Blender tub overflow catch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11846167-B2
Application number	US-202017122425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2020
Priority date	Dec 30, 2019
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a system for a blender tub overflow catch is disclosed for fracturing operations using a fracturing fluid blender. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a first tub that may be a blender tub and a second tub forming a blender tub overflow catch that is adapted to circumvent an outside diameter of the first tub to catch overflow fluid from the first tub so that it can be directed back into the first tub upon a determination that the first tub has a capacity to handle the overflow fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a first tub and a second tub to be associated with a fracturing fluid blender, the second tub adapted to circumvent an outside diameter of the first tub and adapted with a height that is determined based in part on at least one overflow constraint of an application of the fracturing fluid blender;
a processing unit and tank components configured to buffer or provide blending components for the first tub based in part on the at least one overflow constraint; and
one or more valves and routing pipes associated with the processing unit and the tank components to direct an overflow fluid received in the second tub, from the first tub, to be returned to the first tub upon a determination that the first tub has a capacity to handle the overflow fluid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one overflow constraint comprises an amount of the overflow fluid expected from a determined mix of the blending components.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part blender fluid discharged from the first tub for a fracturing application, the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on a level of blender fluid within the first tub, and the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on an evacuation of blender fluid from within the first tub to a storage container, and the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity available in the first tub based in part on an evacuation of a first amount of blender fluid from within the first tub, and the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable a second amount of the overflow fluid that is less than or equal to the first amount to be returned to the first tub.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first height for the second tub, the first height equal to or a lesser than a second height of the first tub.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one first sensor associated with the first tub and at least one second sensor associated with the second tub level, information from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor to enable the system to infer that current level of blender fluid in the first tub and of the overflow fluid in the second tub, and the information to enable the system to retain or return the overflow fluid based in part on a level of the blender fluid.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor associated with one or more of the first tub or the second tub, the at least one sensor comprising one or more of a flow sensor, a flow meter, a radar, or a sonar.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second tub adapted to be used to store the overflow fluid for at least a predetermined amount of time irrespective of a level of blender fluid in the first tub.

11. A method comprising:
associating a first tub and a second tub with a fracturing fluid blender;
enabling the second tub to circumvent an outside diameter of the first tub and to comprise a height that is a determined based in part on at least one overflow constraint of an application of the fracturing fluid blender;
buffering or providing blending components for the first tub based in part on the at least one overflow constraint and using a processing unit and tank components; and
associating one or more valves and routing pipes with the processing unit and the tank components to direct an overflow fluid received in the second tub, from the first tub, to be returned to the first tub upon a determination that the first tub has a capacity to handle the overflow fluid.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the on at least one overflow constraint comprises an amount of the overflow fluid expected from a determined mix of the blending components.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part blender fluid discharged from the first tub for a fracturing application; and
providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on a level of blender fluid within the first tub; and
providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on an evacuation of blender fluid from within the first tub to a storage container; and
providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity available in the first tub based in part on an evacuation of a first amount of blender fluid from within the first tub; and
providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable a second amount of the overflow fluid that is less than or equal to the first amount to be returned to the first tub.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
enabling a first height for the second tub, the first height equal to or a lesser than a second height of the first tub.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
providing, using at least one first sensor associated with the first tub and using at least one second sensor associated with the second tub level, information from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor for the system;
inferring, by the system, that current level of blender fluid in the first tub and of the overflow fluid in the second tub; and
enabling, using the information provided to the system, retention or return of the overflow fluid based in part on a level of the blender fluid.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
associating at least one sensor with one or more of the first tub or the second tub, the at least one sensor comprising one or more of a flow sensor, a flow meter, a radar, or a sonar.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
adapting the second tub to be used to store the overflow fluid for at least a predetermined amount of time irrespective of a level of blender fluid in the first tub.

Assignees

• U S Well Services Llc

Inventors

• Christinzio Alexander
• Oehring Jared

Classifications

• E21B43/2607 Primary

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• B01F25/50

  Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle · CPC title

• B01F33/5021

  the vehicle being self-propelled, e.g. truck mounted, provided with a motor, driven by tracks (B01F33/5022 - B01F33/5027 take precedence) · CPC title

• B01F35/2112

  Level of material in a container or the position or shape of the upper surface of the material · CPC title

• B01F35/71805

  using valves, gates, orifices or openings · CPC title