Patent ID: 8960564
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: E21B,F24H,F28D

Abstract:
1. A method of fracturing a subterranean formation at a remote work site to produce at least one of oil and gas, comprising the steps of: a) providing a portable oil-fired heating system for heating treatment fluid, said heating system comprising a heat exchanger having a tubular coil featuring a single inlet and a single outlet and being contained within a closed-bottom firebox having an exhaust stack configured near the top of said firebox; b) drawing treatment fluid from a fluid source to said inlet of said heat exchanger in said portable heating system; c) pumping said treatment fluid through a single pass of said heat exchanger in said portable heating system; d) heating said treatment fluid to a temperature not greater than 210° F. during said single pass through said heat exchanger by combusting an air-fuel mixture in said firebox using a plurality of burner assemblies, wherein each of said burner assemblies combines a liquid fuel flow and a pressurized air flow to project an atomized fuel-air spray, which when combusted results in a substantially horizontal combustion flow in said firebox; e) directing the continuously flowing heated treatment fluid from said outlet of said heat exchanger directly to a well head at said work site without reheating for injection into the formation to conduct hydraulic fracturing operations on the well, wherein said treatment fluid is heated to at least 40° F. in ambient atmospheric temperatures below 25° F. while pumping through said heat exchanger at a volumetric flow rate of at least 200 gpm.