A hopper-in-frame for transporting granular proppant material, such as oil well sands subjected to fracturing, having a top loading through a hatch in the roof and lateral gravity discharge opening at the level of the hopper floor and not below the hopper through a lower side discharge opening where the load asymmetry is compensated for by the inclusion of an asymmetric roof that includes at least a portion of the roof asymmetrically lowered, such as a sloping roof or sloping to the side of the wall of download. The hopper-in-frame is supported and delimited by a frame that in turn is compatible to be incorporated in intermodal cargo containers.

A bulk material shipping container unloader having an expandable supporter, a pallet receiver supported by the extendable supporter, and a material director supported by the pallet receiver.

A mobile support structure (MSS) includes a frame structure for receiving modular silos, a base moveable between transportation and support configurations, and connectors coupling with the silos. A mobile erecting assembly includes a chassis, a lift structure rotatable between transportation and mounting orientations while engaged with a silo, an engagement structure movable between first and second positions while engaged with the silo, and an actuator to move the engagement structure and silo between the first and second positions. The silo is connected to the mobile erector assembly in the transportation orientation, and the mobile erector assembly is then aligned relative to the MSS, such as by engaging an alignment member of the mobile erector assembly with a chassis alignment post of the MSS. The mobile erector assembly is then operated to move the silo to the mounting orientation, and the silo is then coupled to the MSS.

A mobile support structure (MSS) includes a frame structure for receiving modular silos, a base moveable between transportation and support configurations, and connectors coupling with the silos. A mobile erecting assembly includes a chassis, a lift structure rotatable between transportation and mounting orientations while engaged with a silo, an engagement structure movable between first and second positions while engaged with the silo, and an actuator to move the engagement structure and silo between the first and second positions. The silo is connected to the mobile erector assembly in the transportation orientation, and the mobile erector assembly is then aligned relative to the MSS, such as by engaging an alignment member of the mobile erector assembly with a chassis alignment post of the MSS. The mobile erector assembly is then operated to move the silo to the mounting orientation, and the silo is then coupled to the MSS.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for managing bulk material efficiently at a well site are provided. The disclosure is directed to a container support frame that is integrated into a blender unit. The support frame is used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material, and the blender unit may include a gravity feed outlet for outputting bulk material from the containers directly into a mixer of the blender unit. The blender unit with integrated support frame may eliminate the need for any subsequent mechanical conveyance of the bulk material (e.g., via a separate mechanical conveying system or on-blender sand screws) from the containers to the mixer. As such, the integrated blender unit may be lighter weight, take up less space, and have a lower cost and complexity than existing blenders.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for managing bulk material efficiently at a well site are provided. The disclosure is directed to a container support frame that is integrated into a blender unit. The support frame is used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material, and the blender unit may include a gravity feed outlet for outputting bulk material from the containers directly into a mixer of the blender unit. The blender unit with integrated support frame may eliminate the need for any subsequent mechanical conveyance of the bulk material (e.g., via a separate mechanical conveying system or on-blender sand screws) from the containers to the mixer. As such, the integrated blender unit may be lighter weight, take up less space, and have a lower cost and complexity than existing blenders.

A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet positioned in a bottom thereof and a gate affixed adjacent the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container can be a ten foot ISO container.

A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet positioned in a bottom thereof and a gate affixed adjacent the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container can be a ten foot ISO container.

Bulk material storage units that can be placed on flatbeds that can be hauled in various manners, including rail cars or trucks, to the destination and removed from the flatbed for temporary storage at the destination, freeing the transportation mode, e.g., rail cars or trucks, to be used elsewhere. Embodiments of the bulk material storage unit of the present invention replace rail hopper cars or truck trailers to hold the bulk material during transportation as well as provide temporary storage at the desired location, e.g., the origin or destination, without tying up transportation resources.

Bulk material storage units that can be placed on flatbeds that can be hauled in various manners, including rail cars or trucks, to the destination and removed from the flatbed for temporary storage at the destination, freeing the transportation mode, e.g., rail cars or trucks, to be used elsewhere. Embodiments of the bulk material storage unit of the present invention replace rail hopper cars or truck trailers to hold the bulk material during transportation as well as provide temporary storage at the desired location, e.g., the origin or destination, without tying up transportation resources.