Patent ID: 9022120
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: C09K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of preparing fluids for treating a subterranean well comprising: feeding a dry composition into a top opening of a radial mixing zone of a vortex pre-mixer of a mixing apparatus, while concurrently radially directing a first portion of a base fluid into an angled inlet of the radial mixing zone to create a turbulent cyclonic flow of the base fluid and the dry composition in the radial mixing zone of the vortex pre-mixer, where a feed rate of the dry composition and a feed rate of the first portion of the base fluid are sufficient to pre-wet and partially hydrate the dry composition to form a pre-wetted and partially hydrated fluid, where the dry composition includes a hydratable agent or a mixture of hydratable agents and where the mixing apparatus is located on-site for on-demand hydration of the dry composition; and directing a second portion of the base fluid through a nozzle creating a vacuum and forming a mixing eductor or vacuum mixing zone of the mixing apparatus having a pressure of about 70% of a fluid pressure prior to exiting the nozzle, which pulls or sweeps the pre-wetted and partially hydrated fluid from the radial mixing zone into the second portion of the base fluid to form a partially, substantially or completely hydrated concentrate that is clump free, fish-eye free or clump free and fish-eye free, where the second portion of the base fluid is larger than the first portion of the base fluid and where the feeding and directing occurs in a minute or less.