A method of transmitting a fluid into an oil well bore provides a frame supporting a vessel, the vessel having an interior, upper and lower end portions, a conically shaped side wall, and an outlet for discharging the fluid from the vessel. A viscous polymeric material is added to the vessel interior. A discharge pipe having a vertical section is placed below the vessel, the discharge pipe being in communication with the outlet. A positive displacement pump is contained within the discharge pipe. The pump transmits fluid from the outlet into the discharge pipe downstream of the vertical pipe section or pump. The fluid is selectively transmitted to either the vessel interior (for recirculating) or into the well. Air is added to the discharge flow line downstream of the pump.

A syringe assembly for a hydraulic fracturing system includes a syringe having a material chamber, a base fluid chamber, and a piston. The material chamber is configured to be fluidly connected to a fluid conduit. The piston retracts to draw material into the material chamber. The piston extends to push the material into the fluid conduit. The syringe assembly includes a diverter fluidly connected to the base fluid chamber and moveable between first and second positions. The first position of the diverter fluidly connects the base fluid chamber to a base fluid reservoir of the hydraulic fracturing system and fluidly disconnects the base fluid chamber from an outlet of a frac pump of the hydraulic fracturing system. The second position of the diverter fluidly connects the base fluid chamber to the outlet of the frac pump and fluidly disconnects the base fluid chamber from the base fluid reservoir.

Viscosity and other properties are determined at desired temperatures in drilling mud and other fluids by using a versatile cavitation device which, operating in the cavitation mode, mixes and heats the fluid to a specified temperature, and, operating in the shear mode, acts as a spindle for application of Couette principles to determine viscosity as a function of shear stress and shear rate. The invention obviates the practice of adjusting rheology of a drilling fluid by passing it through the drill bit. Drilling fluid may be managed by a “straight-through” method to the well, or by placing the cavitation device in a loop which isolates an aliquot of known volume and circulating the fluid through the loop including the cavitation device. A controller may be programmed to manage the viscosity and other properties at various temperatures by controlling the power input and angular rotation of the “spindle” (which has cavities on its cylindrical surface), and feeding viscosity-adjusting agents and other additives to the fluid. Data may be collected from the loop and used in the “straight-through” mode until it is determined that conditions require a new set of data, or the loop may be used continuously. The system may be used with a supplemental viscometer, density meter, and other instruments.

A system for producing homogenized oil field gel including a power unit, a control system, a feed tank, a hopper, and a piping assembly that includes inlet and outlet manifolds, centrifugal pumps, and metering devices for filling the feed tank and handling a discharge of oilfield gel. The system further includes a powder hydration component and liquid chemical equipment. The method for producing homogenized oil field gel includes a guar powder procedure including a controlled sequence for starting and stopping a venturi mixer in a hydration unit. The method for producing homogenized oil field gel further includes a liquefied gel concentrate procedure including a metering and chemical injection procedure for mixing a liquefied gel concentrate.

A system and a method that utilizes wet proppants when creating fracturing fluid by receiving wet fracturing sand at a surge tank, vibrating the wet fracturing sand located within the surge tank, liquefying the wet fracturing sand within the surge tank based on the vibration, and metering the liquefied wet fracturing sand from the surge tank to a blending tub.

A closed-loop drilling fluid condition system for drilling fluid mixing and recycling process is described. The closed-loop drilling fluid condition system improves drilling fluid quality, repeatability, utilization efficiency, and health, safety and environment (HSE) issues. In particular, the closed-loop drilling fluid condition system automates a water-based drilling fluid workflow or an oil-based drilling fluid workflow where individual stages are monitored and adjusted in real-time. Specifically, the individual stages are monitored in real-time using sensors and adjusted in real-time based on commands from a monitoring device to achieve specific drilling fluid parameters.

A site may require that multiple containers, such as bulk material containers, may be utilized to provide a required composition or mixture of materials at a required discharge rate. An arrangement of four or more containers on a frame disposed on a support platform where two faces of each container proximate or adjacent to a face of two other containers to form a rectangle provides a configuration that allows for safe and efficient removal and replacement of containers A rotary table coupled to a motor disposed on the support platform rotates the frame such that each container transitions to different positions. The containers discharge material through an opening of support platform. Containers may be retrieved from one position and replaced at another position or retrieved and replaced from a single position. Such a configuration allows for multiple transport devices to operate without interfering with the operations of each other.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to systems and methods for efficiently combining additives into bulk material being transferred about a job site. The systems may include a support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material, and a mulling device disposed beneath the support structure to provide bulk material treatment capabilities. Specifically, the mulling device may facilitate mixing of coatings or other additives with bulk material that is released from the portable containers, as well as transfer of the mixture to an outlet location.

Methods for handling bulk material in a manner that reduces dust, noise, and emissions are provided. The presently disclosed techniques use portable containers to transfer bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender inlet. The containers may be carried to the location on the transportation unit, where a hoisting mechanism is used to remove the container from the transportation unit and place it in a desired location. When bulk material is needed at the blender inlet, the hoisting mechanism may position the container of bulk material onto an elevated support structure. Once on the support structure, the container may be opened to release bulk material to a gravity feed outlet, which routes the bulk material from the container directly into the blender inlet. The disclosed containerized bulk material transfer system and method allows for reduced dust, noise, and emissions on location.

A flow management and separation system for a horizontal wellbore having a primary artificial lift device having an intake has (a) a sealed central flowpath from a fluidseeker weighted keel inlet, through a recovery flow tube, a seal bore extension and a dip tube having a pump intake sealing assembly in fluid communication with the lift device intake; and (b) a mixed fluid flow path from a fluidseeker internal bypass passage, through an annulus of at least one slug catcher comprising a perforated shell.