An apparatus for the transport and storage of proppant has a container with a top wall, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls. The pair of side walls extend between the pair of end walls. The container has a bottom discharge opening. The container includes a funnel extending from the pair of side walls and from the pair of and walls toward the bottom discharge opening. The funnel has sides extending in an angle of greater than 25 with respect to horizontal. The funnel includes a pair of side plates extending respectively from the pair of side walls toward the bottom discharge opening and a pair of end plates extending respectively from the pair of end walls toward the bottom discharge opening. Each of the side plates and the end plates is formed of a stainless steel material.

An apparatus for the transport and storage of proppant has a container with a top wall, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls. The pair of side walls extend between the pair of end walls. The container has a bottom discharge opening. The container includes a funnel extending from the pair of side walls and from the pair of and walls toward the bottom discharge opening. The funnel has sides extending in an angle of greater than 25 with respect to horizontal. The funnel includes a pair of side plates extending respectively from the pair of side walls toward the bottom discharge opening and a pair of end plates extending respectively from the pair of end walls toward the bottom discharge opening. Each of the side plates and the end plates is formed of a stainless steel material.

An inner plastic liquid container (25) includes a filling neck (41) in an upper wall (33) for filling the inner container and a front side outlet neck (40) for an outlet armature. A lower wall (28) interconnecting two side walls (30, 31), a rear wall (32) and a front wall (29) supports the container on a transport pallet (21) pallet base (26), which has an outer mantle (24) for receiving the container. The outlet neck is at a hopper bottom (39) of an outlet hopper (34) in the lower bottom wall. The outlet hopper has a front hopper wall (35) and inclined lateral hopper walls (36, 37) that are arranged at a hopper angle and each extend from a keel-shaped hopper base (38) to a lower edge (46, 47) of a side wall. A keel line (63) rises at another hopper angle from an outlet neck toward the rear wall.

An inner plastic liquid container (25) includes a filling neck (41) in an upper wall (33) for filling the inner container and a front side outlet neck (40) for an outlet armature. A lower wall (28) interconnecting two side walls (30, 31), a rear wall (32) and a front wall (29) supports the container on a transport pallet (21) pallet base (26), which has an outer mantle (24) for receiving the container. The outlet neck is at a hopper bottom (39) of an outlet hopper (34) in the lower bottom wall. The outlet hopper has a front hopper wall (35) and inclined lateral hopper walls (36, 37) that are arranged at a hopper angle and each extend from a keel-shaped hopper base (38) to a lower edge (46, 47) of a side wall. A keel line (63) rises at another hopper angle from an outlet neck toward the rear wall.

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.

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 proppant delivery system for use at a hydraulic fracturing site to prepare a proppant mixture for subsequent delivery to a wellbore at the hydraulic fracturing site comprises two types of proppant storage containers, including silo type and box-like container type each of which normally has a dedicated system to dispense proppant, arranged in an array usually employed in a silo-only delivery system where parallel rows are formed and interrupted by a feed conveyor extending parallel to and disposed between the rows. A support stand carries the box-like container to one side of the feed conveyor with a bottom discharge of this container held at a spaced height above a ground surface.

A proppant delivery system for use at a hydraulic fracturing site to prepare a proppant mixture for subsequent delivery to a wellbore at the hydraulic fracturing site comprises two types of proppant storage containers, including silo type and box-like container type each of which normally has a dedicated system to dispense proppant, arranged in an array usually employed in a silo-only delivery system where parallel rows are formed and interrupted by a feed conveyor extending parallel to and disposed between the rows. A support stand carries the box-like container to one side of the feed conveyor with a bottom discharge of this container held at a spaced height above a ground surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus to support a proppant container including a frame to receive and support the proppant container, the frame having a top surface that receives and positions the proppant container above a conveyor to carry proppant disposed thereon away from the proppant container. The apparatus also includes a box guide assembly positioned on the top surface including a corner assembly having two wall segments, and a guide member extending upwardly and positioned adjacent the corner assembly, the guide member including tapered portion of the guide member, the taper having a first width at a top portion of the guide member smaller than a second width at a bottom portion of the guide member. The tapered portion contacts and directs the proppant container to a desired location.

Improved equipment bases and methods for making and using same are disclosed herein. The equipment base can include a first coated substrate including a first part having a first thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, a first elastomer coating the first part, a second coated substrate positioned adjacent to the first coated substrate, the second coated substrate including a second part having a second thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, and a second elastomer coating the second part. A first seam can be formed between the first and second coated substrates to allow for moisture to pass between the first and second coated substrates so that moisture is allowed to seep away from the bottom of the equipment.