Patent Application
20120261414
This invention relates, in general, to storage systems for holding large quantities of various fluids for use in industrial, commercial and energy applications, and more particularly systems for above ground impoundment of water for use in a hydraulic fracturing process.
Hydraulic Fracturing (i.e., fracking) is a method of extracting natural gas that is trapped in the layers of shale thousands of feet below the surface. The process involves drilling into shale formations (5,000 to 20,000 feet below the surface) and pumping fracturing fluid into the formation at great pressures fracturing the rock creating a conduit for the natural gas to be extracted through. The fracking process requires millions of gallons of water, much of which is extracted from the shale formations and must be stored prior to being treated for any contaminants which they receive during the drilling process. Most “fracking” sites in the Marcellus Shale region located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and southern New York are in very remote locations and the pads (drilling sites) have relatively small footprints, thus the storage of massive amounts of water within a small footprint requires a voluminous vessel. Currently there are two methods for large water storage: below ground (lined pit) and above ground (defined storage vessel).
Thus, a need exists for systems and methods for storing liquids above ground which are intended to be used for, or have been extracted from, drilling sites. These systems and methods may be utilized in remote locations and may protect the environment.
The present invention provides, in a first aspect, an above ground liquid storage system which includes a substantially impermeable liner bounding an interior for receiving a liquid. A plurality of supporting structures and a base support the liner and the liquid when the liquid is received in the interior. The liner extends from the base over a top end of the plurality of supporting structures and descends to the ground to form a cavity under the plurality of supporting structures. A temperature controller in communication with the cavity controls a temperature of the cavity to control the temperature of liquid in the interior.
The present invention provides, in a second aspect, a method for use in above ground storage of a liquid which includes connecting a plurality of supporting structures to one another such that a base is surrounded by the plurality of supporting structures. A liner is located on the base and the plurality of supporting structures such that the liner extends from the base over a top end of the plurality of supporting structures and descends to the ground to form a cavity under the plurality of supporting structures. A liquid is received in a cavity bounded by the liner. A temperature of the cavity is controlled to control the temperature of the liquid.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
In an exemplary embodiment depicted in
A thick geogrid material 20 may extend from a top 41 of each leg portion 40 downwardly on the leg portion and continue a short distance out onto a base 70 as depicted in
Base 70 (i.e., horizontal portion surrounded by the frame units) of basin 51 may be a portion of a concrete pad or other material capable of supporting the weight of liquid thereon in conjunction with the frames (e.g., frames 100) which surround such base. Further, basin 51 may be lined with a thick felt material 22 which overlaps geogrid material 20 a short distance and is attached to one or more of support portions 30 and/or leg portions 40 by means of zip ties or other connection mechanism(s). For example, the felt may be a needle punched non-woven geo-textile composed of polypropylene fibers formed with a stable network such that the fibers retain their relative position, such as MIRAFI 180N. Such a geo-textile may be inert to biological degradation and resist naturally encountered chemicals, alkalis and acids. The felt material 20 may have a weight of 271 grams per meter squared and a thickness of 1.8 mm, for example.
Liner 80 may be a continuous liner impermeable to liquids (e.g., water) installed on the container skeleton (i.e., frame units 100, geogrid material 20, base 70). Liner 80 may be tailored (e.g., shaped and dimensioned) to fit the inside measurements of basin 51 (e.g., the inside surface of the plurality of leg portions 40 and base 70) and extend over the top (e.g., top 41) of frame units 100 and vertically down to the ground on the outside of the container, where it may be anchored to the ground by weight.
When liner 80 extends from top 41 to the ground, a liner cavity or area 81 under liner 80 and under leg portions 40, including cavities 60, may be heated, cooled or otherwise conditioned. For example, warmed air may be pumped into area 81 to maintain the area under leg portions 40 at a desired temperature such that any liquid held in interior 50 is held at a desired temperature due to the convection and conduction occurring in the area under leg portions 40 relative to leg portions 40, geogrid 20, any felt and liner 80. For example, area 81 under leg portions and under liner 80 (e.g., including cavities 60) may be heated (e.g., a heater 3 may be connected to a tube 4 to provide heated air as depicted in
Basin 51 could also be configured to include under-floor or over-top piping to accommodate inflow/outflow requirements into and/or out of interior 50. Over the top piping may be utilized where under-floor piping is not feasible, for example. Basin 51 could also be configured to allow the liquid/slurry to weir over in a particular location at a desired elevation. As depicted in
In one example, manhole casting 5 may be 6″ to 8″ in height. The drain may be 24″ in diameter on top (for the opening) and then 36″ at the base which is between 5′ and 7′ below the top surface of the drain. These dimensions may be adjusted as desired, e.g., to adjust an amount of flow to fill and discharge the system.
As depicted in
Further, basin 51 may include a portion thereof having a top end lower than a remaining portion of such basin. For example, several of frame units 100 may include leg portion 40 of reduced length such that a top end in the local area of such reduced dimensioned leg portions are lower than the top ends of other leg portions adjacent such reduced dimension leg portions. This reduced height may form a weir to allow liquid in interior 50 to flow out of basin 51 when such liquid reaches a top end of the reduced height portion. Such a “weir over” arrangement may be useful in the case of the subsurface conditions don't allow for a underground method or when such an underground method is not cost effective.
In another example, basin 51 may include a conduit 200 which extends from liner 80 in the vicinity of top end 41 into interior 50 and rests on a supporting surface, such as concrete blocks 210, as depicted in
Further, in another example, through-wall piping for filling/evacuating fluid materials may be used when sub-surface conditions don't permit installation of an in-floor system (e.g., conduit 8) or an over-the-top system cannot be properly stabilized (e.g., secured to dead-men inside basin) to minimize the risk of liner damage by pipe thrashing. Such a through-wall piping system would extend through leg 40, liner 80, and geo-grid 20, for example, such that a conduit extending through leg 40, and liner 80 is sealed to inhibit leakage through liner 80 and leg 40 other than that flowing through such conduit.
The above described system (e.g., basin 51) may be used for the temporary short or long term storage of any form of liquid or slurry where in-ground impoundments or frack tanks are either not permitted or not viable. Such systems are intended to be used above ground and are portable; the frame units and separate hardware can be individually stacked and transported by truck to any location including very remote locations. The systems may be easily assembled, broken down and re-assembled at different locations. For example, each of frames 100 may be releasably connected to adjacent frames of frames 100 to form the structure of basin 51 by a plurality of clamps (e.g., clamp 150) and/or other connecting mechanism (e.g., cables) thereby allowing a basin to be constructed in various sizes and shapes (e.g., by using different number of frames 100 in different configurations) and allowing the easy deconstruction and movement of such a basin from one place to another due to the releasable nature of the connections. The frames may also be separated from each other and re-used after a basin has achieved a particular purpose, for example. The assembly and re-assembly may be done by hand with the assistance of lifting machinery. The system (e.g., basin 51) may be used for central frack water storage in the Marcellus shale industry in Pennsylvania where limited access is available, for example. It may also be used for many other types of storage requirements. Basin 51 would not affect the existing water table and has a minimal impact on the ground and surrounding area where it is being used due to its above ground construction.
Further, basin 51 may permit temporary storage of millions of gallons of fresh water used in industrial, commercial and energy applications. Basin 51 may be ten feet high, for example, providing a larger storage capacity when compared to similar above ground systems. The described systems may be portable and may be assembled, broken down re-located and re-assembled in a minimal time-frame as compared to similar above ground systems as described above.
Basin 51 may be completely modular and can be constructed into any shape or size configuration based on needs (e.g., maximizing the drill pad footprint) of a user. The system described (e.g., basin 51) may have in-floor or thru-wall piping capabilities for quick fill and discharge requirements. The system described (e.g., basin 51) may have minimal labor and equipment requirements for assembly/disassembly. Further, the system described (e.g., basin 51) is environmentally friendly and requires minimal disturbance/impact to terrain.
While the invention has been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/474,431 filed Apr. 12, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61474431 | Apr 2011 | US |
