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Water heating apparatus for continuous heated water flow and method for use in hydraulic fracturing

DC CAFC
  • US 8,171,993 B2
  • Filed: 07/23/2010
  • Issued: 05/08/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of fracturing a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, comprising the steps of:

  • a) providing a transportable heating apparatus for heating water to a temperature of at least about 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.);

    b) transmitting a water stream of cool or cold water to a mixer, the cool or cold water stream being at a temperature of less than a predetermined target temperature;

    c) the mixer having a first inlet that receives cool or cold water from the stream of step “

    b” and

    a first outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of cool or cold and heated water;

    d) the mixer having a second inlet that enables heated water to enter the mixer;

    e) adding heated water from the transportable heating apparatus of step “

    a”

    to the mixer via the second inlet;

    f) wherein the volume of cool or cold water of step “

    b”

    is much greater than the volume of heated water of step “

    e”

    ;

    g) adding a selected proppant to the mix of cool or cold and heated water discharged from the mixer after step “

    f”

    ; and

    h) transmitting the mix of cool or cold and heated water and the proppant into a formation producing at least one of oil and gas, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the first inlet to the first outlet during the fracturing process.

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