Patent Application
20210229900
The present invention relates to a container for transporting frac sand, frac liquid, and/or drill cuttings, more particularly, the present invention relates to a container that can be inverted for selectively storing frac sand or frac liquid.
With hydraulic fracturing becoming a standard in oil and gas production, the demand for frac sand has climbed exponentially in the last decade. Moreover, an increase in production to cope with the increasing oil prices is also driving the demand for frac sand. The supply of frac sand from the source to well pad to meet the increasing demand poses many challenges in the logistic industry. Besides safety, profitability is also the main concern.
The transport vehicle supplying frac sand from the terminal to the well pad returns empty. The empty backhaul is not economically viable.
Thus, considering the increasing demand for frac sand and shrinking profits, a desire is there for an apparatus and method that can help to meet the demand and also increase profits in the transportation of the frac sand.
Hereinafter the term “terminal” connotes a point of departure of the transport vehicle and it can be a quarry or other sources of frac sand.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to an apparatus and method for transportation of frac sand.
It is another object of the present invention that the apparatus can be used to backhaul frac liquids and/or drill cuttings.
It is still another object of the present invention that the apparatus provides for better returns in the transportation of frac sand.
It is still another object of the present invention that the apparatus provides for the safe transportation of frac sand.
In one aspect disclosed is a logistics apparatus for transporting frac sand, frac liquid, and/or drill cuttings between a terminal and a well pad. The apparatus includes a container having a top wall, a bottom wall, a left wall, a right wall, a front wall, and a rear wall defining the volume of the container. The top is having two inlet ports secured by two watertight covers and one liquid outlet. The bottom is configured as a hopper, the opening of which is secured by 24 inches railcar gate.
The container is secured in a cage-like structure having a top frame, a bottom frame, and walls extending between the top frame and the bottom frame. Both the top frame and the bottom frame having forklift pockets. Also, iso corners can be provided in the top and bottom frames.
In one aspect, the container in the first position in which the railcar gate is at the bottom can be used to store and transport frac sand. The container can be inverted to a second position in which the railcar gate is at the top, can be used for storing and transporting frac liquid and/or drill cuttings.
These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein and the summary will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.
Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.
Referring to
Inside the cage can be seen the container 110 also of a cuboidal shape.
To transport frac sand from the terminal to the well pad, the apparatus 100 can be loaded on a transport vehicle. Thereafter, frac sand can be filled in the container through the inlet ports 180 in the top wall of the container. It is obvious that the railcar gate is closed while filling and transporting the frac sand. Once filled the water-tight covers 190 can be secured to the inlet apertures 180, and the apparatus containing the frac sand can be transported to the well pad. At the well pad the container can be emptied by opening the railcar gate 210. The empty apparatus can be inverted, as shown in
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
