A system, method and apparatus for transferring bulk material for transport, the method includes placing a first quantity of bulk material in a soft-sided bulk material container, extending a first hold-in across the container from a first side of the container to a second location, the second location being substantially toward a second side of the container, wherein the first hold-in is secured to the first side of the container, securing the first hold-in to the second location and placing a second quantity of bulk material in the container, the second quantity covering the first hold-in and securing the first hold-in to the second location with a weight of the second quantity of bulk material.

A system, method and apparatus for transferring bulk material for transport, the method includes placing a first quantity of bulk material in a soft-sided bulk material container, extending a first hold-in across the container from a first side of the container to a second location, the second location being substantially toward a second side of the container, wherein the first hold-in is secured to the first side of the container, securing the first hold-in to the second location and placing a second quantity of bulk material in the container, the second quantity covering the first hold-in and securing the first hold-in to the second location with a weight of the second quantity of bulk material.

An apparatus includes a containment structure having a floor and one or more free-standing flexible walls extending along an outer perimeter of the floor and surrounding a central portion of the floor. The floor includes one or more pieces of fabric, and each free-standing flexible wall includes one or more pieces of shape memory material and extending above the floor. The one or more pieces of shape memory material are attached to the one or more pieces of fabric via a liquid-impervious material applied to the one or more pieces of fabric along the outer perimeter of the floor. The liquid-impervious material is located on the one or more pieces of fabric and the one or more pieces of shape memory material such that the floor and the one or more free-standing flexible walls are liquid-impervious and define a space configured to retain liquid in the containment structure.

An apparatus includes a containment structure having a floor and one or more free-standing flexible walls extending along an outer perimeter of the floor and surrounding a central portion of the floor. The floor includes one or more pieces of fabric, and each free-standing flexible wall includes one or more pieces of shape memory material and extending above the floor. The one or more pieces of shape memory material are attached to the one or more pieces of fabric via a liquid-impervious material applied to the one or more pieces of fabric along the outer perimeter of the floor. The liquid-impervious material is located on the one or more pieces of fabric and the one or more pieces of shape memory material such that the floor and the one or more free-standing flexible walls are liquid-impervious and define a space configured to retain liquid in the containment structure.

There is disclosed a bag for the transport and storage of bulk goods or liquids formed by the assembly of several double-thickness pieces of fabric, including first and second pieces of fabric, each having opposite first and second sides extending between first and second folded-in flattened edges. Each piece of fabric includes at least one gusset defined by a first oblique section extending between the first folded-in flattened edge and a first gusset end positioned on the second side of the piece of fabric and a second gusset end positioned on the first side of the piece of fabric. The first and second pieces of fabric are assembled such that the second side of the second piece of fabric is in contact with or close to the first side of the first piece of fabric such that the first and second gusset ends of the first and second pieces of fabric are substantially aligned. The first and second pieces of fabric are assembled by means of seams formed around or near the first and second gusset ends of the first and second pieces of fabric.

The valve comprises a fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8) comprising a flowrate regulator element (9) and a seating (10) for said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8), said seating (10) including a surface (10b) adapted to be attached to a portion of an internal bag (4) made of flexible material in the container (1), and is characterised in that it comprises a cover (11) to protect said seating (10) and comprising a hole for access to said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8); said cover (11) comprising means (13, 14) for securing a protective wrapping (5) enveloping the internal bag (4) on said seating (10). The container is characterised in that it includes at least one valve (3a, 3b) for the injection and/or extraction of fluid, and in that a portion of said internal bag (4) made of flexible material is attached to the seating (10) of the inlet duct (8) of said valve (3a, 3b) and that a portion of the protective wrapping (5) for said internal bag (4) is held against said seating (10) by the cover (11).

In one embodiment, a collapsible, flexible storage tank is provided that is capable of holding a liquid material. The tank includes a sheet of flexible, moisture impervious side wall material; at least one opening for receiving a fitting to fill and drain the tank; joining seams wherein edges of the sheet are joined, the seams extending about the tank in a spiral orientation; and closing seams wherein the side ends of the pillow tank are sealed. In another aspect, a collapsible, flexible storage tank is capable of holding a liquid. The tank includes a sheet of flexible side wall material; at least one opening for receiving a fitting to fill and drain the tank; and butt seams wherein edges of the flexible sheet are joined together in the same plane in a butt joint configuration using an overlapping piece of flexible, moisture impervious sealed material over the top thereof.

In one embodiment, a collapsible, flexible storage tank is provided that is capable of holding a liquid material. The tank includes a sheet of flexible, moisture impervious side wall material; at least one opening for receiving a fitting to fill and drain the tank; joining seams wherein edges of the sheet are joined, the seams extending about the tank in a spiral orientation; and closing seams wherein the side ends of the pillow tank are sealed. In another aspect, a collapsible, flexible storage tank is capable of holding a liquid. The tank includes a sheet of flexible side wall material; at least one opening for receiving a fitting to fill and drain the tank; and butt seams wherein edges of the flexible sheet are joined together in the same plane in a butt joint configuration using an overlapping piece of flexible, moisture impervious sealed material over the top thereof.

A collection assembly (10, 10a) for flowable materials includes a central, flexible bag (12, 12a) with a collection skirt (14, 14a) secured to the bag (12, 12a) and extending outwardly from the open top (20, 20a) of the bag (12, 12a). In use, the assembly (10, 10a) is placed at a collection site with the bag (12, 12a) in a collapsed condition and the skirt (14, 14a) is deployed about the bag (12, 12a). Material (36) is then placed on the assembly (10, 10a) over the open top (20, 20a) and, as necessary, the skirt (14, 14a). The skirt is then elevated using marginal gathering apparatus (16, 16a), thereby causing the material (36) to flow into the bag (12, 12a). The skirt (14, 14a) may then be gathered and closed, forming a duffel closure for the assembly (10, 10a).

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.