Proppant system
US10618724B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2017 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/80
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A reusable proppant pod provides a containerized system for transport of oilfield proppant to a well location, and facilitates rapid discharge of the proppant in support of hydraulic fracturing operation. The proppant pod has a cylindrical sidewall, a top, and a frustoconical bottom that tapers towards a discharge gate. An external frame may be provided in rectilinear form to stabilize the proppant pod for road transport and to facilitate storage-stacking of a plurality of such proppant pods, one atop the other. The proppant pod is provided with fork lift tubes extending through the cylindrical sidewall. The proppant pod may have a solid top, in which case the proppant pod is inverted for filling operations that introduce proppant into the proppant pod through the discharge gate. A vent assembly is provided to facilitate entry of air during proppant discharge operations, where the vent assembly provides also a seal against proppant leakage during the inverted fill operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.