A modified high density brine for use in subterranean drilling and completion operations. The modified high density brine includes a heavy brine and the addition of high density particles. The resultant modified high density brine eliminates the need for toxic, corrosive, and costly ZrBr.sub.2 or cesium formate additions or other ionic additives to boost the density of the modified high density brine to more than 14 lbs./gallon.

A modular fluid-carrying manifold apparatus is provided for use in hydraulic fracturing blenders and other devices. A manifold can include one or more interchangeable sections. Each section may have a flat front face with ports cut into the front face. Components such as valves and hammer unions are directly removably connected to the ports via bolts. This eliminates the need for welded-on piping. Removable, wear-resistant inserts can be located in the ports. The removable components may be considered consumable and replaced when worn out.

An automated hydraulic fracturing system, including a pump system, a blender configured to form the fracturing fluid, a proppant storage and delivery system, a hydration unit configured to mix an additive into a fluid to form the fluid mixture and provide the fluid mixture to the blender, a fluid storage and delivery system, and an additive storage and delivery system, and an automated control system including a plurality of sensing devices and a plurality of control devices integrated into the pump system, the blender system, the proppant storage and delivery system, the fluid storage and delivery system, and the additive storage and delivery system, the automated control system configured to monitor parameters of the automated hydraulic fracturing system via the plurality of sensing devices and transmit control instructions for one or more of the plurality of control devices to control an aspect of the automated hydraulic fracturing system.

Two control strategies may be implemented to optimize mud circulation in a drilling mud circulation system. In a networked control strategy, the mud circulation system does not involve any centralized controller yet all the local controllers can exchange information in real-time via a central data storage. The master-slave control strategy involves a centralized optimizer, and the subsystems are treated as slave systems and are driven by a visual master control system.

An additive composition includes a rheology modifier selected from alcohol ethoxylates, amine ethoxylates, or ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, wherein the rheology modifier has an HLB ranging from about 4 to 10; and a winterizing agent that is at least one aliphatic non-ionic surfactant that has a branched structure and/or includes at least one unsaturation, wherein the winterizing agent has an HLB value between about 8 and 10.5.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for efficiently handling dry additives to be mixed with bulk material in a blender are provided. The systems may include a support structure used to direct bulk material from one or more portable containers on the support structure to a first outlet location, and a combined metering/transferring system for directing dry additives from another portable container to a second outlet location. Specifically, the metering/transferring system may output a metered flow of dry additives to the blender mixer to be combined with bulk material that is released from the portable containers. The metering/transferring system may utilize a gravity feed outlet coupled to a metered screw or other conveying device to move the dry additive from the portable container to the second outlet location.

A frac system includes power generation equipment and a power storage device used to provide electric power to one or more pieces of frac equipment. The frac system includes a power controller used to control the source of the power to the frac equipment. The power controller may measure the charge status for the power storage device and the electrical power load being used by the frac equipment. The power controller may engage or disengage the power generation equipment based on the measured charge status and electrical power load, may control the source of the power provided to the frac equipment, and may control whether the power storage device is being charged.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for efficiently handling dry additives to be mixed with bulk material in a blender are provided. The systems may include a support structure used to direct bulk material from one or more portable containers on the support structure to a first outlet location, and a combined metering/transferring system for directing dry additives from another portable container to a second outlet location. Specifically, the metering/transferring system may output a metered flow of dry additives to the blender mixer to be combined with bulk material that is released from the portable containers. The metering/transferring system may utilize a gravity feed outlet coupled to a metered screw or other conveying device to move the dry additive from the portable container to the second outlet location.

A mixing and discharging device, a mixing and discharging system and a fracturing system are provided. The mixing and discharging device comprises a main shell, an impeller structure and a main shaft. The main shell comprises a top cover; the impeller structure is in the main shell; the main shaft is configured to drive the impeller structure to rotate, penetrates through the top cover and extends into the main shell; a bottom end of the main shaft is in the main shell and is fixed on the impeller structure, and the bottom end of the main shaft is separated from the shell.

A dry product additive system includes a skid, a hopper, a pickup funnel, a feeder system, a supply pump, and an eductor assembly. The feeder system may be configured to transport product from the hopper to the pickup funnel. The eductor assembly including a suction inlet, a motive inlet, and an outlet. The suction inlet may be coupled to the pickup funnel by a suction hose. The motive inlet may be coupled to the supply pump by a motive fluid hose.