Patent Publication Number: US-2021172309-A1

Title: Chem Skid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/932,496, filed on Nov. 7, 2019. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     No relevant prior art is known to the Applicant. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system for receiving and managing one or more fluids at multiple stage frac jobs. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system comprises a support frame, a chemical tank, and a water manifold. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system is configured to recirculating and agitate fluids in said chemical tank with pumps to reduce any settlement and keep precipitates to a minimum. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system comprises a plumbing assembly, one or more pumps, and a drive system. Said support frame comprises a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an overview of a worksite  100 . 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates an ISO tank  102 . 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an elevated top view of a multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a rear perspective view of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective overview of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates am perspective overview of a first fitting  500  among one or more vented fittings  210 . 
         FIGS. 6A, and 6B  illustrate an elevated top view and a perspective overview of a front half  600  of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 , displaying one or more pumps  218  and a drive system  220 . 
         FIGS. 7A, and 7B  illustrate an elevated top view and a detailed perspective overview of a front mounting platform  400  with a plumbing assembly  216 , said drive system  220  and said one or more pumps  218 . 
         FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C  illustrate a lower perspective view of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  with a central plumbing call-out  800 , a detailed view of said central plumbing call-out  800 , and an elevated side view of a handle assembly  802 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective second side view of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  with a second compartment fluid line  900 . 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a first lower plumbing assembly  1000  and a second lower plumbing assembly  1002 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective overview of a second side  228  of a front end  222  including a control panel  1100 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective overview of a first side  226  of said front end  222  including said control panel  1100 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an overview of a worksite  100 . 
     Large multiple stage frac jobs currently necessitate many pieces of primary equipment on each location. In addition, large numbers of pumps and auxiliary equipment are necessary to perform a proper frac job. Huge volumes of Friction Reducers (“FR”) and other necessary chemicals are needed to mix with the water and pump downhole. Positioning the many pieces of equipment needed at the site to handle large quantities of chemicals often becomes a real issue. Many times, operators cannot get certain chemicals close enough and must string out long hoses to reach the chemical pumps. 
     Said worksite  100  comprises an image of a frac spread giving an indication of all the necessary mobile equipment. Wherein, said worksite  100  shows a chemical equipment  104  at the bottom of the picture. Said chemical equipment  104  are taking up lots of space and must be pumped a long way to the blender. 
     Operators have started using iso tanks to hold these chemicals. Each iso tank holds about 5000 gallons. They can be hauled to the location and dropped off next to pumps. However, these do not have any recirculation, become contaminated, and have large number of precipitants form inside these tanks. FR can settle and form large precipitant solids that cannot be pumped properly. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates an ISO tank  102 . 
     Said ISO tank  102  can comprise a prior art system. 
     Said ISO tank  102  are not designed to be properly cleaned and take up needed space on a frac location. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an elevated top view of a multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 . 
     In one embodiment, said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can comprise a support frame  202  (also known as a skid), a chemical tank  204 , an air tank  206 , a water manifold  208   
     In one embodiment, said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can be placed in the middle of said worksite  100  right next to an acid skid. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can eliminate two of the frac tanks in the middle of said worksite  100 . Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can be placed right next to the blender and or the chemical pumps. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can unload the FR and other chemicals from iso tank or trucks at the back of the skids to keep them full. This will eliminate all the space needed for the chemicals. 
     Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can be configured to recirculating and agitate fluids in said chemical tank  204  with pumps to reduce any settlement and keep precipitates to a minimum. 
     In one embodiment, fluids pumped in said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can be filtered. 
     Advantages of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  over the prior art include its placement and arrangement in said worksite  100 . For example, said worksite  100  can fit neatly within the frac tank spread and will help reduce the needed frac pad size. 
     Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can keep fluids agitated with circulating pumps. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can eliminate long hoses to chemical pumps. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can greatly improve the quality control of chemicals added to frac waters. Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can utilize safe containers for all chemicals. 
     Consequently, said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can reduce maintenance and equipment costs, as well as improve portability. 
     Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can comprise one or more vented fittings  210 , one or more tank straps  212 , one or more flowline ultrasonic level transmitters  214 , a plumbing assembly  216 , one or more pumps  218 , and a drive system  220 . 
     Said support frame  202  can comprise a front end  222 , a rear end  224 , a first side  226 , a second side  228 , a trailer hitch  230 , and a trailer wheel assembly  232 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a rear perspective view of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 . 
     In one embodiment, said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can be mounted to said support frame  202  and function as a trailer on said trailer hitch  230  and said trailer wheel assembly  232 . Accordingly, said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can be transported as any other semi-trailer and placed into service with ease. 
     Said chemical tank  204  can be secured to said support frame  202  with a plurality of tank support assemblies and a plurality of tank support assemblies  300  and said one or more tank straps  212 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective overview of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 . 
     Said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can comprise a front mounting platform  400 , a rear platform  402  and a length  404 . 
     In one embodiment, said chemical tank  204  can comprise a first compartment  406  and a second compartment  408 . Accordingly, said chemical tank  204  can be used to hold and process a first fluid  410  and a second fluid  412 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates am perspective overview of a first fitting  500  among said one or more vented fittings  210 . 
       FIGS. 6A, and 6B  illustrate an elevated top view and a perspective overview of a front half  600  of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 , displaying said one or more pumps  218  and said drive system  220 . 
     In one embodiment, said first side  226  and said second side  228  of said front mounting platform  400  can each comprise an independent pump, drive and plumbing system. Accordingly, said one or more pumps  218  can comprise a first pump  602  and a second pump  604 ; and said drive system  220  can comprise a first drive system  606  and a second drive system  608 . 
     Each among said drive system  220  can comprise a motor  610 , a belt  612 , and a motor pulley  614 . Each among said one or more pumps  218  can comprise a pump pulley  616 . Said motor  610  can drive said motor pulley  614 , which can transfer power through said belt  612  onto said pump pulley  616  so as to activate the respective pump among said one or more pumps  218 . 
       FIGS. 7A, and 7B  illustrate an elevated top view and a detailed perspective overview of said front mounting platform  400  with said plumbing assembly  216 , said drive system  220  and said one or more pumps  218 . 
     As noted above, said plumbing assembly  216  can comprise a first plumbing assembly  700  and a second plumbing assembly  702 . 
     Each among said plumbing assembly  216  can comprise attachments connected between said one or more pumps  218  and said chemical tank  204 . Each said plumbing assembly  216  can comprise one or more lines and valves  704  to control a fluid movement between an inlet  706  and an outlet  708 . In one embodiment, said inlet  706  and said outlet  708  can comprise couplings for selectively holding lines in fluid connection with said one or more pumps  218 . 
       FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C  illustrate a lower perspective view of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  with a central plumbing call-out  800 , a detailed view of said central plumbing call-out  800 , and an elevated side view of a handle assembly  802 . 
     In one embodiment, said handle assembly  802  can be attached to a portion of said central plumbing call-out  800  and penetrate through a portion of said support frame  202 . Said handle assembly  802  can comprise a jam nut  804  attached to a portion of said central plumbing call-out  800 ; wherein, pulling a handle portion  806  of said handle assembly  802  can cause a valve  808  to selectively open or close. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective second side view of said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  with a second compartment fluid line  900 . 
     In one embodiment, said second compartment  408  can be connected to said second pump  604  and said second plumbing assembly  702  through said second compartment fluid line  900 . In one embodiment, a valve  902  can connect to said valve  902  and then a second compartment inlet  904  into said second compartment  408  at a first end  906  and said second plumbing assembly  702  at a second end  908 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a first lower plumbing assembly  1000  and a second lower plumbing assembly  1002 . 
     In one embodiment, said first lower plumbing assembly  1000  can attach to said first compartment  406  and said second lower plumbing assembly  1002  can attach to said second compartment  408 . 
     In one embodiment, said first lower plumbing assembly  1000  can comprise a first compartment inlet line  1004  for connecting said first pump  602  with said first compartment  406 . 
     In one embodiment, said first lower plumbing assembly  1000  can comprise a first mineral line  1006 , and said second lower plumbing assembly  1002  can comprise a second mineral line  1008 . 
     Each of said first compartment  406  and said second compartment  408  can comprise a mineral fluid inlet  1010  in a lower portion of each respective tank; a first mineral fluid inlet  1012  in said first lower plumbing assembly  1000  and a second mineral inlet  1014  in said second lower plumbing assembly  1002 . Accordingly, said first compartment  406  can have two fluid inlets said first mineral fluid inlet  1012  and said first compartment inlet line  1004 ; and said second compartment  408  can comprise said second compartment inlet  904  and said second mineral inlet  1014 . Thereby, said one or more pumps  218  can selectively fill, drain and churn fluids within said chemical tank  204  and more precisely, within said first compartment  406  and said second compartment  408 . Likewise, said mineral fluid inlet  1010  can be manually operated using said handle assembly  802  as discussed above. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective overview of said second side  228  of said front end  222  including a control panel  1100 . 
     In one embodiment, said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200  can comprise said control panel  1100  and/or a controller  1102  for operating each among said plumbing assembly  216 , said one or more pumps  218 , said drive system  220 , said first lower plumbing assembly  1000  and said second lower plumbing assembly  1002 . 
     Likewise, a power cable  1104 , and a power source  1106  may be required to operate said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 , as is known in the art. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective overview of said first side  226  of said front end  222  including said control panel  1100 . 
     A first side power cable  1200  may be required for said first drive system  606 . 
     The following listing of parts is included for the convenience of the reader:
     said worksite  100 ,   said ISO tank  102 ,   said chemical equipment  104 ,   said multi-tank recirculating chemical fluid storage system  200 ,   said support frame  202 ,   said chemical tank  204 ,   said air tank  206 ,   said water manifold  208 ,   said one or more vented fittings  210 ,   said one or more tank straps  212 ,   said one or more flowline ultrasonic level transmitters  214 ,   said plumbing assembly  216 ,   said one or more pumps  218 ,   said drive system  220 ,   said front end  222 ,   said rear end  224 ,   said first side  226 ,   said second side  228 ,   said trailer hitch  230 ,   said trailer wheel assembly  232 ,   said plurality of tank support assemblies  300 ,   said front mounting platform  400 ,   said rear platform  402 ,   said length  404 ,   said first compartment  406 ,   said second compartment  408 ,   said first fluid  410 ,   said second fluid  412 ,   said first fitting  500 ,   said front half  600 ,   said first pump  602 ,   said second pump  604 ,   said first drive system  606 ,   said second drive system  608 ,   said motor  610 ,   said belt  612 ,   said motor pulley  614 ,   said pump pulley  616 ,   said first plumbing assembly  700 ,   said second plumbing assembly  702 ,   said one or more lines and valves  704 ,   said inlet  706 ,   said outlet  708 ,   said central plumbing call-out  800 ,   said handle assembly  802 ,   said jam nut  804 ,   said handle portion  806 ,   said valve  808 ,   said second compartment fluid line  900 ,   said valve  902 ,   said second compartment inlet  904 ,   said first end  906 ,   said second end  908 ,   said first lower plumbing assembly  1000 ,   said second lower plumbing assembly  1002 ,   said first compartment inlet line  1004 ,   said first mineral line  1006 ,   said second mineral line  1008 ,   said mineral fluid inlet  1010 ,   said first mineral fluid inlet  1012 ,   said second mineral inlet  1014 ,   a power cable  1016 ,   a power source  1018 ,   said control panel  1100 ,   said controller  1102 ,   said power cable  1104 ,   said power source  1106 , and   said first side power cable  1200 .   

     Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”