The present invention relates to the climatic protection of fracking tanks, more specifically, the protection of fracking hydro tanks and their associated fluid conduits from freezing temperatures during cold weather fracking operations.
Hydraulic fracturing is the propagation of fractures in a rock layer caused by the presence of pressurized fluid. When man-made to release petroleum products and natural gas, the procedure is called fracking or hydrofracking. The energy from the injection of highly pressurized fracking fluid creates new channels in rock which increases the extraction rate and ultimate recovery of fossil fuels. The fracture width is typically maintained after injection by introduction of proppant into the injected fluid. Proppant is a material such as grains of sand, ceramic or other particulates that prevent the fractures from closing when the injection is stopped.
Oil and natural gas recovery employing fracking technology is becoming more widespread in the United States and Canada with the increasing price of oil. Water with chemical additives is injected under pressure deep into the ground to break up rock formations to cause release of trapped oil and gas. Frac hydro tanks are used for storage of recovered water/brine held for recirculation and also as holding tanks for fresh water. During the winter months it is paramount to protect the hydro tanks, which often contain about 500,000 gallons of fluid, and associated fluid conduits (including piping, valves, pumps, etc.) from freezing since if the fluid became frozen in conduits, the fracking operation would need to be temporarily shut down, resulting in excessive expense.
G.B. 2322154A describes a tent apparatus for insulating a water tank in a roof space. The tent, which can be made of polythene, is placed over the tank, where it is attached to a rafter, and spaced from the tank, is secured at its lower points to ceiling joists. The tank can cover associated plumbing conduits and can contain means for gaining access to the water tank. GB'154 states that in an alternative embodiment, not depicted in the Drawing nor described in its specification, the tent may be supported by a frame, which could be an endoskeleton or an exoskeleton. A grill is provided in the ceiling below the tank and inside the tent to open and allow heat to rise into the tent when the air in the tent reaches below a predetermined temperature.
In contrast to G.B.'154, which involves a controlled inside environment and a relatively small capacity water tank, the present invention is directed to climatic protection from cold and wind of a plurality of large frac hydro tanks in the outdoors. Furthermore, the present invention, in contrast to the working embodiment of G.B.'154, utilizes a precisely erectable and removable endoskeletal truss system of uprights and rafters supporting rip resistant fabric tarps, and including securing means preventing its destruction from high winds. The endoskeletal truss system of the present invention can be quickly erected when needed as cold weather approaches and quickly disassembled upon advent of improved climatic conditions.
U.S. 2011/0089123A1 describes a mobile water treatment apparatus including a containment box which may be insulated and heated for protecting a fluid filtration system from freezing in extreme weather.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,395 describes a collapsible shelter for all season recreational use including a floor platform and front and rear plywood walls with a canvass tarp extended across beams positioned between the upright front and rear walls, the tarp defining an integral roof and side walls.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,241 describes a frost casing for a riser pipe attached to a water tank. Insulating sheets or panels form an insulating air space surrounding the riser.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,912 describes a temporary shelter of modular construction in which sheets of flexible material are used to form an insulating roof for a hallway.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,944,989 is directed to a kit for winterizing plants and trees. The kit when erected includes a skeletal upright frame wrapped in clear plastic, a canvass top and a hydro heat transfer subsystem adapted to extract heat from the ground and from heated air within the skeletal frame for transfer to the trunk of the plant or tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,785 describes a tent system including upright columns, horizontal eave members and rafters, with particular weldments uniting these structures. The tent cover can be canvass or nylon.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,450,143 describes a canvass tent structure to be positioned to either side of an automobile for forming a central garage area and side living areas. A slopping roof may be provided by angled rafters.
The system of the present invention protects fracking hydro tanks and associated conduits from below freezing temperatures, wind, snow and rain. The protection system of the present invention is modular in design, enabling it to be quickly installed and removed when not needed. The modular system of the present invention can be disassembled when climatic conditions improve, stored, and reused as cold weather again approaches.
The present invention is based on the concept of a light weight endoskeleton supporting rip resistant fabric tarps to encompass either the entire hydro tanks and associated fluid conduits or, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to encompass the ends, partial top sections and partial exposed sides of the hydro tanks and the associated fluid conduits.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided, sitting on a frac pad, a cold climate-protected frac hydro tank comprising at least one frac hydro tank and associated fluid conduits extending from at least a tank end, and a modular endoskeleton overlaying at least an end section of the tank, a portion of any exposed tank side and a portion of the top of the tank, each modular unit comprising at least one first long upright or leg spaced apart from and in front of an end of the hydro tank and extending from the ground level to approximately the height of the tank, and at least a first short upright or leg positioned on top of the tank, with one or more rafters extending between the first and second uprights forming a tent-shaped endoskeleton , and rip-resistant (tear resistant) fabric tarps attached between adjacent first uprights and between adjacent rafters and between adjacent short uprights to encompass at least a portion of the top of the tank, the end of the tank and associated fluid conduits extending from the end of the tank. In one embodiment of the invention, the modular structures exist on both ends of the tank but do not extend over the entire top tank surface. In a second embodiment of the invention, the modular structures exist on both ends of the tank and extend over the entire top tank surface. In another embodiment of the invention, the tarps between the first uprights do not extend to ground level. In a further embodiment of the invention the tarps are secured to the tanks and to the uprights and rafters using heavy duty ties, such as cargo straps or bungee like elasticized cords, the uprights and rafters containing apertures through which the ties are attached. The heavy duty ties can be made of various natural and man-made materials, such as cotton, nylon, polypropylene and polyethylene.
In another embodiment of the invention, in order to enclose a side portion of a hydro tank, a module of the endoskeleton additionally includes a second long leg spaced apart from the side of an end unit hydro tank in line with (substantially across from) the first short leg and extending vertically from the ground to a height of about the top of the first short leg, and a third long leg positioned directly across from and at substantially the same distance from a tank end as the first long leg, and to the side in line with the second long leg, and extending vertically from the ground to about the same height as the first long leg, with a rafter extending between the tops of the second and third long legs.
In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more legs of a module are height adjustable.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the rafters are formed of a plurality of rafter segments.
In still another preferred embodiment of the invention, cross beams connect adjacent pairs of rafters.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one short and/or long leg is constructed with an integral rafter segment.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, each short and long leg is constructed with an integral rafter segment.
A typical fracking pad consists of a well head, a data monitoring station, frac pumps, a frac blender, chemical storage tanks, sand storage units and a number of hydro tanks. The latter are usually arranged side-by-side, forming a rectangular configuration. A typical frac pad may contain about 4 hydro tanks, although more or less hydro tanks can be present based on the degree of activity of the fracking operation. See
In
Rafter segments 11 and 13 are integral with their integrated uprights 103 and 17, as depicted in
In a constructed embodiment, the internal angle between short upright 17 and its associated rafter segment is about 82 degrees, while the internal angle between long leg 7 and its associated rafter segment is about 97.5 degrees.
The front of the end modular element of
With a plurality of hydro tanks in side-by-side position there will be a single end modular unit as depicted in
As discussed and shown by the Drawing, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, the legs or uprights are integral with rafter segments. This aids the erection and dismantle of the modular units. Additional centrally positioned rafter segments can join the end integral rafter segments through the use of slip joints.
In the depicted embodiments, the components of the endoskeletons are constructed of light weight aluminum. Other materials could be employed for construction of the endoskeleton components such as a light weight steel or a rigid plastic. These components are engineered to contain apertures, usually about every 12 inches, through which the tarps are secured.
The completed covered units of the invention provide a wind break and a heat canopy. Further, fast installation, no maintenance and quick tear down are also provided.
In practice, at least one heater is positioned within the enclosed hydro tanks, or outside with suitable feed duct work reaching inside the enclosed hydro tanks, to provide heat inside the enclosure. During extremely cold outside temperatures, this heat is trapped by the heat tent of the present invention and is sufficient to prevent freezing of fluid conduits positioned within the canopy. A typical heater in use on frac pads is rated at 500,000 BTU and blows heated air of about 144 degrees F.
The OSB boards depicted in the Drawing can be replaced by other rigid sheet materials constructed of metal or plastic. Further, the OSB boards can be eliminated partly or entirely and replaced by additional weather strip doors.
In practice to date, “ripstop” nylon tarps available from The Flag Lady's Flag Store of Columbus, Ohio, are used to prepare the tarps used to enclose the endoskeleton modules described herein. These “ripstop” nylon tarps are available for purchase in approximately 60 inch wide widths and in various lengths. For most locations for covering the endoskeleton, two or more of these tarps will need to be bound side-to-side and/or bottom-to-top to provide a size sufficient for use , that is, sizes sufficient to be tied to uprights, rafters and cross beams of the endoskeleton. This “ripstop” nylon is 70 denier, 1.9 oz. and dyed black with a durable water repellent polyurethane finish and is ultraviolet treated. Construction is 115 wrap, 87 fill. Edges of tarps to be joined are covered with canvas fabric by rolling the canvas with two layes of the nylon fabric and in which brass grommets are placed, 12 inches apart from one another. The tarps are bound together using 4 inch bungee cords. The assembled tarps are secured to the endoskeleton using 12 inch bungee cords or cargo straps, every 12 inches. The tarps across the rafters and the tarp sections extending downward to about the top of the weather doors can be perforated to provide wind vents, which are 5 inch long staggered cuts in a curve configuration. For example, for about a 10 foot wide finished tarp, a plurality of wind vents can be started about 4 inches off the center on both sides with one additional row on each side centered between the center row of wind vents and the side edge. The four rows of wind vents can be started about 6 feet in from the top of the tarp and can extend to about 6 feet from the bottom tarp edge. The wind vents are about 5 inches long and about 5 inches apart from one another in a row.
A typical short leg extends to a height of about 4 feet above the top of a hydro tank.
Variations of the invention will be apparent to the skilled artisan.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/597458, filed Feb. 10, 2012.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61597458 | Feb 2012 | US |