WATER HEATING APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS HEATED WATER FLOW AND METHOD FOR USE IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
First Claim
1. A method of fracturing an oil and/or gas producing formation, 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 hot 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 water of step “
b”
is much greater than the volume of water of step “
e”
;
g) adding a selected proppant to the water discharged from the mixer after step “
f”
; and
h) transmitting the water and the proppant into an oil and/or gas producing formation, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the first inlet to the first outlet during the fracturing process.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of hydraulic fracturing of an oil producing formation includes the provision of a heating apparatus which is transportable and that has a vessel for containing water. The method contemplates heating the water up to a temperature of about 200° F. (93.3° C.). A water stream of cool or cold water is transmitted from a source to a mixer, the cool water stream being at ambient temperature. The mixer has an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source and an outlet that enables a discharge of a mix of cool or cold water and the hot water. After mixing in the mixer, the water assumes a temperature that is suitable for mixing with chemicals that are used in the fracturing process, such as a temperature of about 40°-120° F.+ (4.4-48.9° C.+). An outlet discharges a mix of the cool and hot water to surge tanks or to mixing tanks. In the mixing tanks, a proppant and an optional selected chemical or chemicals are added to the water which has been warmed. From the mixing tanks, the water with proppant and optional chemicals is injected into the well for part of the hydraulic fracturing operation. The mixer preferably employs lateral fittings that enable heated water to enter the mixer bore at an acute angle. The mixer can also provide a lateral fitting that exits the mixer bore upstream of the first lateral fitting, the second lateral fitting transmitting water via a conduit such as a hose to the heater.
48 Citations
101 Claims
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1. A method of fracturing an oil and/or gas producing formation, 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 hot 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 water of step “
b”
is much greater than the volume of water of step “
e”
;g) adding a selected proppant to the water discharged from the mixer after step “
f”
; andh) transmitting the water and the proppant into an oil and/or gas producing formation, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the first inlet to the first outlet during the fracturing process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of fracturing an oil and/or gas producing formation, comprising the steps of:
-
a) providing a transportable heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.); b) transmitting a water stream of cool or cold water to a mixer, the cool 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 source of step “
b” and
a first outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of water;d) the mixer having a second outlet and a second inlet downstream of the second outlet; e) adding heated water from the transportable heating apparatus of step “
a”
to the mixer via the second inlet;f) continuously transmitting water from the mixer via the second inlet to the heating apparatus of step “
a”
;g) wherein the volume of water of step “
b”
is much greater than the volume of water of step “
e”
;h) adding a selected proppant to the water discharged from the mixer after step “
f”
; andi) transmitting the water and the proppant into an oil and/or gas producing formation, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the first inlet to the first outlet during the fracturing process. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An oil well hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
-
a) a transportable heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.); b) a source of water at about ambient temperature; c) a mixer having a first inlet and a first outlet; d) a second inlet that enables heated water to enter the mixer; e) a second outlet that enables removal of water from the mixer upstream of the second inlet; f) a first flowline that transmits water between the heater and the second inlet; g) a second flowline that transmits water between the second outlet and the heater, the second flowline being upstream of the second inlet; and h) a mixing tank that is receptive of water flow from the mixer, said tank enabling a proppant to be mixed with water that is discharged from the first outlet. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A hydraulic fracturing apparatus, comprising:
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a) a heating apparatus for heating water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.); b) a source of water; c) a mixer having a first inlet that receives water from the source of water and a first outlet that enables discharge of a mix of water; d) the mixer having a second outlet and a second inlet spaced downstream of the second outlet; e) a first flowline that transmits water from the heating apparatus to the mixer via the second inlet; f) a second flowline that transmits water from the mixer to the heating apparatus via the second outlet; g) a tank that enables a selected proppant to be mixed with the water that is discharged from the mixer; h) a flowline that connects the mixer with the tank; i) a flowline that transmits water and proppant from the tank into an oil and/or gas producing formation. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of fracturing an oil and/or gas producing formation, 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 an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the stream of step “
b” and
an outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of cool or cold and hot water;d) the mixer having a lateral inlet fitting that enables heated water to enter a mixer bore at an angle; e) adding heated water from the transportable heating apparatus of step “
a”
to the mixer via the lateral inlet fitting;f) wherein the volume of water of step “
b”
is much greater than the volume of water of step “
e”
;g) adding a selected proppant to the water discharged from the mixer after step “
f”
; andh) transmitting the water and the proppant into an oil and/or gas producing formation, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the inlet to the outlet during the fracturing process. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method of fracturing an oil producing formation, comprising the steps of:
-
a) providing a transportable heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.); b) transmitting a water stream of cool or cold water to a mixer, the cool water stream being at a temperature of less than a predetermined target temperature; c) the mixer having an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source of step “
b” and
an outlet that enables discharge of a substantially continuous stream which is a mix of water;d) the mixer having a first lateral inlet fitting and a second lateral inlet fitting downstream of the first inlet fitting; e) adding heated water from the transportable heating apparatus of step “
a”
to the mixer via the second lateral inlet fitting;f) continuously transmitting water from the mixer via the first lateral inlet fitting to the heating apparatus of step “
a”
;g) wherein the volume of water of step “
b”
is much greater than the volume of water of step “
e”
;h) adding a selected proppant to the water discharged from the mixer after step “
f”
; andi) transmitting the water and the proppant into an oil and/or producing formation, wherein water flows substantially continuously from the first inlet to the first outlet during the fracturing process. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. An oil well hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
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a) a transportable heating apparatus that heats water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.); b) a source of water at about ambient temperature; c) a mixer having an inlet, an outlet and a mixer bore that extends between the inlet and the outlet; d) a first lateral fitting on the mixer that enables heated water to enter the mixer bore; e) a second lateral fitting on the mixer that enables removal of water from the mixer bore upstream of the first lateral fitting and wherein at least one of the lateral fittings has a wall portion that extends into the mixer bore; f) a first flowline that transmits water between the heater and the first lateral fitting; g) a second flowline that transmits water between the second lateral fitting and the heater, the second flowline being upstream of the first lateral fitting; and h) a mixing tank that is receptive of water flow from the bore of the mixer, said tank enabling a proppant to be mixed with water that is discharged from the mixer outlet. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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87. A hydraulic fracturing apparatus, comprising:
-
a) a heating apparatus for heating water to a temperature of at least 40 degrees F. (4.4 degrees C.); b) a source of water; c) a mixer having an inlet that receives water from the source of water and an outlet that enables discharge of a mix of water; d) the mixer having a first lateral inlet fitting and a second lateral inlet fitting spaced downstream of the first inlet fitting; e) a first flowline that transmits water from the heating apparatus to the mixer via the second lateral inlet fitting; f) a second flowline that transmits water from the mixer to the heating apparatus via the first lateral inlet fitting; f) a tank that enables a selected proppant to be mixed with the water that is discharged from the mixer; g) a flowline that connects the mixer bore with the tank; h) a flowline that transmits water and proppant from the tank into an oil and/or gas producing formation. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
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101. (canceled)
Specification