travel position, the first expandable base extends substantially vertically and adjacent to the frame structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The mobile support structure of claim 3, further comprising a second set of actuators connected to the frame structure and the second expandable base, and configured to move the second expandable base between a support position and a travel position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, wherein the first expandable base has a first surface facing the frame structure, and wherein the mobile support structure further comprises a pair of alignment guides extending from the first surface, the alignment guides being aligned with one of the at least one silo receiving regions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, further comprising a first connection on the first portion of the frame structure to receive and support a first portion of the modular silo within each silo receiving region, and a second connection on the second portion of the frame structure within each silo receiving region on either the first or second expandable base adapted to receive and support a second portion of the modular silo above the first or second expandable bases. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The mobile support structure of claim 7, wherein the first connection and the second connection within each silo receiving region are positioned to form a truncated triangle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mobile support structure of claim 8, wherein the truncated triangle is in the form of a trapezoid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The mobile support structure of claim 7 wherein the frame structure has a top, and wherein the first connection is located at the top of the frame structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of load cells on the first connection and the second connection within each silo receiving region; and one or more controllers coupled to the load cells and configured to receive signals from the load cells indicative of force applied to the load cells and transform the signals into information indicative of at least one of a weight of each modular silo installed on the frame structure of each silo receiving region and an amount of oilfield material contained within each modular silo installed on the frame structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of load cells within each silo receiving region; and one or more controllers coupled to the load cells and configured to receive signals from the load cells indicative of force applied to the load cells and transform the signals into information indicative of at least one of a weight of each modular silo installed on the mobile support structure and an amount of oilfield material contained within each modular silo installed on the mobile support structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, wherein the silos comprise a plurality of modular silos and wherein one of the modular silos occupies a first horizontal area when positioned in a vertical orientation, and wherein the support base, the first expandable base and the second expandable base occupy a combined second horizontal area that is at least one and a half times as large as the first horizontal area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, further comprising an integrated blending system supported by the support base and within the passage defined by the frame structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The mobile support structure of claim 1, wherein a combined horizontal area of the support base and the first and second expandable bases in the support position is at least one and half times as large as a horizontal area occupied by a one of the modular silos when the silo is installed on the mobile support structure. ### Claim 16 A mobile support structure for supporting at least one modular silo, the mobile support structure comprising: a support base having a first end and a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface; a frame structure connected to the support base, the frame structure extending above the support base to define a passage between the top surface and the frame structure, the frame structure having a plurality of receiving regions each sized and configured to receive a modular silo; a gooseneck portion extending from the first end of the support base and configured to connect to and disconnect from a truck, wherein the gooseneck portion, when disconnected from the truck, is configured to be manipulated to lie on the ground and be generally co-planar with the support base; and a plurality of wheels located proximate to the second end of the support base, the gooseneck portion and the wheels enabling movement of the support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The mobile support structure of claim 16, wherein the support base has a first side and a second side, and wherein the mobile support structure further comprises a first expandable base positioned on the first side of the support base. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The mobile support structure of claim 17, further comprising a first set of hinges connecting the first expandable base to at least one of the frame structure and the support base. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The mobile support structure of claim 18, further comprising a first set of actuators connected to the frame structure and the first expandable base and configured to move the first expandable base between a support position, and a travel position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The mobile support structure of claim 19, wherein when the first expandable base is positioned in the support position, the first expandable base extends substantially horizontally from the frame structure, and when the first expandable base is positioned in the travel position, the first expandable base extends substantially vertically and adjacent to the frame structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The mobile support structure of claim 17, wherein the first expandable base has a first surface facing the frame structure, and wherein the mobile support structure further comprises a pair of alignment guides extending from the first surface, the alignment guides being aligned with one of the at least one silo receiving regions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The mobile support structure of claim 17, further comprising a first connection on the frame structure adapted to receive and support a first portion of the modular silo, and a second connection on the first expandable base adapted to receive and support a second portion of the modular silo. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The mobile support structure of claim 22 wherein the frame structure has a top, and wherein the first connection is located at the top of the frame structure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The mobile support structure of claim 16, wherein the wheels have a lower portion, and wherein the mobile support structure further comprises at least one linkage supported by the wheels and connected to the support base, the linkage configured to move the support base in a vertical direction relative to the wheels between a travel position in which the support base is located above the lower portion of the wheels, and a support position in which at least a portion of the support base is aligned with the lower portion of the wheels. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The mobile support structure of claim 16, wherein the gooseneck comprises: a first section extending from the first end of the support base, the first section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first section movably connected to the support base; and a second section movably connected to the first section.