Patent ID: 8293102

Claim:
A tank for the treatment of stimulation fluid, the tank having a first end and second end and the tank comprising: (a) a primary agitation section at its first end having a fluid inlet; (b) a final settling section at its second end, the final settling section having a fluid outlet; (c) at least one intermediate section disposed between the primary agitation section and the final settling section; (d) each of the primary agitation section, the at least one intermediate section and the final settling section having a section outlet in a lower portion of the section for the removal of denser substances; (e) an agitation and mixing system connected to at least one of the section outlets, the agitation and mixing system also being connected to the fluid inlet whereby the denser substances may be selectively removed from at least one section and mixed and agitated and then reintroduced to the tank through the fluid inlet; (f) at least one vapour outlet; and (g) means for the introduction of reagents; wherein the sections are separated by substantially vertical barriers, and wherein fluid flows from the first end of the tank to the second of the tank by passing from section to adjacent section over the top of the vertical barriers.