IP Library Granted Patent US 11,846,167
Granted Patent B2
US 11,846,167 · App. 17/122,425 · Granted Dec 19, 2023

Blender tub overflow catch

Inventors: Alexander Christinzio (Houston, TX); Jared Oehring (Houston, TX)
Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
E21B43/2607B01F25/50B01F33/5021B01F35/2112B01F35/71805B01F35/883B01F2101/49
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,846,167
App. No.
17/122,425
Granted
Dec 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a system for a blender tub overflow catch is disclosed for fracturing operations using a fracturing fluid blender. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a first tub that may be a blender tub and a second tub forming a blender tub overflow catch that is adapted to circumvent an outside diameter of the first tub to catch overflow fluid from the first tub so that it can be directed back into the first tub upon a determination that the first tub has a capacity to handle the overflow fluid.

Claims (49)

1. A system comprising:

a first tub and a second tub to be associated with a fracturing fluid blender, the second tub adapted to circumvent an outside diameter of the first tub and adapted with a height that is determined based in part on at least one overflow constraint of an application of the fracturing fluid blender;

a processing unit and tank components configured to buffer or provide blending components for the first tub based in part on the at least one overflow constraint; and

one or more valves and routing pipes associated with the processing unit and the tank components to direct an overflow fluid received in the second tub, from the first tub, to be returned to the first tub upon a determination that the first tub has a capacity to handle the overflow fluid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one overflow constraint comprises an amount of the overflow fluid expected from a determined mix of the blending components.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part blender fluid discharged from the first tub for a fracturing application, the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on a level of blender fluid within the first tub, and the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on an evacuation of blender fluid from within the first tub to a storage container, and the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one sensor to enable the system to determine a capacity available in the first tub based in part on an evacuation of a first amount of blender fluid from within the first tub, and the at least one sensor to provide input to the system to enable a second amount of the overflow fluid that is less than or equal to the first amount to be returned to the first tub.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first height for the second tub, the first height equal to or a lesser than a second height of the first tub.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one first sensor associated with the first tub and at least one second sensor associated with the second tub level, information from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor to enable the system to infer that current level of blender fluid in the first tub and of the overflow fluid in the second tub, and the information to enable the system to retain or return the overflow fluid based in part on a level of the blender fluid.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one sensor associated with one or more of the first tub or the second tub, the at least one sensor comprising one or more of a flow sensor, a flow meter, a radar, or a sonar.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the second tub adapted to be used to store the overflow fluid for at least a predetermined amount of time irrespective of a level of blender fluid in the first tub.

11. A method comprising:

associating a first tub and a second tub with a fracturing fluid blender;

enabling the second tub to circumvent an outside diameter of the first tub and to comprise a height that is a determined based in part on at least one overflow constraint of an application of the fracturing fluid blender;

buffering or providing blending components for the first tub based in part on the at least one overflow constraint and using a processing unit and tank components; and

associating one or more valves and routing pipes with the processing unit and the tank components to direct an overflow fluid received in the second tub, from the first tub, to be returned to the first tub upon a determination that the first tub has a capacity to handle the overflow fluid.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the on at least one overflow constraint comprises an amount of the overflow fluid expected from a determined mix of the blending components.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part blender fluid discharged from the first tub for a fracturing application; and

providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on a level of blender fluid within the first tub; and

providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity change of the first tub based in part on an evacuation of blender fluid from within the first tub to a storage container; and

providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable the overflow fluid to be returned to the first tub.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

enabling, using at least one sensor, the system to determine a capacity available in the first tub based in part on an evacuation of a first amount of blender fluid from within the first tub; and

providing, by the at least one sensor, input to the system to enable a second amount of the overflow fluid that is less than or equal to the first amount to be returned to the first tub.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

enabling a first height for the second tub, the first height equal to or a lesser than a second height of the first tub.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing, using at least one first sensor associated with the first tub and using at least one second sensor associated with the second tub level, information from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor for the system;

inferring, by the system, that current level of blender fluid in the first tub and of the overflow fluid in the second tub; and

enabling, using the information provided to the system, retention or return of the overflow fluid based in part on a level of the blender fluid.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

associating at least one sensor with one or more of the first tub or the second tub, the at least one sensor comprising one or more of a flow sensor, a flow meter, a radar, or a sonar.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

adapting the second tub to be used to store the overflow fluid for at least a predetermined amount of time irrespective of a level of blender fluid in the first tub.

Assignments (6)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2024
From: FTS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC; PROFRAC SERVICES, LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES HOLDINGS, LLC; BEST PUMP AND FLOW, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066186/0752 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2023
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066091/0133 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2022
From: U.S. WELL SERVICE HOLDINGS, LLC; USWS HOLDINGS LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC; USWS FLEET 10, LLC; USWS FLEET 11, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 062142/0927 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: PIPER SANDLER FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 061875/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2022
From: CHRISTINZIO, ALEXANDER; OEHRING, JARED
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060114/0021 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 057434/0429 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62955316 · Dec 30, 2019
Related Publication 20210198993A1 · Jul 1, 2021