Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for dispensing oil well proppant additive

US4681245A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
18References
8Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 25, 1985
Grant dateJul 21, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 25, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/267
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing an additive (70) into a stream (14) of well proppant includes a sealed housing (42), (44), (52) containing a first chamber (102), a second chamber (104), and an additive dispenser (64), (72) operably connected to a motor (92). The upper chamber (102) is adapted to contain the additive (70), and the lower chamber (104) communicated with the pressurized well proppant stream (14). The additive dispensing means (64), (72) is disposed between the upper chamber (102) and the lower chamber (104). A pressure equalizing tube (98) within said housing (42), (44), (52) extends from the upper chamber (102) through the additive dispenser (64), (72) to the lower chamber (104) to equalize the fluid pressure existing in the lower chamber (104) with the fluid pressure existing in the upper chamber (102) during the dispensing of the additive (70) from the upper chamber (102) to the lower chamber (104). In the preferred embodiment the additive dispenser (64), (72) consists of a screw or auger (72) disposed within an auger ring (64), and the additive (70) flows through the additive dispenser (64), (72) to the lower chamber (104) under the force of gravity. Where the additive…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.