PROPPANT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD
A proppant delivery system for a fracturing fluid blending system. The proppant delivery system includes an automatic feed-screwless proppant dispensing unit configured to deliver proppant directly to a blender opening of a blender. A weighing device on an upstream side of the blender configured to weigh the proppant during delivery of the proppant to the blender. Also included is a method of delivering proppant to a fracturing fluid blender.
1 . A proppant delivery system for a fracturing fluid blending system, the proppant delivery system comprising:
an automatic feed-screwless proppant dispensing unit configured to deliver proppant directly to a blender opening of a blender; and,
a weighing device on an upstream side of the blender configured to weigh the proppant during delivery of the proppant to the blender.
2 . The proppant delivery system of claim 1 absent a densometer on a downstream side of the blender.
3 . The proppant delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic feed-screwless proppant dispensing unit includes a conveyor belt having a downstream end configured to deliver proppant directly to a blender opening of a blender.
4 . The proppant delivery system of claim 3 , wherein the weighing device is a belt scale.
5 . The proppant delivery system of claim 4 , wherein the belt scale includes a load cell.
6 . The proppant delivery system of claim 3 wherein the conveyor belt includes a plurality of shelves protruding at a non-zero angle from the conveyor belt and movable with the belt.
7 . The proppant delivery system of claim 3 wherein a height of a downstream end of the conveyor belt is greater than a height of the blender opening with respect to a bottom of the blender.
8 . The proppant delivery system of claim 3 wherein a downstream end of the conveyor belt is distanced above the blender opening.
9 . The proppant delivery system of claim 3 , further comprising a housing surrounding at least the downstream end of the conveyor belt, wherein the housing at least partially contains dust from the proppant delivered to the blender.
10 . The proppant delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic feed-screwless proppant dispensing unit includes a silo arranged above the blender, the silo having a downstream end configured to deliver proppant directly to a blender opening of a blender.
11 . The proppant delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the weighing device includes a load cell configured to detect a loss of weight in the silo as the proppant is delivered to the blender.
12 . The proppant delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the weighing device is positioned between the blender and the silo.
13 . The proppant delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the weighing device is positioned within the silo.
14 . A method of delivering proppant to a fracturing fluid blender, the method comprising:
arranging a downstream end of a conveyor belt to deliver proppant directly to a blender opening of a blender.
15 . A method of delivering proppant to a fracturing fluid blender, the method comprising:
utilizing an automatic feed-screwless proppant dispensing unit to deliver proppant directly to a blender opening of a blender; and,
weighing the proppant during delivery of the proppant to the blender with a weighing device on an upstream side of the blender.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein utilizing an automatic feed-screwless proppant dispensing unit includes arranging a downstream end of a conveyor belt to deliver proppant directly to the blender opening of the blender.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein weighing the proppant includes using a belt scale configured to weigh the proppant on the conveyor belt.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein arranging the downstream end of the conveyor belt includes situating the downstream end of the conveyor belt above the blender tub opening.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising covering at least the downstream end of the conveyor belt with a housing to contain dust from the proppant.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein utilizing an automatic feed-screwless proppant dispensing unit includes arranging a silo above the blender, the silo having a downstream end configured to deliver proppant directly to a blender opening of a blender.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein weighing the proppant includes using a load cell configured to detect a loss of weight in the silo as the proppant is delivered to the blender.