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.

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.

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.

A collapsible portable tank for storing liquids has a liquid impervious liner. The side walls of the liner are supported by a collapsible frame. A plurality of hand grips in a zigzag pattern on the floor panel of the liner facilitates manipulation of the liner to collapse the liner with the frame. The liner floor panel is of heavier material than the side walls and is heat sealed along its entire perimeter to the liner side walls, affording a more durable floor while eliminating clumsy excess liner material at the corners of the tank. Another hand grip on the floor panel opposite a drain in the liner side walls facilitates evacuation of stored liquid from the tank prior to collapsing the tank.

A containment system comprising a flexible bladder having at least one opening through which a liquid or other fluid or material can be pumped or transferred into or out of the bladder. The bladder has a contracted and an expanded or semi-expanded state. A support structure surrounds the side surfaces of the bladder and provides lateral support to the bladder when the bladder is in an expanded or semi-expanded state. The support structure comprises a plurality of panels that are seperably connected to one another to form an enclosed walled support structure. The at least one opening in the bladder is operatively connected to a point exterior to the support structure to permit the bladder to be filled or evacuated from a position exterior to the support structure.

A flexible tank is used to transport bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials inside of a multi-modal shipping container. It has water proof inner layers and an outer layer, which are formed and welded together to have seams at both ends of the flexible tank. A discharge valve is provided at one end of the flexible tank and an additional piece of material, referred to as a cape, is attached at the other end of the flexible tank. The flexible tank is situated in the container so that the end with the discharge valve is at the container opening and the end with the attached cape is at the rear of the container. The cape can be used by equipment positionable at the opening of the container to completely discharge the bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials from the flexible tank by pulling and winding up the cape and the layers of the flexible tank from the rear of the container.

A flexible tank is used to transport bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials inside of a multi-modal shipping container. It has water proof inner layers and an outer layer, which are formed and welded together to have seams at both ends of the flexible tank. A discharge valve is provided at one end of the flexible tank and an additional piece of material, referred to as a cape, is attached at the other end of the flexible tank. The flexible tank is situated in the container so that the end with the discharge valve is at the container opening and the end with the attached cape is at the rear of the container. The cape can be used by equipment positionable at the opening of the container to completely discharge the bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials from the flexible tank by pulling and winding up the cape and the layers of the flexible tank from the rear of the container.

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.

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.

An apparatus for storing or transporting flowable materials or other materials, such as diesel fuel, includes a container and a support. The container is supported by the support. The support sits on or is mounted across an upper part of an open top wagon or vehicle, such as a railway wagon or truck or trailer used for transporting bulk commodities. The apparatus is movable between an expanded configuration in which the container is expandable into a lower part of the wagon or vehicle and a collapsed configuration in which the container is collapsible to the support. The weight of the support and the container is borne by the upper part of the wagon or vehicle when the container is in its collapsed configuration and the apparatus is positioned on the wagon or vehicle.